Supporting Students in Out-of-Home Care

Resources

Out-of-home Care Education Commitment: a Partnering Agreement

The current partnering agreement was refreshed in 2018, with changes to align with current legislation, policy and programs available to children and young people in out-of-home care to support their education, health and wellbeing.

• Partnering agreement 2018 (PDF)(opens in a new window)
• Partnering agreement 2018 (DOCX)(opens in a new window).

Learning mentors

For a short video overview of the role of the learning mentor, refer to: learning mentor training package(opens in a new window).

For more information about learning mentors and supporting children and young people in out-of-home care, refer to:

• Role of the learning mentor fact sheet (DOCX)(opens in a new window)
• A relationship based approach to supporting students who have experienced trauma (PDF)(opens in a new window)
• Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc. (VAEAI) support services and programs (external link)(opens in a new window) – to support Koorie children and young people in out-of-home care.

Individual education plans

Individual education plans (IEPs) assist students who require a range of supports with their education.

An IEP is a written statement that describes the adjustments, goals and strategies to meet a student’s individual educational needs so they can reach their full potential. An IEP is essential as it helps you plan and monitor a student’s unique learning needs.

The department has developed guidance and resources to support the development of IEPS. Refer to the Individual Education Plans Policy for further information.

Education needs analysis (ENA)

The education needs analysis guidelines require specific activities and processes. These are described in the guidelines and are also described in the following documents:

• Process flowchart (PDF)(opens in a new window)
• Process flowchart (DOCX)(opens in a new window)
• Roles and responsibilities (PDF)(opens in a new window)
• Roles and responsibilities (DOCX)(opens in a new window)
• ENA quality guidelines for providers (PDF)(opens in a new window)
• ENA quality guidelines for providers (DOCX)(opens in a new window).

The ENA guidelines require the use of specific reporting templates. These are described in the guidelines and are also described in the following documents:

• Initial meeting template (PDF)(opens in a new window)
• Initial meeting template (DOCX)(opens in a new window)
• Examples of information to be collated (PDF)(opens in a new window)
• Examples of information to be collated (DOCX)(opens in a new window)
• Status report (PDF)(opens in a new window)
• Status report (DOCX)(opens in a new window)
• ENA report (PDF)(opens in a new window)
• ENA report (DOCX)(opens in a new window).

Designated teachers

The following resources are provided to support designated teachers:

• Making SPACE for learning (PDF)(opens in a new window) – a resource guide from the Australian Childhood Foundation on trauma informed practice in schools
• Caring classrooms (PDF)(opens in a new window) – a guide for parents and the school community
• Understanding Trauma(opens in a new window) – information sheet by KidsMatter
• Strategies to support self-regulation (PDF)(opens in a new window) – a list of classroom strategies for students with self-regulation difficulties and sensory integration difficulties.

Support for carers

• Informal Carer Statutory Declaration (PDF)(opens in a new window)
• Kinship Carers Victoria – manual (PDF)(opens in a new window)
• Foster Care Association of Victoria(opens in a new window)
• Student support groups for children with additional needs(opens in a new window)
• Raising expectations(opens in a new window) – helping young people leaving care transition into higher education.

Support for schools and agencies

• LOOKOUT Centre Handbook (PDF, 1.81MB)(opens in a new window)
• LOOKOUT Centre Handbook (DOCX, 6.05MB)(opens in a new window)
• LOOKOUT Education Support Centres(opens in a new window)
• Designated teacher handbook (DOCX)(opens in a new window)
• Raising expectations(opens in a new window) – helping young people leaving care transition into higher education
• Student support groups for students in out of home care (PDF)(opens in a new window)
• Learning mentors for students in out of home care fact sheet (DOCX)(opens in a new window)
• A relationship-based approach to supporting students who have experienced trauma (PDF)(opens in a new window)
• Classroom strategies for students with self-regulation and sensory integration difficulties (PDF)(opens in a new window).

Standards, policies and plans

• PROTECT: Child Safe Standards(opens in a new window)
• Marrung – Aboriginal education plan(opens in a new window)
• Early childhood: supporting children in out of home care(opens in a new window).

Factsheets

• LOOKOUT privacy factsheet (DOCX)(opens in a new window)
• LOOKOUT partnering agreement – factsheet (DOCX)(opens in a new window)
• LOOKOUT child protection – factsheet (DOCX)(opens in a new window)
• LOOKOUT designated teacher – factsheet (DOCX)(opens in a new window)
• LOOKOUT assistance with education expenses – factsheet (DOCX)(opens in a new window)
• LOOKOUT Secure Care Services: Key actions for schools – factsheet (DOCX)(opens in a new window).

Templates and checklists

• Authorising carers to make certain decisions (PDF)(opens in a new window) — provides information for schools, kindergartens and child care providers about the decisions a foster carer, kinship carer or residential carer can make when a child is the subject of a Children’s Court order
• LOOKOUT Transition to Primary School Guidance (DOCX)
• LOOKOUT Transition to Primary School Guidance (PDF(opens in a new window))
• LOOKOUT Transition to Secondary School Guidance (DOCX)(opens in a new window)
• LOOKOUT Transition to Secondary School Guidance (PDF)(opens in a new window).

Training

Child protection protocol training package(opens in a new window) – provides guidance to principals, teachers and Child Protection workers on the protocol for protecting children from harm.

Health, care and welfare organisations

• Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)(opens in a new window) – delivers a wide range of community services for children and their families, such as early intervention, child protection and family support services.
• Commission for Children and Young People(opens in a new window) – the Commission for Children and Young People is an organisation providing advice on issues impacting on the lives of children.
• Foster Care Association of Victoria(opens in a new window) – represents the interests of all foster carers, providing support and advice.
• CREATE Foundation(opens in a new window) – connects and empowers children and young people in care and improves the care system through activities, programs, training and policy advice.
• Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare (CECFW)(opens in a new window) – is the peak body for community service organisations delivering child and family support and welfare services.
• Family Court of Australia(opens in a new window) – this court aims to help families resolve disputes through agreement without a formal hearing.
• Children's Court of Victoria(opens in a new window) – this court hears matters relating to child protection and care as well as criminal cases against children.