Online Courses

How do kids learn to trust? How do they feel safe, discover who they are, and believe that the world is a place they belong?

This 2-hour course invites carers to explore how early attachment and trust shape behaviour—and how we can respond with Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy.

Together, we’ll look at:

• Attachment and intersubjectivity
• Patterns of trust (and what happens when trust is blocked)
• Recognising and avoiding blocked care
• Understanding toxic shame
• Bringing PACE into everyday therapeutic parenting

Develop practical tools and a fresh mindset to help you connect, repair, and nurture healing relationships.

Caring for a child who has experienced complex trauma requires both understanding and compassion. This course equips carers with a clear foundation in what trauma is and how it impacts children’s development, behaviour, and relationships. Building this knowledge is the first step before exploring specific strategies, which will be covered in Part 2 of the course.

By the end of this course, you will have:

• A deeper understanding of how trauma shapes children’s behaviour and responses
• Greater confidence in supporting children who have experienced trauma
• Practical insights into strengthening your relationship with your child
• Enhanced awareness and sensitivity to the dynamics of trauma

Building on Part 1, this course shifts from understanding trauma to applying trauma-informed care in daily life. Carers will gain practical tools and confidence to support children who have experienced complex trauma, with a focus on strengthening relationships and promoting healing.

By the end of this course, you will have:

• What it means to be trauma-informed
• How respectful relationships create the foundation for healing
• Supporting your child’s sense of safety and emotional regulation
• Staying regulated and connected as a carer
• The role of connection, “time in,” and therapeutic parenting
• Applying Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy (PACE) in practice

When caring for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and young people, it is vital to understand the significance of culture, history, and identity. This course provides carers and workers with essential knowledge about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their culture, and the importance of maintaining strong cultural connections for children and young people in care.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Develop a greater understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, including music, art, and history
• Gain awareness of Australia’s history in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people
• Interpret statistical information relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in care
• Understand key policies and legislation related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people
• Recognise the importance of cultural identity and maintaining family and community connections

Aboriginal culture is central to identity, belonging, and wellbeing. For Aboriginal children, maintaining cultural connection is a vital protective factor that supports healing, resilience, and a strong sense of self.

This course provides an introduction to:

• What culture is and why it matters
• Legal definitions and confirmation of Aboriginality
• Who Aboriginal peoples are and the diversity of communities
• Aboriginal population in Australia
• Key examples of Aboriginal cultural practices and traditions

By the end, you will have a clearer understanding of Aboriginal culture and its importance for children, families, and communities.

As a carer, it is highly likely that you will support a child or young person who has experienced grief and loss. This course is designed to strengthen your existing skills while equipping you with additional practical strategies to provide sensitive and effective care.

Key learning areas of this course:

• Defining grief and loss in the context of out-of-home care
• Understanding the different types of grief and loss experienced by children and young people in care
• Recognising behaviours that may be expressions of grief
• Exploring the process of grief and how it unfolds over time
• Practical approaches to supporting grieving children and young people
• Case studies to apply learning to real-life scenarios

Grief and loss are universal human experiences. This course will help you better understand their impact and respond in ways that promote healing, resilience, and connection.

Family time is a vital part of life for children and young people who are unable to live with their parents. It strengthens bonds, maintains important relationships, and supports a child’s identity and sense of belonging. This course explores the significance and complexity of family time, providing carers with the knowledge, strategies, and confidence to promote positive experiences for children in their care.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the role of bonding, attachment, and identity in family time
• Recognise the importance of maintaining relationships with parents and significant others
• Explore the dynamics of contact, including common barriers and challenges
• Apply knowledge of legislation and policies that guide family time in out-of-home care
• Use practical strategies to promote and facilitate meaningful family time
• Learn from case studies that illustrate both the challenges and benefits of family time

In 2023, Australia recorded 3,214 deaths by suicide, averaging nine lives lost per day. Suicide remains the leading cause of premature death, particularly affecting young people, and tragically, Indigenous Australians experience rates nearly three times higher than non‑Indigenous Australians.

You can make a profound difference in the life of a young person experiencing suicidal thoughts. This course is designed to elevate your awareness and equip you with the skills needed to prevent suicide and provide timely, compassionate support.

