Hope and Healing for Residential Care
TRAINING QUALIFICATIONS E-LEARNING PODCASTS RESOURCES 
Hope and Healing Framework
The Hope and Healing Framework for Working with Children and Young People Living in Residential Care sets out the foundation for caring and working with young people living in residential care in a way that understands and responds to trauma and is therapeutic in approach.
The Hope and Healing Framework was developed in 2015 through a partnership between Queensland Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women; PeakCare Queensland Inc; Encompass Family and Community Pty Ltd; and Paul Testro Consulting.
View the Hope and Healing Framework for Residential Care:
Accessing training
Introduction to e-Learning Modules
Staff who are successful in obtaining a residential care worker role will be entered into the system by the organisation they join. The course will need to be successfully completed prior to commencing unsupervised work with children and young people. This will often take place as part of the induction processes. All 10 modules are hosted on the e-learning platform, Clui.
Due to the structure of the platform and the nature of compliance reporting it is not possible for people to undertake the training until they are employed by a residential care service provider.
Further information can be obtained by contacting PeakCare’s dedicated Hope & Healing support mailbox at support@peakcare.org.au
Certificates of completion
Hope & Healing for Residential Care completion certificates must be issued directly by residential care service providers to their employees. Certificates are not provided by PeakCare. If you have not received or have misplaced your certificate, you may request a copy directly from the employer through which you completed your training. Alternatively, you may advise any new or prospective employers that you have previously completed the training and that they will need to contact us at support@peakcare.org.au to request a transfer of your record.
Minimum Qualifications for Residential Care Workers
Introducing minimum qualifications for residential care workers in Queensland
Since 1 July 2018, the Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs have worked with PeakCare Queensland Incorporated to begin phasing in new standards outlining the minimum qualification expectation for all residential care staff working in Queensland. The minimum qualifications standards require that residential care workers obtain a minimum qualification of Certificate IV level from an approved list. For more details, view the Information Sheet.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATION STANDARDS INFORMATION SHEET
Masterclass Series
As part of our commitment to the ongoing implementation of the Hope & Healing Framework, PeakCare is working with our partners to develop masterclasses in particular topics of interest for the sector.
The series will draw on the work already available in the Hope & Healing series, and may be delivered as webinars, workshops or additional eLearning modules as appropriate for the topics.
In December 2023 PeakCare and the Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services launched “Positive Behaviour Support and Managing High-Risk Behaviours: A Hope and Healing Masterclass” eLearning course. This course is optional (unlike the foundational Hope & Healing – Residential Care course which is required under the Minimum Qualifications standards) and takes around 60 minutes to complete, building on learning from the foundational course.
The Masterclass covers the following content:
- Introduction and the Importance of Trauma-Informed Care
- Understanding Positive Behaviour Support
- Restrictive and Prohibited Practices
- Managing High-Risk Behaviour
The training is available for all residential care workers and their supervisors who have previously completed Hope & Healing and is accessible on the current learning platform.
Learners can enrol in the Masterclass by logging onto the Hope & Healing platform with the details under which they completed Hope & Healing – Residential Care, contacting their employers if assistance is required. Further information can also be found on the Department’s website.
Future masterclasses are in early stages of development and notification of release will be given via PeakCare eNews and this website. If you would like to be added to the eNews, please subscribe through the link at the bottom of this section.
The Masterclass series will complement the knowledge gained throughout the e-Learning and will support a deeper understanding of the Hope & Healing Framework. PeakCare looks forward to hearing your feedback.
Subscribe to PeakCare eNews
Stories of Hope & Healing Podcasts
Episodes
Stories of Hope and Healing can be accessed on your device via Spotify, iTunes or Stitcher.
Information sheets
RESIDENTIAL CARE WORKERS INFORMATION SHEET YOUNG PEOPLE INFORMATION SHEET
Content Warning
Some of the learning content may contain material and topics that are sometimes confronting and disturbing. Sometimes words or images can cause sadness or distress, or trigger traumatic memories for people, particularly survivors of past abuse, violence, or childhood trauma.
For some people, these responses can be overwhelming. If you need to talk to someone, support is available. Lifeline: Call 13 11 14 anytime for confidential telephone crisis support.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that the learning content may include references to, or images or names of, people now deceased.
Our aim is that this training provides the right level of knowledge and support to help Residential Care Workers thrive in their important and valued role. If you would like to provide any feedback on the content, please contact your organisation who will forward it on to PeakCare.
Resources
The following is a list of links and resources that providers have contributed to PeakCare as useful documents when considering trauma-informed care. PeakCare is not endorsing these documents, the links are provided are information only. This list will grow as learners share their favourite links and articles once they have completed the training. If you have a favourite article or link that you believe would be of benefit to other carers, send to support@peakcare.org.au for uploading to Hope & Healing website.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Australian Institute of Family Studies – Trauma-informed services and trauma specific care for Indigenous Australian children
Healing Foundation – Intergenerational Trauma and Healing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people
Child safe organisations
Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse – Child safe organisations
Disability
Western Sydney University, House with No Steps, Department of Family and Community Services – Research Findings from implementing a Trauma-Informed Framework in a Disability Non-Government Organisation
Australian Institute of Family Studies – Paper on Trauma-informed Care in Child/Family Welfare Services
Early years and younger children
Australian Institute of Family Studies – Effect of Trauma on the Brain Development of Children
Women’s Health Goulbourn, Literature Review – A Trauma Sensitive Approach for Children aged 0 – 8 years
Other practice tools and processes
The Three Houses – Framework tools and booklet
Residential and other care settings
Social Care Institute for Excellence, Queens University Belfast – Therapeutic approaches to social work in residential care settings literature review
Trauma-sensitive schooling
Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative, a collaboration of Massachusetts Advocates for Children and Harvard Law School
Australian Institute of Family Studies – Paper on Trauma-informed Care in Child/Family Welfare Services
Workforce training
Australian Childhood Foundation – includes links to Graduate Certificate in Developmental Trauma and International Childhood Trauma Conference
Young people
Child Safety Commissioner, Victoria commission report, and written by Laurel Downey – From isolation to connection: a guide to understanding and working with traumatised children and young people
The Centre for Youth AOD Practice Development, Deakin University, resources primarily targeting young people involved with alcohol and drugs – the ERIC resources in helping young people to regulate their emotions and control impulsive behaviours