Our range of Trauma Informed Care services are extensive and are designed to help you.
Collective Caring delivers trauma informed care services that support foster carers, kinship carers and professionals working in out-of-home care across Australia. Our approach recognises that children in foster care often carry complex trauma histories. We work alongside carers to build their understanding and capability to respond to these specialised needs.
With 40 years of combined professional experience, our co-founders Hayley Toon and Kat Baulch have built a service that focuses on both the child’s healing and the carer’s confidence. Every referral is approached through a professional, relational and creative framework that is unique to the family and situation.
Our co-founders and consciously selected team members who deliver a high standard of service utilising theory and experience in practice and life. We believe the best service is provided through the matching of practitioner to the need of the referral and have a team with individualistic styles, passions and skills.
Foster & Kinship Carer Assessments
Collective Caring provides the spectrum of services in supporting professionals and carers who support children in out of home care. From the commencement of the caring journey through to up-skilling and support, Collective Caring provides an evidenced based approach whilst utilising the appropriate State or Territory framework for assessments.
Assessments include:
- General Foster Care Initial Assessments
- General Foster Care Renewal of Assessments
- Kinship Care Initial Assessments
- Kinship Care Renewal of Assessments
- Step-by-Step
- Suitability Assessments
Guardianship Assessments
At Collective Caring, we are committed to promoting permanency and long-term stability for children in care. Our team of specialised assessors and practitioners brings deep expertise in evaluating placements through a Guardianship lens. We understand the vital roles and responsibilities of Foster and Kinship Carers considering the transition to guardianship. With this insight, we conduct comprehensive assessments that take into account the unique needs of each placement and the individual circumstances of the child or children involved.
Our approach ensures that every guardianship recommendation supports the best possible outcomes for the child’s safety, well-being, and future stability.
Training
Quality Care Training
This training is delivered by an experienced and passionate facilitator who utilises adult learning pedagogies to create an engaging and interactive training session.
This training can be delivered virtually which allows for carers from across the State to be able to attend without having to organise child minding or time off work to attend. The virtual mode of delivery also allows for our rural and remote families to be able to attend.
Collective Caring can also provide the Quality Care Training face to face – either within potential carer homes or onsite.
Standard Training
This training assists carers through a reflective practice and upskilling process in their first year as carers. The Standard training can be provided virtually or face to face and is delivered by expert facilitators who weave their experience and stories throughout the session to be sure to engage carers with the content and encourage their reflection and upskilling.
Additional Learning & Development
Supporting the healing for children and families can be a challenging role. In knowing that the best healing support comes through the relationships we form, it is essential that support is provided for carers and staff walking alongside the children and families they serve. Collective Caring believe in the Collective responsibility of the care team in understanding the unique experiences and presenting needs of both the child in placement the carer family unit and those that support them. With this in mind, Collective Caring have developed further learning that focuses on the First year of caring and ongoing learning and skillset development that is required in this specialised role as Carer.
Further training can be created for your organisation or carer network with topics including but not limited to:
- Understanding prenatal trauma that occurs with Domestic and Family Violence
- Understanding the nature of Domestic and Family Violence in relationships
- Creating Resilient Workplaces
Working Collectively- how the team can thrive - Understanding the impacts of Trauma and Attachment for children and young people
These sessions can be provided face to face, within the carers home or virtually through an online platform. All participants will receive a certificate of attendance as well as suitable resources to embed the learning.
Supervision & Support
We acknowledge the important role that carers and professionals within the out of home care system play in creating change for children and young people. Collective Caring is able to provide the following services to aid professionals and carers:
- One-on-one supervision, reflective practice and challenge exploration
- Peer supervision, complex case facilitation and reflection
- Professional Supervision and Social Work practice
- Residential Service support, guidance and peer reflection
- Critical Incident debriefing
- Placement Transition Consultancy
- Carer mediation
- Consultation of placement support and decision making
Collective Caring recognises the importance of having a parallel focus of providing support to carers as well as the resources necessary to provide trauma informed support.