This course explores:

• Defining suicide: understanding terminology and context
• Why young people may contemplate suicide
• Recognising possible warning signs
• Identifying risk factors and protective factors
• Debunking common myths and housing essential facts
• Responding to and supporting a child or young person at risk

Understanding the impact of trauma on brain development is essential for providing effective care to children and young people in out-of-home care. This course provides a clear foundation in how the brain typically develops, followed by an exploration of how early trauma can disrupt this process and influence behaviour, emotions, and learning.

Key Areas of Learning:

• Typical brain development during pregnancy and early childhood
• Functions of the brain stem, and the left and right hemispheres
• Emotional development and its effect on the infant brain
• The overactive fight-or-flight response in traumatised children
• The role of the environment in shaping brain development
• How early abuse and adverse experiences affect neurological growth
• The impact of trauma on learning and daily functioning
• Case studies applying theory to real-world care scenarios

Domestic and family violence has a profound and lasting impact on children and young people, shaping their emotional wellbeing, behaviour, and development. With emotional abuse being one of the most frequently substantiated forms of child maltreatment in Australia, it is essential that carers understand both the dynamics of domestic violence and how to provide effective support.

In this course, you will explore:

• The different types of domestic and family violence
• The impact of witnessing violence on children and young people
• The role of domestic violence within the Australian child protection system
• Best-practice approaches to supporting children who have witnessed violence

Resilience is the psychological strength that enables us to cope with stress, adapt to change, and recover from adversity. It is the capacity to “bounce back” during times of hardship, whether facing everyday challenges or more significant life events such as trauma, abuse, homelessness, or separation from family. How children and young people respond to these experiences can have a profound impact on both their immediate wellbeing and long-term development.

This course explores:

• What resilience is and why it matters
• Recognising signs of resilience in children and young people
• Building and strengthening resilience in everyday life
• The importance of carers’ own resilience in supporting children effectively

Relevant for all carers, this course offers practical strategies and insights to foster resilience in both you and the children or young people in your care.

Child protection is at the heart of out-of-home care. Every child has the right to safety, stability, and a nurturing environment—yet many enter care because of abuse or neglect. As a carer, you play a vital role in recognising the signs, responding appropriately, and being part of a system that protects children and promotes healing.

Key Learning Areas

• How to identify and respond to abuse and neglect with confidence
• The different types of child abuse and their impact on children’s lives
• Definitions and warning signs that every carer must know
• Real-world case studies showing the realities children in care have faced—and how carers can make a difference

This course equips you not just with knowledge, but with the awareness and tools to act, protect, and advocate for the children and young people who need it most.

Change is a natural part of life—but for children who have experienced trauma, transitions can be especially overwhelming. Whether it’s starting a new school, moving placements, or saying goodbye to a loved one, these moments can trigger deep feelings of fear, grief, and uncertainty. As carers, your role in guiding children through change is critical, while also managing your own experiences of transition and loss.

This course equips carers with the insight and strategies to support children and young people during times of change, while also strengthening carers’ ability to care for themselves.

Key Learning Areas

• Understanding how trauma shapes a child’s response to transition and change
• Practical skills to support children through significant life changes
• Strategies to help children build resilience and adapt to new circumstances
• Recognising and managing your own emotions as a carer when children move on
• Balancing empathy, stability, and boundaries during times of transition

Restoration and transition are significant milestones in a child’s care journey. For children and young people, returning home to their parents can bring both hope and uncertainty. Carers play a crucial role in supporting this process—helping children feel safe, prepared, and connected while also working alongside families and the care team.

In this course, you will explore:

• Why children are restored to their parents
• How restoration decisions are made
• The skills and knowledge parents must demonstrate for restoration
• Factors that support successful restorations
• Practical ways carers can prepare and support children and families through the process

This is a short, snapshot course. For a more in-depth look at challenging behavours, complete the course titled Developmental Trauma and the impact on behaviour.

Caring for children and young people in out-of-home care often means supporting those who display challenging behaviours. Many have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, or inconsistent parenting, leaving them without the stability and guidance needed to develop healthy coping skills. As a result, their behaviour can reflect deep feelings of fear, confusion, and unmet needs.

This course equips carers with the knowledge and strategies to understand and respond effectively to challenging behaviours, while fostering connection and growth.

