• At 30 June 2022, 45,400 children were in out-of-home care in Australia*
• In Victoria in 2021-22 there were 11,828 children placed in at least one out-of-home care placement during the year.^
• Across Australia in 2021-22, there were 61,900 substantiated cases of child maltreatment impacting 45,500 children where an investigation concluded that a child had been, was being, or was at risk or significant risk of being maltreated.~

For children who cannot live safely at home, we need to make sure the child protection system is meeting their needs, and that they have a therapeutic response to help them recover from the trauma they’ve experienced.

Berry Street is doing just that with The Teaching-Family Model or TFM, a program that enables carers to meet the increasingly complex needs of children and young people in their care.

The Teaching Family Model, an evidence-based form of residential care, should inform the approach to residential care, Australia-wide.

In this episode, host Richelle Hunt is talking to Tom Bowerman, Director of Innovation and Acting Executive Director of Services, overseeing the running of TFM.

Richelle then speaks to Anthony Cupic, a TFM Practitioner who lives with and manages three to four young people in need of a safe home and support to develop their confidence, trust and life skills in a way that doesn’t perpetuate the harm they’ve come from.

Sources

• *https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/child-protection/child-protection-australia-2021-22/contents/insights/how-are-children-supported#OOHC
• ^https://www.dffh.vic.gov.au/child-protection-additional-service-delivery-data-2021-22 (Download link)
• ~ https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/child-protection/child-protection-system-in-australia
• Child Maltreatment Study: https://www.acms.au/findings/

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