Australian Childhood Foundation in Abbotsford, Victoria, Australia | Non-profit organisation

Australian Childhood Foundation

Locality: Abbotsford, Victoria, Australia

Phone: +61 1300 381 581

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• Non-profit organisation
• Charitable organisation
• Community organisation
• Charity organisation

25.01.2022 Today is World Children’s Day! We celebrate childhood and improving children’s welfare worldwide. At the Australian Childhood Foundation, children are at the heart of everything we do. We acknowledge the importance of children’s rights and freedoms and their right to speak and be heard. All children have the right to be loved, cared for and feel safe. We should listen to children and celebrate their words. Massimo’s poem below is a beautiful example.

25.01.2022 Joy has been a generous regular giver, supporting the Australian Childhood Foundation since 2011. Recognising the love and support she received from her parents, Joy knows that her experience growing up shaped the happy and safe home she provided to her children. My children and grandchildren are loved and provided for. They are safe and happy. All children should grow up feeling that. And if I have the means to help other chi...ldren and families in any way, I will. That’s why I started donating. We are incredibly grateful to long-term regular givers like Joy whose support ensures we can continue to provide therapeutic care and resources to children and families who need us If you'd like to find out more information about making regular contributions visit childhood.org.au/donate See more

25.01.2022 We'd like to extend a big THANK YOU to the wonderful school community at Duncraig Primary School in WA for their very generous donation of $1000 (and their amazing effort creating a heart on the school oval!) Your kindness will help bring love back into the lives of children affected by abuse, neglect, and family violence When we asked the student leaders about their motivation, their responses warmed our hearts! Raising mone...y for ACF was important to me because my little brother has counselling for anxiety and it really helps him. Emi, Year 6 We wanted to choose a charity that helped children like us kids helping kids. Grace, Year 6 No one deserves to experience trauma, especially children. Una, Year 6 We dont want children to feel unsafe in their own home. Jazzy, Year 6 If you'd like to join us and support children and young people, you too can get involved by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3asxelu https://bit.ly/34b0njQ See more

24.01.2022 Undoubtedly the last few months have seen challenges for many. At the Foundation we have been fortunate to see light through the darkness when we adapted our counseling remotely. This includes a young person in a Residential Care Unit who asked that moving forward all care team meetings remain online as he prefers this method. Another young person who often struggles to engage with her Therapeutic Specialist eagerly shared her baking mastering, sendi...ng a photo of her cupcakes. Many children have adapted to the online space for counselling by using their own toys and house items to engage in the sessions. After hours appointments have been of benefit to some carers as they have had to navigate work-school-home life. There is nothing more powerful to children who have experienced trauma than to feel that they belong to a community that has their backs. To our supportive community who have kept these children in their hearts and trusted us to keep supporting them in the best way we know how, thank you!

24.01.2022 It is a challenging world for our youngest children right now. Here is our newest playful book that can help them make sense of people around them wearing face masks! You can download the full PDF here: https://bit.ly/3gP1nxN

22.01.2022 Today is World Gratitude Day! Did you know that practicing gratitude results in physical, emotional, and many other types of benefits? It also reduces symptoms of depression and improves self-esteem! With what has been a very difficult year, it's more important than ever to stop, pause, and reflect on the things we are lucky enough to have around us. What are you grateful for today? Comment and share below!

22.01.2022 "Kids don't need their parents to be experts on everything. They just need them to be calm, fun where they can and to not make the learning experience tense and more difficult." CEO, Joe Tucci in the Herald Sun this week about responding to children undergoing remote learning.

