Foster Care Training
Courses for Foster Care Applicants
and Approved Carers
Training is a key component of your foster care assessment and plays an important role ongoing in your foster care journey.
Training is offered to help equip and prepare you for the challenges and realities of fostering, and is provided ongoing to approved foster carers to support them in their journey caring for children and young people placed in their care.
During the assessment process, your applicant training will cover the following topics:
- Shared Lives: Foster Care Context, Bonding and Attachment, Grief and Loss, Abuse and Trauma, Identity and Birth Family Contact, Challenging Behavior and Teamwork
- Nurra Neena Tu (Aboriginal Cultural Competency)
- Safe Environments for Children and Young People
- Safe Care of Infants (if applicable)
- Provide First Aid and CPR
- Three Pillars of Transforming Care (Specialist Care Only)
Approved foster carers are required to maintain currency in their mandatory training (SECYP, First Aid, Infant Safety) and provided additional advanced learning opportunities such as a wide variety of online courses, Sexual Predator Awareness training, Mental Health First Aid and more.
Further information and instructions for how to register is provided in the drop down menu below.
We look forward to seeing you in training!
Register Here
Foster Care Applicants and Approved foster carers register here!
Course for Applicants and Approved Carers of Aboriginal Children and Young People
Aboriginal Cultural Competency Training is delivered in two parts. Foster care applicants participate in both to complete the training.
Part 1: Indigenous Cultural Awareness Foundations Course (Online)
The online module is conducted through My Mob. The content is designed to assist individuals in learning the foundations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture.
A link for accessing the online training will be sent to you.
Part 2: Nurra Neena Tu – A Conversation (Face to Face)
The second part is facilitated face to face with the LC Aboriginal Cultural Worker.
Nurra Neena Tu – A Conversation focuses on the practicalities of supporting an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child in maintaining and establishing cultural connections.
Nurra Neena Tu is Palawa for ‘good talking to you’.
Upcoming dates for Part 2: A Conversation
Fri 25 Mar 2022, 6.00-9.00pm Warradale
Fri 27 May 2022, 6.00-9.00pm Gawler
Fri 10 Jun 2022, 6.00-9.00pm Glynde
Fri 29 Jul 2022, 6.00-9.00pm Warradale
Fri 26 Aug 2022, 6.00-9.00pm Gawler
Online Courses for Approved Carers
These courses are available for approved foster carers in 2022.
AC Education provide a variety of material for continued learning and professional development.
Please contact and discuss with your Lutheran Care Foster Care Case Worker before registering.
Courses available:
-*NEW* Digital and Internet-Supported Self Harm
-*NEW* Therapeutic Parenting for Children who have Experienced Sexual Abuse
-Attachment and Loss
-Caring for a child who has been Sexually Abused
-Communicating with children and young people
-Emotion Coaching
-Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
-Food, Nutrition and Associated Behaviours
-Harmful Sexual Behaviours
-Healing Environments
-Impulsive Behaviour
-Life Story Work
-Online Safety and Cyberbullying
-Play Therapy
-Positive Parenting
-Promoting Positive Contact
-Record Keeping in Foster Care
-Reflective Practice
-Resilience and Recovery
-Secondary Trauma and Workplace Stress
-Self-harming Behaviours
-Social Media, Selfies and Sexting
-Social Pedagogy
-Supporting the Mental Health Needs of Looked After Children
-The impact of Domestic Violence and Abuse on Children
-The impact of Parental Mental Health on Parenting
-The impact of Trauma on Sensory Processing
-The Role of Foster Carer
-Therapeutic Re-Parenting
-Trauma and the impact on Brain Development
-Understanding Child Development
Course for Approved Foster Carers
Safety, security and trust are the key to healthy relationships.
COS-P can help you feel more connected to the children you care for, and learn more about a child’s needs being communicated through behaviours.
COS-P focuses on attachment and relationship based parenting to help a child in your care feel safe, secure and connected.
You can learn about your own needs and parenting style, to support the attachment you develop with a child you care for.
This training will be held over four sessions and facilitated online.
Upcoming Training Dates 2022
Round 1: Wednesdays 7, 14, 21 Sept, 10am – 12:30pm Online
Round 2: Wednesdays 16, 23, 30 Nov, 10am – 12:30pm Online
E-Safety Courses for Approved Carers
Visit the E-safety website for upcoming workshops.
If you do participate in an E-Safety workshops, let your Lutheran Care Foster Care Case Worker know so it can be included on your annual training record.
Provide First Aide (HLTAID011 NB: new code) is mandatory for foster carers and required staff.
Course for Applicants and Approved Carers
Visit the St Johns website to find a course date and location that suits you. https://www.stjohnsa.com.au/courses/pfa
When you’ve selected a date, note the details and come back here to book in. Foster Care Applicants are not required to pay for the cost of First Aid training as it comprises part of your formal assessment. Submit the details of the course you would like to attend via the below form.
Staff only:
Contact FIRST AID PRO to book.
Select your date, book and confirm your course. Submit your receipt to your line manager for reimbursement.
Course for Applicants and Approved Carers of Children and Young People under two years of age.
Infant Safety Training is a requirement for all Lutheran Care Foster Carers, Applicants and Foster Care Staff working with children aged 0 – 2 years.
