Berry Street in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Community organisation

Berry Street

Locality: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Phone: +61 3 9429 9266

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• Non-profit organisation
• Community organisation
• Social service

25.01.2022 If youve been thinking about foster care, why not submit an enquiry this Foster Care Week? You could impact the lives of vulnerable children and young people: https://www.berrystreet.org.au/foster-care

25.01.2022 Berry Streets Director of Education, Dr Tom Brunzell recently caught up with Jacquie from the Heal Thygut podcast to talk all things trauma-informed practice, as well as the impact of COVID-19.

22.01.2022 Tashs story is a powerful and important one. Tash grew up a survivor of family violence and lived in out-of-home care. Her film reminds us that we must truly listen to the voices of the young people and families and seek out the voice of lived experience to guide us. Watch the short film now.

22.01.2022 Today is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Childrens Day and is a national day to celebrate the children of the longest living culture in the world. Today is a day to recognise children as change makers and future leaders. This is captured in this years theme We are the Elders of tomorrow, hear our voice." Berry Street is committed to reconciliation. We understand education is a key contributor and have supported staff across our regions to watch the In My Blood It Run...s documentary to recognise August 4: https://iview.abc.net.au/show/in-my-blood-it-runs For additional information and resources to honour the Elders of tomorrow, visit https://aboriginalchildrensday.com.au/activities/ [Image description: A painting of the face of a child with white and red Ochre paint over their nose. There is text in the bottom left hand corner that says "Lets Celebrate Childrens Day 4 August 2020". The Childrens Day logo is in the top left corner and the website www.aboriginalchildrensday.com.au is in the bottom right.]

22.01.2022 Time is running out to apply for the 2020/21 Professional Diploma in Therapeutic Life Story Work. Join this growing, global community! Apply now or share with your contacts. https://cvent.me/vvKnLe

21.01.2022 Get to know Vijay! He is our newest therapy dog at the Morwell Campus of the Berry Street School. Vijay has had lots of training because he was going to become a Seeing Eye Dog, but didnt quite make the cut due to his anxiety. He enjoys spending his day getting pats and laying at peoples feet, so he is adapting well to life at the Morwell campus! Vijay encourages calm across the campus and supports students with their learning. [Image 1: Vijay is laying on a coloured rug, resting with his eyes partly closed. His brown nose is facing the camera. He is a Labrador with beige fur. Image 2: Vijay is lying on his side with his legs stretched out. There are three people around him patting his fur.]

20.01.2022 Today is World Children's Day and also marks the 30th anniversary of the UN adopting the Declaration and the Convention on children's rights. Every day we work to ensure children, young people and families are safe, thriving and hopeful.

20.01.2022 Kirra is a Y-Change Lived Experience Consultant and recently spoke to Pro Bono Australia about why the mental health service system needs to be reimagined. This can only be done when we listen to and partner with young people with a lived experience.

20.01.2022 While our physical offices are closed, Berry Street is continuing to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Essential services are still being delivered to children, young people and families, including out-of-home care, case management, family violence services and education: https://www.berrystreet.org.au//berry-street-continues-pro

19.01.2022 If youre looking for a fun, family activity in lockdown, the team at Locked Down Trivia have you covered! Join them this Friday 21 August for a Zoom trivia like no other. All proceeds from this weeks event will be donated to Berry Street. Sign up details are available here

19.01.2022 To wrap up Foster Care Week, we want to bust one more foster care myth. As one of Australias largest independent family service organisations, our carers come from a range of backgrounds. Whether youre single, married or part of the LGBTIQ+ community, you could be eligible! To get started with your foster care journey, visit our website: https://www.berrystreet.org.au/foster-care

18.01.2022 Meet Lochie! He has found his calling as a therapy dog at the Noble Park campus of the Berry Street School. Lochie is a beautiful Rottweiler x Kelpie and has a talent for reading a room to see which student, parent or staff member needs a cuddle or a play. Lochie has found more love than he could ever have hoped for from his new family at Berry Street. [Image description: Lochie is a Rottweiler x Kelpie and is mostly black, with tan markings around his eyes, neck and legs. He is sitting on the sand and there is some sand on his nose.]

18.01.2022 Sarah, our Senior Manager of Aboriginal Service Development, recently yarned with 3KND Kool 'N' Deadly about Berry Street's commitment to ensuring reconciliation lives in the hearts, minds and actions of all our teams.

18.01.2022 Vijay, our therapy dog at the Morwell Berry Street School campus, might need a little bit of practice with his mask wearing. Our Berry Street School campuses have been adapting to the changes of the COVID-19 pandemic. While most students have returned to online learning, we remain open for some students, with COVID-safe measures in place. [Image description: Five Berry Street School staff members are standing in front of couches and a brightly coloured wall with posters. They are all wearing masks and socially distancing. Vijay, the therapy dog, is lying on a couch with a blue mask on his head.]

