Name: Strengthening Cultural Connections (Replacing Nikara’s Journey) – Warrnambool
Start: 2026-09-10T09:30:00+10:00
End: 2026-09-11T15:30:00+10:00
Location: Gunditjmara Co-op

June 2026
Therapeutic Foster Care Series — Session 4: ‘Therapeutic care means always saying yes’ – exploring this and other myths about therapeutic care

June 27 @ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Online Zoom

Virtual Event

This session explores the most common myths about therapeutic care and also provides carers the opportunity to have their biggest questions answered. Participants can submit questions prior to the session to ensure it meets their specific and pressing needs.

Date: Saturday 27 June

Time: 10.00am – 1.00pm (3 hours)

Location: Online (Zoom)

Presented by: Marina Dickson

Free
July 2026
Key Word Sign Workshop for carers caring for children with communication difficulties

July 17 @ 10:00 am - July 24 @ 2:00 pm

VACCA Preston 340 Bell Street, Preston, VIC, Australia

Key Word Sign (KWS) is the use of sign and natural gesture to support communication and language development to support children with communication difficulties and who may be at risk of learning difficulties. KWS is useful for children and young people with developmental delays, autism, or other communication challenges. It is a well-known strategy that carers can use across all settings such as homes, daycare and schools.

Date: Friday 17 and Friday 24 July

Time: 10am - 2pm (Lunch included)

Location: VACCA (Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency) 340 Bell Street, Preston VIC 3072

*Please allocate time for travel and finding a car park. Darebin Arts Centre is a 5min walk from the office on Bell Street and offers free all-day parking.

Presenter: Joanna Chalkley, Key Word Sign Victoria

Free
Strengthening School Partnerships for Children in Care

July 23 @ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Online Zoom

Virtual Event

Equip yourself with the knowledge and confidence to advocate effectively for the educational needs and rights of the children and young people in your care

Date: Thursday 23 July

Time: 10.00 AM – 1.00 PM

Location: Online (Zoom)

Presented by: Megan Corcoran, Director of the Wagtail Institute

RSVP Now Free
Strengthening Cultural Connections (Replacing Nikara’s Journey) – Horsham

July 28 @ 9:30 am - July 29 @ 3:30 pm Strengthening Cultural Connections

Wimmera Wellbeing Centre 28 Urquhart Street, Horsham, VIC, Australia

A 2-part introductory workshop on caring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Presented by VACCA. Strengthening Cultural Connections reflects a wide range of topics and information that non-Aboriginal carers need when caring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Click here to view the Participant's Workbook

It would be great if you could familiarise yourself with the participants workbook before attending the training. There is no need to read the entire workbook or print it, as it will be referred to throughout the session.

Time: 9.30 AM - 3.30 PM (may finish early)

Date: Tuesday 28 and Wednesday 29 July 2026

Location: Uniting - Wimmera Wellbeing Centre, 28 Urqhuart Street, Horsham, 3400

Presented by: VACCA

Free
August 2026
Introduction to carer resilience

August 5 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Online Zoom

This 1-hour webinar will introduce carers to the PR6 Model of Resilience which identifies whether a carer’s resilience is currently static, in a forward direction, or in a backward direction.

Date: Wednesday 05 August
Time: 10.00am – 11.00am
Location: Online (Zoom)
Facilitator: Maria Ruberto (Salutegenics)

Free
Reflective Practice/ Cultural Yarns for Carers of Aboriginal Children – August

August 20 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Online Zoom

Virtual Event

An online session designed to support carers to strengthen their confidence, knowledge, and practical skills in nurturing the cultural identity, belonging, and wellbeing of Aboriginal children in their care.

Training Details-

Facilitator: Yolanda Finette

Date: Thursday 20 August

Time: 6.30 PM – 8.30 PM

Location: Online (Zoom)

Free
Supporting Young People through Anxiety and Emotion-Based School Avoidance

August 29 @ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Online Zoom

Virtual Event

This 3-hour webinar will support carers to understand anxiety and how it contributes to school avoidance, strategies to support greater school attendance, and how to engage the school in a collaborative, ‘wrap-around’ approach to school attendance and why this is important.

Training Details-
Facilitator: Karen Young, Hey Sigmund
Date: Saturday 29 August
Time: 10.00 AM – 1.00 PM

Free
September 2026
Strengthening Cultural Connections (Replacing Nikara’s Journey) – Online, 4 & 5 September

September 4 @ 9:30 am - September 5 @ 3:30 pm Strengthening Cultural Connections

Online Zoom

Virtual Event

A 2-part, online, introductory workshop on caring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Presented by VACCA. Strengthening Cultural Connections reflects a wide range of topics and information that non-Aboriginal carers need when caring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Click here to view the Participant's Workbook

It would be great if you could familiarise yourself with the participants workbook before attending the training. There is no need to read the entire workbook or print it, as it will be referred to throughout the session.

Time: 9.30am-3.30pm

Date: Friday 4 & Saturday 5 September 2026

Location: Online

Presented by: VACCA

Free
Neurodiversity Series — Neurodivergent children and young people in care: Understanding, Behaviours & Strategies

September 8 @ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Online Zoom

Virtual Event

Presented by Christina Keeble, this webinar explores recent lived experience research around neurodivergence - Autism & ADHD - including Monotropism, Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), the Double Empathy Problem, and more.

Training Details-

Facilitator: Christina Keeble
Date: Tuesday 08 September
Time: 10.00 AM – 1.00 PM

Free
Strengthening Cultural Connections (Replacing Nikara’s Journey) – Warrnambool

September 10 @ 9:30 am - September 11 @ 3:30 pm Strengthening Cultural Connections

Gunditjmara Co-op 24 Hopkins Rd, Warrnambool, VIC, Australia

A 2-part, introductory workshop on caring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Presented by VACCA. Strengthening Cultural Connections reflects a wide range of topics and information that non-Aboriginal carers need when caring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Click here to view the Participant's Workbook

It would be great if you could familiarise yourself with the participants workbook before attending the training. There is no need to read the entire workbook or print it, as it will be referred to throughout the session.

Time: 9.30am-3.30pm

Date: Thursday 10 & Friday 11 September 2026

Location: Gunditjmara Co-Op, 24 Hopkins Rd Warrnambool – Wilan room

Presented by: VACCA

Free

June 2026

July 2026

August 2026

September 2026