22.01.2022 Everyone knows that children do best when they are supported, nurtured and loved. In todays blog, Dr Joe Tucci explores how lessons learnt from the remarkable rescue of young William Callaghan can help us all understand and support children who live with threat and violence in their homes. Joe advocates that raising the age of criminal responsibility in Australia is one way to ensure that children who experience trauma can also experience the support they need from a communi...ty who loves them. To read the full post, click here: https://bit.ly/32LAw1v Tomorrow 27 July 2020, Attorneys-General will meet to discuss whether or not to raise the age including the ACT Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay. The Foundation has signed an open letter as an organisation in the ACT who works with children and young people to support the move to raise the age and urge the ACT Government to act immediately. To find out more about this campaign, visit the website: https://bit.ly/2Eg2xUD. #raisetheage

21.01.2022 We'd like to extend a big THANK YOU to the wonderful House of Healing Humanitarian Foundation in South Australia for their very generous donation of $7000. The team pictured below (missing Athena Lis) threw a Great Gatsby themed ball at Burnside Ballroom in which all proceeds were donated. We are extremely grateful for your kindness which will help bring love back into the lives of children affected by abuse, neglect, and family violence

21.01.2022 Happy International Day of Friendship to all of our friends! We challenge you to tag your friends below and let them know you are thankful for them today and every day!

20.01.2022 Treat yourself this year with one of our affordable knowledge bursts - build your knowledge, extend your skills! Discover more at: https://bit.ly/2YDPBzE

20.01.2022 Have you heard about our new OurSPACE Program in WA? Newly funded by the WA Department of Communities, the program exists to support foster and family carers who are under stress. You can learn more in today’s blog article where Colin Hayes and Shaun Chandran share how the program has been able to support Kinship Carer Leslie, empowering her to get the outcomes she and her grandchildren were looking for. Click here to read: https://bit.ly/35WiQBa

19.01.2022 With the second lockdown in Melbourne and other places still reinforcing restrictions, the Hugs noticed that people are feeling tired of this unwanted visitor hanging around. So, they met together and decided to call on their other helper friends to assist them! Check out our new COVID-19 social story resource for children. Feel free to share and tag your friends! You can download the full PDF here: https://bit.ly/3eXyyO5

19.01.2022 Today is the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples. We thank them for their wisdom and compassion. In Australia, we have a great deal to learn from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about respect for land, culture, and community. You can learn more here: https://bit.ly/32ZWsGj

19.01.2022 We have a unique opportunity for a Therapeutic Specialist to play a key role as a specialist therapeutic consultant and practitioner within the therapeutic foster and residential care programs. This position is a key member of the care team developed for each child. Located in Horsham Victoria, this is a truly unique role to which you can personally make a difference in your career! To find out more, visit our website: https://bit.ly/34blJhc

19.01.2022 For #Naidoc week it is a privilege to share Karen Lovett's words on growing up in a white care system, and finding her culture, identity and community later in life. This special blog was born out of conversations between Glenys Bristow and Karen reflecting on their time together in residential care, Glenys as the carer and Karen as the young person. Click here to read: https://lnkd.in/dvBvq8W

18.01.2022 Violation and the absence of love and care leave children believing the world is unsafe, that adults cannot be trusted, and that good things don't happen to them. Much of their behaviour, which is often viewed as naughty or disruptive, is about what they needed to do to survive their abuse. When foster carers are supported to understand what has happened to the children they care for and how to make sense of what their behaviours are really expressing, they are able to respond to their needs for healing with confidence and love. It's through destructive relationships that children are hurt and harmed, and through connected, safe and trusting relationships that children begin to recover. To learn more about our impact, click here: https://bit.ly/31HibBI

18.01.2022 Happy Father's Day to all the incredible dads raising happy, confident children and giving them the safe and loving childhoods that every child deserves! Today we explore fatherhood through the lens of one of our wonderful ambassadors, Matty Johnson, as he reflects on his role as a dad to daughter Marlie-Mae If you'd like to give your dad the gift of love to vulnerable children who aren't as lucky as some, you can donate by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2QVv8l4

16.01.2022 Love, for a child, is everything. So too, the absence of love is a child's everything. It's our privilege to work to restore love to childhood through relationships that guide, support and have the power to help children heal. Loving relationships are their light out of the darkness. Our teams work with children, families, carers, and professionals who share our passion and hope for these children. To find out more about our work, visit our website: https://bit.ly/2XhAHOz

16.01.2022 What does it mean to parent with PACE? In today's blog article, Therapeutic Specialist Claudia O'Hara shares her reflections on the principles of therapeutic parenting and why parenting this way will benefit all children. To read the full post, click here: https://bit.ly/31QCfjW

