A NEW series of podcasts for kinship carers is set to be launched in Victoria.
The new podcasts will launch on April 27 and are aimed at the rapidly growing number of kinship carers in the state.
The series by the state's peak body for kinship carers Kinship Carers Victoria will bring news relevant to all kinship carers from grandparents aunts and uncles to cousins, siblings and close family friends.
Kinship Carers Victoria director Anne McLeish said the podcasts are designed to reach all kinship carers at their convenience - in their own home and at times which suit them.
"The issues addressed will be of interest to formal and informal kinship carers alike, and will lift their understanding and knowledge about their role and the social, economic and political circumstances that affect them in their role as people who protect our most vulnerable children from further harm," said Mrs McLeish.
"They will provide a way for the most geographically and socially isolated carers to have a connection with the wider world with regard to their role and the views of other kinship carers.
"KCV hopes that kinship carers will take the opportunities offered to them to nominate issues they want examined and to give feedback about the podcast programs. If the programs benefit even a small number of previously isolated kinship carers it will be well worth the effort to produce them," she added.
Topical issues confronting kinship care will be discussed by a range of expert speakers from across a number of sectors including the community, government, not-for-profit and legal sectors.
Topics which will be covered over the podcasts include:
- The organised kinship care movement in Victoria – is it unique?
- The new model of kinship care for Victoria – who benefits, does anyone lose?
- Kinship care families and federal welfare – fair treatment or not?
- Trauma in children – how to identify it and what to do about it
- Carer wellbeing – not a luxury but a crucial element of placement stability
- Kinship family rights – where to go to find them written?
- Education – a pathway for children in kinship care to ‘get on in life’
- Kinship care and the law – rights protection or abuse of rights?
The podcasts can be listened to, or downloaded directly, from the Kinship Carers Victoria (KVC) website from April 27.