In this course, you will explore:

• What constitutes challenging behaviour
• Stages of child development and age-related behaviours
• The impact of trauma on behaviour and learning
• The influence of intellectual disabilities and autism
• Underlying causes and reasons for challenging behaviours
• Practical strategies for responding to and managing behaviours
• Case scenarios to apply learning in real-life contexts

Attachment and bonding are central to human development, shaping how we relate to ourselves and others throughout life. For children and young people in care, secure attachment is especially critical to their sense of safety, trust, and wellbeing. By understanding both children’s and our own attachment styles, carers can strengthen relationships and provide the secure base children need to feel protected and confident.

In this course, you will explore:

• The different types of attachment styles that form from infancy
• Key characteristics of each attachment style in children, young people, parents, and caregivers
• How attachment styles influence behaviour and relationships across the lifespan
• Case scenarios that illustrate attachment styles in practice

Caring for substance-exposed infants is both rewarding and complex. This essential course equips foster and kinship carers with the knowledge, compassion, and confidence to support babies affected by prenatal substance exposure. You’ll gain practical, trauma-informed, evidence-based strategies that make a real difference in a child’s healing journey.

By the end of this course, carers will be able to:

• Describe how prenatal exposure to substances such as alcohol, opioids, methamphetamines, cannabis, and poly-substances affects infant growth, behaviour, and development—both at birth and later in life
• Recognise the physical, neurological, and behavioural impacts of different substances
• Apply trauma-informed strategies to support babies experiencing withdrawal
• Identify ways to respond to developmental delays and behavioural challenges
• Work collaboratively with birth families, health professionals, and support services
• Provide calm, consistent care that promotes infant safety, stability, and healing

Thank you for stepping into the vital role of caring for a child or young person within your extended family or community. When children are unable to remain with their parents, kinship care provides an essential sense of belonging and continuity, helping them stay connected to their family, culture, and identity. Kin carers play a unique and irreplaceable role in providing this stability and connection.

Kinship and relative care can be deeply rewarding, offering the opportunity to influence a child’s future in profound and lasting ways. At the same time, it brings unique challenges that require understanding, resilience, and support.

This course is designed to equip kinship carers with practical knowledge and strategies to navigate challenges with confidence, while strengthening their ability to provide safe, nurturing, and connected care.

By the end of this course, carers will be able to:

• Understand the unique role and responsibilities of kinship care
• Recognise both the rewards and challenges of kinship and relative care
• Strengthen children’s sense of belonging and identity within their family network
• Apply strategies to navigate challenging situations with confidence
• Build resilience and seek support when needed

Every child and young person has a life story that is unique, valuable, and worth preserving. For those in care, life story work is a vital way to promote identity, belonging, and healing. This short course highlights the importance of capturing and nurturing each child’s individual journey in a way that honours who they are and where they come from.

By the end of this course, carers will be able to:

• Define what life story work is and why it matters
• Understand the importance of life story work for children and young people in care
• Apply creative and practical approaches to life story work
• Involve children and young people in shaping their own life story
• Learn from case studies that demonstrate the lifelong impact of life story work

Research shows that between 20–40% of girls and 10–15% of boys experience sexual abuse before the age of 16. The impact of such experiences can be profound and lifelong. This course is designed to increase carers’ understanding of child sexual abuse, its effects on children and young people, and to provide practical strategies for offering safe, supportive, and informed care.

By the end of this course, carers will be able to:

• Define what sexual abuse is—and what it is not
• Understand how child sexual abuse can occur
• Recognise the short- and long-term effects of sexual abuse
• Respond appropriately when a child discloses sexual abuse
• Anticipate behaviours that may result from trauma and apply effective strategies to manage them
• Learn from case scenarios that illustrate the realities of supporting children who have experienced sexual abuse

As a carer, you may support a child or young person whose culture and background differ from your own. Children and young people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds often face unique challenges when placed in care, particularly when living with families from a different culture. Maintaining their cultural identity is vital for their sense of belonging, identity, and wellbeing.

This course raises awareness of the importance of cultural identity and provides carers with practical strategies to honour, respect, and actively support the culture of children and young people in their care.

By the end of this course, carers will be able to:

• Understand what is meant by Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds
• Recognise the importance of maintaining a child or young person’s cultural identity in care
• Identify common cultural challenges for CALD children and young people living in families of a different culture
• Explore potential issues carers may face when supporting CALD children
• Develop practical strategies to actively participate in and support a child’s cultural practices and identity

Caring for or working with children and young people brings many rewards, but it can also involve challenges—one of which is supporting those who experience anxiety. Anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns for children and young people, and understanding its causes and impacts is key to providing effective care.