16.01.2022 The Coronavirus pandemic has brought about circumstances in our lives that we could never have imagined. Here, Diana Kay, Senior Consultant in the Parenting and Early Years Program explores the impact of this change on parents and children, as well as recommending some strategies or considerations for those supporting children in the midst of it all. READ MORE: https://bit.ly/2YFVNa0

15.01.2022 A child who has been abused, neglected or experienced family violence, may still feel the effects of those experiences long after the immediate threat has subsided. This Christmas, we're offering our supporters the chance to change the trajectory of a vulnerable child's life by buying them a Little Hearts Healing Kit https://bit.ly/2IOPR9j... Each Kit is more than just a collection of items. While they might seem like everyday toys, games, resources and activities on the surface, with the guidance of one of our therapeutic counsellors, these Kits are transformed into tools that facilitate profound healing For a highly anxious child like seven-year-old, Ella*, a Healing Kit might include items such as bubbles, feathers, stress balls and a therapeutic weighted doll, to help her feel calm and soothed For a child like 11-year-old Charlotte*, burdened with the immense pressure of caring for her younger sibling, a Kit might contain a journal, scrapbook and art supplies to help her express and work through her emotions in healthy ways. https://bit.ly/2IOPR9j Every Little Hearts Healing Kit will be tailored to the needs of each child, based on their age, experiences and requirements for healing. Having access to these items and activities means that children will be able to process their trauma within the comfort and safety of their new home and in the presence of a loving caregiver. If you’re in a position to purchase a Little Hearts Healing Kit todayor even just contribute towards one Kitwe would be most grateful. Thank you * Names have been changed to protect the children’s privacy. Thank you for your understanding and support.

15.01.2022 We believe a loving, safe parent is the best relationship a child can have. Our Bringing Up Great Kids (BUGK) program focuses on building positive and nurturing relationships between parents and their children. The program aims to support parents to review and enhance their patterns of communication with their children, to promote more respectful interactions and encourage the development of childrens positive self-identity. B...UGK is constantly evolving and now has developed into new variations that meet the needs of parents from different backgrounds and with different experiences. It is currently being rolled out in over 600 diverse organisations nationally! To learn more, click here: https://bit.ly/3j1xlYL See more

15.01.2022 To continue with this weeks Foster Care Week theme, today we explore foster care through the lens of a carer, Danielle, and hear about her unique journey over the past four years with children Callum and Sophie.

14.01.2022 Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace. Confucius. Now more than ever we want to say a big thank you to all parents and carers for supporting children and young people undergoing remote learning during this time. You are appreciated

14.01.2022 We have a unique opportunity for a Senior Safeguarding Consultant to play a key role in implementing the Services new strategic plan that will guide the growth and expansion of the Service. Located in either Sydney or Melbourne, this is a truly unique role to which you can personally make a difference in your career! To find out more, visit our website: https://bit.ly/3fPlsDm

14.01.2022 At the Australian Childhood Foundation, we're passionate about creating a community where everyone feels valued. In this video series, we went behind the scenes and asked a few of our amazing staff what it's like to work at the foundation!

14.01.2022 In today's blog, Sue Buratti shares how the OurSPACE program in NSW are creating safety through small acts of reconciliation for Staff, children and young people in Out of Home Care. Click here to read the full post: https://bit.ly/2J9xTi3

13.01.2022 Stand with us in petitioning the Government to appoint a dedicated Minister for Children and National Child Protection Council so we can give voice to the issues faced by Australias most vulnerable children. Click here to show your support: https://www.childhood.org.au/child-protection-week-petition/

12.01.2022 NOTICE: It has come to our attention that an individual named John Gregg has stated in social media that he currently holds or has held the position of National Policy Director at Australian Childhood Foundation. We wish to advise that Mr Gregg has never been employed by Australian Childhood Foundation, nor has the position of National Policy Director ever existed at our organisation. Our representatives have contacted Mr Gregg and asked him to remove any reference to Aus...tralian Childhood Foundation from his social media. Australian Childhood Foundation in no way condones or supports any statements made by Mr Gregg in social media nor do any of his statements reflect the vision and values of our organisation.

