Hope and Healing Framework
The original Hope and Healing Framework was developed in 2015 through a partnership between the Queensland Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women, PeakCare Queensland Inc, Encompass Family and Community Pty Ltd, and Paul Testro Consulting.
In 2020, PeakCare commenced the adaptation of the Hope and Healing Framework for Residential Care to meet the needs of Foster Carers. The new Hope and Healing for Foster Carers (HHFC) e-learning training has been developed to capture the in-depth research that has occurred in this time, by specialists in the field. The training is also linked to the Queensland Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs mandatory training requirements for approved Foster Carers. You can read more about it on the Department’s website.
This training will provide Carers with appropriate strategies and tools to respond to the impacts of trauma on children and young people in their care. Extensive feedback has been sourced from many specialist professionals in the sector to inform the development of the content.
By developing this new content, we have been able to utilise up to date practical tools within the e-learning package. To do this, we have sourced different and engaging tools to ensure the learner is at the centre of taking on relevant knowledge that they can easily apply.
10 modules have been developed as e-Learning, based on the Hope and Healing Framework, targeted at approved Foster Carers. You can read more about this in the sections below.
By utilising the Hope and Healing framework in the Hope and Healing for Foster Carers e-Learning, we will achieve a consistent approach for Foster Carers day-to-day care. This will increase overall well-being to the children and young people in their care through trauma-informed practice.
Who is this training for?
This training is mandatory for all Foster Carers. The training content is specifically designed for Foster Carers and may also be accessed by support workers. The content is not designed for Kinship Carers, as the content has been customised to support Foster Carers.
As this is self-paced training. Learners have the autonomy to revise over information that they would like to know more about in their own time. They may review modules in any order after completing the training for the first time.
Accessing training
There are 10 modules of training that is based on the Hope and Healing for Foster Carers framework. This training is self-paced, self-assessed training and has an accompanying learning journal. Each module should take 30-45 minutes to complete. There is also a reflection journal that is downloadable and should be used to compliment the learning.
Within the training, Learners will firstly be asked to complete a pre-training survey.
The survey will assist the Learner in being able to gauge where there understanding is before the training. There will also be a post-training survey to see what knowledge has been absorbed. Insights from this survey will help with identifying any gaps in information that may be within the training. PeakCare will review these and add to any improvements in the in future.
Each organisation manages their own learners on an ongoing basis.
Organisations are responsible for adding Learners into the training. Please contact your organisation and ask who the Administrator is for this eLearning course, and they will be able to give you access by adding you as a Learner. If you have already been given access, you can log on to the training via http://peakcare.clui.com
To note: If you cannot complete e-learning modules for some reason, please speak to your agency around opportunities to access the mandatory training in an alternative way.
Certificates of completion
The training platform has an in-system approvals and certificates workflow, streamlining the process for everyone. Your organisation will have nominated approvers who will review your progress with the training and learning journal and on meeting requirements, issue you with a completion certificate. You may log in at any time and download the certificate for your records.
To note: Carers may in some circumstances complete the training in pairs, and you must get approval from your organisation first.
Masterclass Series
As part of our commitment to the ongoing implementation of the Hope and Healing Framework, PeakCare is working with our partners, who are specialists in their respective fields. They will help us to develop a Masterclass Series that will support, in more detail, the themes of the framework.
The series will draw on the work already available in the e-Learning modules, providing more detailed information and contributions from guest speakers.
Timing of the series will be periodically released, and notification will be given via PeakCare e-news and this website. If you would like to be added to the e-news, please subscribe through the link at the bottom of the page.
These series will compliment the knowledge gained throughout the e-Learning and will support a deeper understanding of the Hope and Healing Framework. PeakCare looks forward to presenting these to the community.
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 Foster Carers 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 and 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
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