This course builds knowledge and awareness of anxiety, exploring its underlying causes, including the role of grief and loss. Through practical insights and real-life case studies, carers will gain confidence in recognising signs of anxiety and supporting children and young people to manage and overcome their challenges.

By the end of this course, carers will be able to:

• Understand the underlying causes of anxiety, including grief and loss
• Recognise how anxiety disorders affect children and young people
• Identify common triggers of anxiety in everyday situations
• Recognise the signs and symptoms of anxiety
• Apply strategies to support children and young people experiencing anxiety
• Learn from case studies demonstrating practical responses to anxiety

Whether you are a foster carer, kinship carer, adoptive parent, or a worker in the out-of-home care sector, advocacy is a vital part of your role. There will be many occasions when you will need to speak up for the child or young person in your care, for yourself, your family, or for others. Effective advocacy ensures that voices are heard, rights are protected, and positive change can occur.

This course provides carers and professionals with the knowledge and skills to advocate with confidence, grounded in principles of rights, empowerment, and social justice.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Define advocacy and understand its importance in out-of-home care
• Recognise when and why advocacy is needed
• Identify different types of advocacy and when to use them
• Navigate advocacy processes effectively
• Understand the rights of children, young people, and carers
• Apply principles of social justice and empowerment in practice
• Set clear and achievable advocacy goals

‘…not every young person’s experience of sex has been positive. Our goal is to support young people reach a positive sexual sense of self despite past trauma.’

For many young people in out-of-home care or justice settings, past trauma can make conversations about sexual health and relationships complex but essential. Trauma often leads to poorer health outcomes, and carers play a key role in helping young people develop a positive sexual sense of self, despite difficult histories.

This course equips carers and workers with the skills to engage young people in open, sex-positive discussions, empowering them to make safe and informed choices.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the importance of sexual health promotion in a trauma-informed context
• Support young people to build a positive sense of self and healthy relationships
• Discuss what healthy relationships look like and how to identify problems
• Provide guidance on recognising and safely exiting problematic relationships

Developed by NSW Health

Trust and respect are essential foundations for supporting young people with mental health challenges. For carers, building respectful relationships creates a sense of safety and partnership, while fostering understanding and hope. This course provides carers with practical tools and insights to connect meaningfully with young people, respond with compassion, and offer informed, effective support.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the importance of trust and respect in supporting young people’s mental health
• Recognise common mental health concerns in children and young people in care
• Apply compassionate, trauma-informed approaches to everyday interactions
• Strengthen communication skills to build safety and connection
• Provide consistent support that empowers young people in their recovery journey

Understanding human development theories can be a game-changer for foster and kinship/relative carers. These frameworks provide insight into how children grow emotionally, cognitively, and socially, and help carers recognise milestones, address trauma, and respond to individual needs with empathy and confidence. By applying these theories, carers can create nurturing environments that foster security, healing, and growth.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Explain key human development theories, including Erikson’s Psychosocial Development Theory, Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, and the Lifespan Development Perspective
• Recognise developmental milestones and understand how trauma can disrupt development
• Apply strategies to support repair and growth in children and young people
• Respond to children’s emotional, cognitive, and social needs with empathy and confidence
• Strengthen relationships with children through informed and compassionate care

Being a foster carer is both a privilege and a profound responsibility. The NSW Carer Code of Conduct sets clear expectations to guide carers in providing safe, respectful, and nurturing care for vulnerable children and young people. This course unpacks the Code in a practical, easy-to-understand way—helping carers feel confident in their role, aware of their rights and responsibilities, and prepared to respond if issues arise.

Whether you are new to fostering or an experienced carer, this course will strengthen your practice, promote accountability, and protect the children in your care. By understanding and upholding these standards, carers model integrity and professionalism—making a lasting difference in children’s lives.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the purpose and principles of the NSW Carer Code of Conduct
• Identify carers’ rights and responsibilities under the Code
• Apply the Code in everyday practice to ensure safe, respectful care
• Recognise potential issues and know the appropriate steps to take
• Strengthen accountability and professionalism in their caring role

Caring for vulnerable children is both rewarding and emotionally demanding. Foster carers often prioritise the needs of others, leaving little time to focus on their own wellbeing. This course is designed to put the carer first—providing practical tools and compassionate guidance to support emotional, physical, and mental health.