12.01.2022 Did you know? Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness for children in Australia. Children should never feel unsafe in their own home as a result of exposure to violence. You can help us in ensuring all children have somewhere safe to call home especially during uncertain times like these. To find out more, click here: https://bit.ly/2N6n5QE

12.01.2022 Did you know that 1 in 33 children were actively involved in child protection services between 2018-2019? More alarmingly, in June 2019, 44,900 children were living away from their family because it was not safe for them to return home. This week, read why our CEO, Dr. Joe Tucci, believes we need to re-think National Child Protection Week. On our Prosody blog, Joe explores why we need real action to protect children from abuse and neglect. ... Read the full post: https://bit.ly/324lBhT Sign our petition: https://bit.ly/2ZeuxQ7 See more

11.01.2022 Did you know you can support our work, through yours? By donating even a small, regular amount through your pre-tax pay, you, your colleagues or staff can show children they are part of a community that cares about them and wants them to be safe and happy. You can learn more about workplace giving here: https://bit.ly/3aX3CNf

11.01.2022 Letter writing might seem a thing of the past but in today's blog by Laura Pyle, a Team Leader in the Foundation's Therapeutic Services, we learn how some of our Therapeutic Specialists are bringing the practice into therapeutic processes, with remarkable benefits. To read the post, click here: https://bit.ly/33xvXZ4

11.01.2022 CEO Joe Tucci and our incredible ambassadors Daniel and Luke Paulino of YiaYia Next Door were interviewed by The Guardian today. Joe Tucci says: "It’s time for a coordinated specialist National counselling service for these young people. They need and deserve the best quality support - not a pot luck system." Read the full article here: https://www.theguardian.com//terror-guilt-confusion-the-ch

10.01.2022 Today is National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Childrens Day! The Australian Childhood Foundation recognises the rights of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to know and experience their culture. Culture is a source of belonging, pride, and identity. We actively support Aboriginal and Torres Islander children to have their voices heard in ways that are meaningful and sustained. You can learn more here: https://bit.ly/2Owm4F6

09.01.2022 Steven* was just eight years old when he was first referred to the Australian Childhood Foundation for counselling. He had been traumatised for over two years by his step-father who had severe issues managing anger. One day in the early stages of his counselling, Steven’s mum told us that he had gone missing at school. When they found him, he was hiding in a big rubbish bin on the school campus. He was too scared to speak when his teacher asked him what he was doing there. He... took her hand and was led back to class. On the way back to class, he whispered that the rubbish bin was ‘the safest place he could find’. It’s a long and often painful journey to help children like Steven recover from the trauma of family violence. The counsellors at Australian Childhood Foundation work tirelessly to help children identify their own strengths and tell their own story of love, fun and hope. If you'd like support children like Steven to heal, click here: https://bit.ly/3asxelu

09.01.2022 Do you want to make a difference this year? Spread the love and start fundraising! Your light can change a child's life. Join in on someone else's Facebook fundraiser or create your own! Find out more about fundraising opportunities and help us defend childhood by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3fYKDTl

09.01.2022 Weve noticed that the global pandemic has seen a huge upturn in the creation of free resources to help families put children and their needs first too. In today's blog, we profile eight free resources for work with children, young people, and families that we've seen, used, and can recommend. We hope you find them useful! Click here to read: https://bit.ly/3iKos5Q

09.01.2022 Sign up to receive updates about our work, our impact, and ways you can get involved. https://www.childhood.org.au/get-updates/

09.01.2022 Today is Indigenous Literacy Day! A day to acknowledge our commitment to nurturing a new generation of learners around Australia, equipped with the literacy skills needed to succeed in both English and First Nation language. At the Australian Childhood Foundation, we believe all children in Australia deserve the same opportunities in education, employment, health, and wellbeing, and that literacy is the key that opens so many of these doors. You can find out more by visiting the Indigenous Literacy Foundation website: https://bit.ly/2MZQJc1