16.01.2022 Its Homelessness Week and this years theme is "Everybody Needs a Home". Earlier this year, our Y-Change team of Lived Experience Consultants presented 10 recommendations to the Inquiry into Homelessness in Victoria. The ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 crisis is disproportionally affecting people that are or at risk of experiencing homelessness. Read their full submission on our website: https://www.berrystreet.org.au//advocacy/policy-submissions [Image description: A yellow background with the text "Homesick. Dreamin of a house to call home" in bold, with "Y-changes submission to the inquiry into homelessness in Victoria. March 2020 is smaller text underneath. There are also illustrations of homes and roads.]

16.01.2022 Today is R U OK Day and in a challenging year that has impacted us all in different ways, its more important than ever. During these times of adversity, its important to maintain social connection and support one another. If you notice someone in your life who might be struggling, you dont need to be an expert to reach out. Visit the R U OK? website for resources on starting the conversation.

16.01.2022 At Berry Street, we have seen an increase in police referrals related to family violence. Even during increased lockdown restrictions across Victoria, no one will be fined if they leave their home to escape family violence.

16.01.2022 Thank you to everyone that made the launch of MI Village possible - volunteers, donors, staff and the Ballarat community. We couldn't have done it without you.

15.01.2022 Join us on Thursday 10 September for the online premiere of the celebrated short film Tash. The film tells the story of Tash (Natasha Anderson) growing up experiencing family violence and living in out-of-home care. The event is free but registrations are essential.

15.01.2022 As students, parents, caregivers and teachers readjust to at-home learning, this video from our Berry Street Education Model team provides practical tips on getting ready to learn.

14.01.2022 Today, in partnership with The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency - VACCA, Social Ventures Australia and the Macquarie Group, we launched Keeping families together through COVID-19: the strengthened case for early intervention in the child protection and out-of-home care system in Victoria. The report highlights that an additional 4,500 children could enter care because of COVID-19 a significant impact on Victorian families and the already struggling child protection system. This is why investment in targeted early intervention is more urgent than ever: https://www.berrystreet.org.au/early-intervention

13.01.2022 It's Trans Awareness Week, so take some time to learn how to be a trans ally. If you’re not okay with the disproportionate challenges trans and non-binary people face, it’s time to use your voice and actions and work towards being an ally.

12.01.2022 Thank you to the organisers and participants of this years Berry Long Run for continuing to support Berry Street, despite facing many challenges! Due to the Stage 4 lockdown, participants took on the Berry Long Week, using their one hour daily exercise to compete on a virtual leaderboard. So far, the event has raised over $7,000! We are so appreciative to have this ongoing support in a year that has been so tough for so many.

12.01.2022 Recently, Sarah from our Northern Specialist Family Violence Service spoke to Northern Integrated Family Violence Services about our services and how we work with victim survivors.

12.01.2022 Dont miss out! Join us this Thursday for the online premiere of the short film Tash. As well as a screening of the film, the event will include a Q&A with special guests. Register now!

12.01.2022 Berry Streets crisis response team was formed in 24 hours, following the public housing towers lockdown. Our team of 20 staff have managed a 7-day roster and has so far responded to 600 calls from distressed tenants. We thank all our staff and supporters who have enabled us to respond quickly to the urgent needs of Victorians at this time.

12.01.2022 Families are under pressure, people are losing jobs, people are stuck in their house 24/7, and its all having a real impact on peoples mental health. Even during Stage 4 lockdown, no one will be fined if they leave their house to escape family violence.

11.01.2022 Congratulations to Janelle Graham who has been awarded a Youth Affairs Council Victoria Rural Youth Award for her work with Berry Street's Y-Change team! Well deserved Janelle!

11.01.2022 Following the release of our report today, read more about how COVID-19 could result in thousands more children being placed in out-of-home care. If you missed our report, you can read it here: https://www.berrystreet.org.au/early-intervention

10.01.2022 Its Foster Care Week! This week is a chance to recognise and thank the incredible contribution our carers make to the lives of children and young people. Carers just like Angela. Since becoming a carer in 2018, she has cared for around 14 children and young people. Now that I am a carer, I can say that its been incredibly rewarding and a privilege to be involved in these childrens lives."

10.01.2022 This Trans Awareness Week, let's talk pronouns. You can't always know what someone's pronouns are by looking at them. Asking and correctly using someone's pronouns is one of the most basic ways to show your respect for gender identity. Check out this article from Minus18 to learn why pronouns are so important.

09.01.2022 If a child in your care needs to get tested for COVID-19, this social story explains in familiar terms what will happen.

09.01.2022 Today marks the 11th anniversary of the National Apology to Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants. Over 500,000 children, now adults, were brought up in institutions and orphanages in Australia in the last century. Berry Street is dedicated to learning the lessons from the past and is committed to working with Forgotten Australians, governments and others to respond to the injustices children suffered in institutional care.

09.01.2022 If youre celebrating a birthday during increased COVID-19 restrictions, our celebration fundraiser is a great way to virtually connect with your friends and family. Set up is quick and easy and best of all, youll be supporting a good cause!