Resources
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why Trauma Informed Care Matters in Foster and Kinship Care
Trauma informed care is essential for children and young people in foster care in Australia. Many have experienced abuse, neglect or family violence. These experiences shape how they see the world and respond to relationships. Our approach helps carers understand these behaviours as adaptations to trauma, not defiance.
We provide specialist support that builds carer capability. Carers learn to create safe, predictable environments where healing can occur. This dual focus on child wellbeing and carer capability sets our service apart. Our tailored, relational approach to every referral and agency ensures support is meaningful and effective.
Do We Have Comprehensive Foster Care Assessments and Carer Assessments
Collective Caring provides foster care assessments and kinship care assessment services for Trauma Informed Care across Australia. Our carer assessments include initial assessments, renewal assessments, step-by-step assessments, suitability, parenting capacity and guardianship assessments. Each assessment uses evidence-based frameworks aligned with State and Territory requirements.
Our foster care assessments are thorough and respectful. We recognise that carer assessments are a partnership, not a test. Every family brings unique strengths to foster care in Australia. Our assessors work collaboratively to identify these strengths and support areas for growth.
Do We have Online training for Foster Carer Training with Trauma Informed Care Principles
We deliver foster carer training through multiple formats to suit your needs. Our growing library of accessible online courses nationwide means carers can learn at their own pace. Virtual training sessions allow participation without arranging childcare or taking time off work. We also offer face-to-face training in carer homes or onsite.
Foster carer training covers trauma informed care principles, attachment theory, behaviour management and self-care strategies. All participants receive certificates of attendance and resources. Our professional, creative responses to complex care situations are informed by decades of practice in out-of-home care.
What do we offer for Kinship Care Assessment and Support
Kinship care assessment requires sensitivity to family dynamics and existing relationships. Our kinship care assessment process honours the connection between child and carer while ensuring safety and suitability. We understand that kinship carers often step into caring roles during family crises.
Our support extends beyond assessment. We provide ongoing training, resources and consultation to kinship carers. This support helps families navigate the complexities of caring for children who have experienced trauma within their own family system.
What is Our Approach to Trauma Informed Care
Trauma informed care at Collective Caring is built on six core principles: safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, empowerment and respect for diversity. These principles guide every interaction with carers, children and agencies. We create environments where trauma survivors feel physically and emotionally safe.
Our services recognise that healing happens in relationships. We support carers to build secure attachments with children in their care. This relational focus is central to our work. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, over 40,000 children are in out-of-home care arrangements across Australia. Each child deserves support that promotes their recovery and development.
Do we service all of Australia
We serve foster carers and kinship carers across Australia. Our virtual training and online courses make trauma informed care accessible to regional and remote families. We understand the unique challenges faced by carers in rural areas.
Whether you need foster care assessments, foster carer training or ongoing consultation, we bring 440 years of combined professional experience to your situation. Contact us to discuss how we can support your caring journey.
What is trauma informed care in foster care?
Trauma informed care is a systems-level approach where organisations understand, recognise and respond to trauma. In foster care, it means carers are equipped to support children who have experienced trauma without causing re-traumatisation. The approach focuses on safety, trust, choice, collaboration, empowerment and respect for diversity. It helps carers understand trauma-based behaviours and respond with skill and compassion to support healing.
What types of carer assessments does Collective Caring provide?
Collective Caring provides general foster care initial assessments, general foster care renewal assessments, kinship care initial assessments, kinship care renewal assessments, step-by-step assessments, suitability assessments, parenting capacity and guardianship assessments. Each assessment uses an evidence-based approach and the appropriate State or Territory framework. Our assessments are tailored to the individual circumstances of the placement and the child involved.
How does trauma informed care support children in out-of-home care?
Trauma informed care supports children by creating safe, predictable environments where healing can occur. It helps carers understand that challenging behaviours are often trauma responses. Carers learn to respond with empathy and skill rather than punishment. This approach builds trust and helps children develop secure attachments. It focuses on the child’s strengths and supports their recovery journey through stable, nurturing relationships.