09.01.2022 Is all play equal when it comes to childrens development? Chris Hutchinson, from our Parenting and Early Years Program, explains why free play is essential for children and their wellbeing. Click to read: https://bit.ly/2EjSJcH

08.01.2022 Dealing with the uncertainty of daily life in a pandemic is no picnic in the park for children and families. It is because Gordon the Uncertainty Giant shows up and starts taking over! If you want to be able to help with Gordon, we have developed a free play book for you to read with children or give to parents to use with their children. Feel free to share with all your family and friends! Download the full PDF here: https://bit.ly/2NiNgas

08.01.2022 This Fathers Day, give the gift of helping kids be kids again. For $20 you can help provide paint and drawing materials, musical instruments and toys for role-playing and storytelling. All of which are practical tools for therapeutic counselling sessions that help children to express the pain and trauma they carry as a result of abuse. To donate, click here: https://www.childhood.org.au/take-action/donate-fathers-day/

06.01.2022 In a few short months, thirty years will have passed since Australia ratified the United Nations Charter on the Rights of the Child, and here, Lauren Thomas argues that now is the time to finally see a move toward Government accountability. Incorporation of our commitment to these rights into Federal law means that Governments are accountable for their actions towards ensuring they are experienced for all Australian children. Read the full post on our blog: https://bit.ly/33yct4G

06.01.2022 This week is NAIDOC Week! NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We recognise that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years. The Australian Childhood Foundation acknowledges the traditional custodians and their spiritual and cultural connection to the country - and we're proud to stand behind the First Nations pe...ople of Australia this NAIDOC Week. #NAIDOC2020 See more

05.01.2022 At the Foundations Safeguarding Children Services, every week and every day is about putting children first. To continue with this year's Child Protection Week theme, Deb Holmes, a manager in the Safeguarding Children Services program, shares some of the values and principles that underpin how they work with organisations. Read it on our blog here: https://bit.ly/2F5Oylb

05.01.2022 Happy Foster Care Week to the amazing unsung heroes who bring love, safety, and healing to our most vulnerable children. Every child deserves to grow up safe and protected from abuse and neglect, and caring foster parents offer children support and stability when they need it most. Thank you for making an incredible difference in the lives of children and our community.

05.01.2022 It's hard to believe that Children's Week is almost coming to an end! We have been absolutely blown away with every single entry so we have decided to make it an ongoing celebration! That means you can still submit your artwork online! We'd like to extend a HUGE thank you to each individual artist for submitting such gorgeous artwork so far. Here are a few more we have received this week! If you'd like to see all submissions, jump onto our website here: https://bit.ly/3mjwxzR

04.01.2022 Some of our Therapeutic counsellors shared their hopes and goals for 2021, when working with children and families. What are your goals for a more hopeful and positive 2021?

04.01.2022 Meet Dakota! A First Nations teenager from Lake Cargelligo in NSW who came to the OurSPACE Program when in a non-Aboriginal foster care placement came under significant strain. Melissa, an Aboriginal Therapeutic Specialist at ACF, helped Dakota by being his point of contact for a number of services. As Dakota’s foster care placement was leaving him feeling unloved and unwanted, Melissa found a kinship placement with his brother, whom he hadn't seen in years. You can watch Dakota's special journey with OurSPACE here: https://bit.ly/3krddPF

03.01.2022 This Foster Care Week, we tackle some of the most common misconceptions surrounding foster care. If youre thinking about becoming a foster carer but are worried about some barriers you may face, watch to learn more.

02.01.2022 Did you know recent research conducted by ACF has found that a quarter of parents felt that they were failing their children and more than a third stated that they had lost confidence about their parenting? These problems emerged at exactly the time when parents noticed that their children needed more reassurance and were experiencing signs of heightened stress such as eating and sleeping disturbances. CEO Dr Joe Tucci said the ...ACFs Lasting Legacy research highlights the need for a renewed focus on addressing parental well-being and supporting families as they navigate their way through the pandemic. You can download the full research report by clicking here: https://bit.ly/31WEfIE See more