09.01.2022 Have you ever thought that you cant be a foster carer if you work full-time? Were here to bust some foster care myths and let you know that you can still be a carer, even if youre working! Foster care works around your life and you can choose the type of care that works for you: Respite Care (one or two weekends a month) Emergency care (for children who require an immediate placement)... Short-term care (a few weeks to six months) Long-term care (more than six months) See more

08.01.2022 The problem is, theres simply not enough foster care available in the Goulburn Valley. I just encourage people look within yourself and see if you can do it. Youre never too young or unqualified, theres so much support and it can change childrens lives.

07.01.2022 The L2P program is back on the road and we are urgently seeking new driver mentors! To register your interest, visit www.berrystreet.org.au/l2p

06.01.2022 Sophie is a foster carer in our Gippsland region. She was inspired to become a carer because of her parents who have fostered many children. This week we are celebrating Foster Care Week. We want to thank all of our carers for their invaluable contribution. [Image description: White text on a teal background says "Now is not the right time for me to have my own kids but Im ready to look after children in need of a loving home. Sophie, Berry Street foster carer"]

06.01.2022 COVID-19 is pushing even more families to breaking point, which could see thousands more children potentially enter out-of-home care as a result. This new report clearly outlines that with targeted investment in early intervention, we will see savings of up to $1.8 billion to the child protection and out-of-home care system over 10 years. And more importantly, we will support more families and prevent nearly 15,000 children entering OOHC. Read more: https://www.berrystreet.org.au/early-intervention [Image description: Text that reads "50% of surveyed Victorian family violence practitioners have observed an increase in the frequency and severity of family violence, and 42% observed an increase in first-time family violence reports." There are blue and orange speech bubbles on the right hand side.]

05.01.2022 Happy Fathers Day to the dads, stepdads and granddads, with a special thank you to all foster dads. Thank you for your support to children and young people in care. If youve ever thought about becoming a foster carer, today could be the day to find out more. Visit our website for details.

05.01.2022 Today is Wear it Purple Day! Staff across Berry Street are wearing purple today to foster supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environments for rainbow young people. To get involved or find out more, visit https://www.wearitpurple.org/ [Image description: A purple background with the text "Happy WIP Day!" in the top right corner. There is an outline of a person holding the Pride flag. In the bottom left corner, there is rainbow text "Change celebrating 10 years!]

05.01.2022 Were looking for L2P Learner Driver Mentors across Victoria. If you live in one of the below regions and would like to volunteer to help young people get driving experience, get in touch today! Were looking for mentors in: the City of Greater Shepparton Strathbogie Shire... Moira Shire Mitchell Shire Latrobe City See more

04.01.2022 We're so proud to launch MI Village in Western Victoria. MI Village provides a safe and nurturing environment for mothers and children to recover from the impact of family violence. MI Village offers education and therapeutic support for the community as well as residential accommodation for mothers and children who have experienced family violence. https://www.berrystreet.org.au///western-region/mi-village

04.01.2022 It is alarming that the number of children living in out-of-home care could more than double in the next six years. It could reach 27,500 the highest in the country - depending on how the response to COVID-19 is managed. Our new report highlights the urgent need for investment in targeted early intervention. Read more: https://www.berrystreet.org.au/early-intervention [Image description: White text on a dark blue background. It says "A further 4,500 children could potentially enter the out-of-home care system as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic."]

03.01.2022 Today marks the beginning of National Child Protection Week Play Your Part. There are a series of free webinars this week to celebrate this years theme of Putting Children First. You can register your interest here: https://www.napcan.org.au/official-program-webinars-events/ [Image description: A green background with white text reading "6-12 Sept 2020 National Child Protection Week. There is a map of Australia in the top right corner with the text "Play Your Part".]

03.01.2022 The Berry Street School has been adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hear from two Assistant Principals as they share the unique experiences of running a school campus.

02.01.2022 The Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency - VACCA Cultural Hub is a space that celebrates Aboriginal culture. It's filled with activities and resources for all age ranges.

02.01.2022 While weve all made sacrifices during lockdown, for many vulnerable children, young people and families, COVID-19 has had a devastating impact. Were challenging you to give up a luxury so that a young person can have a necessity - a safe place to live. Go it alone or take on the challenge as a team. Will you Ban it for Berry Street?

02.01.2022 There are lots of virtual events running across Victoria to celebrate #NAIDOC2020, including exhibitions, celebrations and storytelling. We encourage everyone to take a look at what is happening in your region and online - https://www.naidoc.org.au/get-involved/naidoc-week-events

01.01.2022 Drawing is Ethan's way of escaping and allows him to imagine a better future. You can help children and young people like Ethan this Christmas with a gift of arts and crafts supplies. You'll be helping a child's imagination to flourish and providing an outlet for them to express their feelings. https://gifts.berrystreet.org.au//xmas20-creative-outlet-a

01.01.2022 We each have a different experience of the COVID-19 pandemic. This blog explores whats happening and whats helping from the perspective of young people with a lived experience of surviving tough times.