The learning outcomes from the Kidsafe SA Training include:
-A clear understanding of the range and incidence of preventable childhood injuries
-Strategies to reduce preventable childhood injuries
-Strategies to increase the safety of children’s environments
A supporting resource kit and certificate of attendance is provided to those who complete the Kidsafe SA Infant Safety Training.
Visit the Kidsafe SA website to see upcoming dates. Kidsafe SA offer both face to face or online delivery.
When you have chosen your preferred date register via the below form.
Course for Approved Foster Carers
This course is being offered in two modes of delivery. The February round includes three shorter sessions and the May training round offers the training across two full days.
Upcoming Training Dates 2022
Tuesdays 8, 15 and 22 February 10am – 2.15pm Gawler
Saturdays 21 and 28 May, 9.30am – 4.30pm Glynde
Course for Approved Carers
Sexual Predator Awareness training. This course received great reviews and is well worth attending.
Presenter: Carl Collins from Child Protection Solutions
This 3 hour session for carers, covers:
-Sexual abuse (overview)
-Why children don’t report
-Understanding and responding to disclosures
-How to stay within your framework
-Different types of offenders: how they think, target, groom and infiltrate
-Grooming process
-Ways to keep your family safe
Upcoming Training Dates 2022
Thursday, 24 March 2022 10am – 1pm [Online Seminar]
Course for Foster Care Applicants
Shared Lives is an introduction course for people who are interested in foster care. The course will assist participants to make an informed choice about whether caring is an appropriate role for them. It provides necessary information in relation to the Child Protection system, the assessment process and is a relaxed way to get know the agency.
Course topics cover; what fostering is about, the difference that good foster care can make, the importance of safety and connection for children, how fostering might affect you and your family, what skills and knowledge foster carers need, are you a good match for us? The course complements the assessment process and will inform on an introductory level.
Each course is facilitated over two days and it is necessary to participate on both days.
Upcoming Training Dates 2022
Sat 6 & Sat 13 August, 9.30am – 4.30pm Glynde
Fri 9 & Fri 16 September, 9.30am – 4.30pm Glynde
Sat 5 & Sat 12 Nov, 9.30am – 4.30pm Glynde
Safe Environments for Children and Young People (SECYP)
This Course is mandatory for Foster Care Applicants and Approved Carers.
This 7 hour initial course presented by highly experienced facilitators is designed to protect young people from all forms of abuse. It assists participants in understanding the issues, their obligations and the correct response if abuse is suspected.
Includes work book and certificate on completion.
The course covers:
-The various forms of abuse
-How to recognize indicators of abuse
-The values of early intervention
-How and when to notify the authorities
-Dealing with concerns about reporting abuse
-Common values and why abuse is sometimes over looked
Upcoming Training Dates 2022
Sat 25 June, 9.30am – 4.30pm, Glynde
Fri 29 July, 9.30am – 4.30pm, Glynde
Sat 20 Aug, 9.30am – 4.30pm, Gawler
Sat 17 Sept, 9.30am – 4.30pm, Glynde
Fri 28 Oct, 9.30am – 4.30pm, Glynde
Fri 11 Nov, 9.30am – 4.30pm, Gawler
Sat 3 Dec, 9.30am – 4.30pm, Glynde
Course for Eligible Applicants and Approved Carers (SECYP Refresher)
This course is mandatory for Foster Carers to complete every 3 years.
Safe Environments for Children and Young People refresher course is recommended every 3 years and covers the topics in the initial Child Safe Environments training plus any changes to mandatory reporting responsibilities.
A certificate is issued on completion.
Upcoming Training Dates
Tues 28 June 2022, 9.30am – 12.30pm Online
Wed 3 Aug 2022, 6
Thurs 1 Sept 2022, 9:30am – 12:30pm Glynde
Wed 2 Nov 2022, 6pm
Wed 7 Dec 2022, 9:30am – 12:30pm Online
Specialist Care Applicants and Approved Foster Carers
Developed by Dr Howard Bath and Diana Boswell, both with extensive backgrounds as practitioners and researchers in out of home care, this course is based on research evidence, current clinical perspectives and years of direct experience with children and young people with complex needs and challenging behaviours and provided in Australia, Europe, Canada and the USA. This course is designed for those who live or work with children and young people who have been exposed to various forms of severe adversity including chronic stress and trauma. This includes all caring adults who are not necessarily engaged in formal therapy but aim to understand, support, nurture, mentor and provide limits for children and young people whose needs and behaviours can be baffling and challenging.
Three Pillars is offered in two modes of delivery. Shorter sessions over three days, or over two longer days.
Upcoming Training Dates
No dates are currently scheduled for Three Pillars of Transforming Care. If you are interested in this training and would like to hear about dates as they become available, please submit a expression of interest in the below form.
Advanced Training for Foster Carers
Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Families (TCIF)
Introduction coming soon.
Upcoming Training Dates
Tuesdays 2, 9, 23 and 30 August 2022 9:15am – 2:45pm
Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Families – Register Here
Foster Care Training
Questions?
Unsure or can’t find what you’re looking for?
If you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact your Assessment Worker or for approved foster carers, your allocated Foster Care Case Worker in the first instance.
Further queries related to Foster Care training can be directed to the Lutheran Care Foster Care Training Coordinator.
08 8337 8787 | fostercaretraining@lutherancare.org.au
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