Through evidence-based strategies, real-life insights, and reflective practice, carers will learn how to recognise stress, prevent burnout, and sustain themselves in their vital role. When carers feel strong, supported, and valued, children in their care are best placed to heal, grow, and thrive.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Recognise signs of stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout
• Apply practical self-care strategies to maintain emotional, physical, and mental health
• Develop techniques for managing stress in daily life
• Build resilience and a sustainable foundation for long-term caregiving
• Understand the importance of prioritising carer wellbeing for the benefit of children in care

Caring for substance-exposed infants can be both deeply rewarding and incredibly complex. This essential course empowers foster and kinship carers with the knowledge, compassion, and confidence to support babies affected by prenatal substance exposure. You’ll explore the physical, neurological, and behavioural impacts of substances like alcohol, opioids, methamphetamines, and other substances including poly-substances—and learn how to respond with trauma-informed, evidence-based strategies that make a real difference in a child’s healing journey.

From recognising the signs of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) to using practical soothing techniques and working with multidisciplinary teams, this course equips you with tools you can use immediately. Whether you’re supporting a baby through withdrawal, managing developmental delays, or working alongside birth families and health professionals, you’ll gain the clarity and confidence to provide the calm, consistent care these vulnerable infants need most.

Module 2 explores:

• Recognise Signs of Withdrawal in Newborns
• Provide Trauma-Informed Non-Judgmental Care
• Use Practical, Evidence-Based Soothing Techniques
• Work Collaboratively with Health and Support Services

Separation from family of origin is one of the most difficult and distressing experiences a child can face. For children entering care, this transition can bring fear, grief, confusion, and loss. Foster carers play a vital role in helping children feel safe and supported during this critical time. This course provides insight into the emotional impact of separation and equips carers with practical strategies to offer stability, compassion, and reassurance.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the emotional effects of separation on children and young people
• Recognise behaviours that may signal distress or grief following separation
• Provide stability and reassurance during times of transition
• Apply trauma-informed strategies to support healing and adjustment
• Strengthen a child’s sense of safety and belonging in their new environment

Children who have experienced trauma often express their distress through behaviour. Understanding developmental trauma is essential for carers, as it provides insight into how early experiences shape brain development, emotional regulation, and behaviour. This course equips carers with practical, trauma-informed strategies to respond with empathy, confidence, and consistency.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Explain how early trauma impacts brain development and emotional regulation
• Recognise behaviours that may reflect underlying trauma
• Apply trauma-informed strategies to support children and young people effectively
• Respond to challenging behaviours with empathy and consistency
• Build confidence in supporting children’s healing and resilience

Practical, focused, and time-friendly—these 30-minute courses deliver essential knowledge and strategies to support your role as a carer.

Courses include:

Respectful Relationships with Young People with Mental Health Concerns

Carer Wellbeing

Understanding the NSW Code of Conduct

Anxiety in Children and Young People

Attachment and Bonding

Being a Trauma-Informed Carer – Part 1

Being a Trauma-Informed Carer – Part 2

Caring for a Child or Young Person Who Has Experienced Sexual Abuse

Understanding and Responding to Challenging Behaviours

Caring for teenagers with trauma backgrounds can be both challenging and rewarding. Strong Foundations: Caring for Teens with Complex Needs (Parts 1 & 2) lays the groundwork for understanding why teens behave the way they do, and how carers can respond in ways that promote safety, trust, and healing. You’ll learn how trauma affects the teenage brain, why traditional discipline often backfires, and how to see beyond behaviours to the needs underneath. With a focus on connection and practical strategies, this course helps carers shift from reacting to responding—especially in the most difficult moments.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
• Understand how trauma impacts the teenage brain and development
• Recognise what lies beneath challenging behaviours in teens with trauma backgrounds
• Identify why traditional discipline methods often escalate rather than resolve behaviours
• Apply strategies that calm, connect, and support healing during conflict
• Build trust and safety through consistent, relationship-based approaches
• Shift from reactive responses to thoughtful, supportive interventions

Part 2: Deepening the Work and Sustaining the Journey builds on the foundations of trauma-informed care and takes carers further into the practical, everyday realities of supporting teens with complex needs. This stage of the course focuses on empowering young people, strengthening collaboration with care teams, and ensuring carers sustain their own wellbeing throughout the journey. With a strong emphasis on reflection and real-life application, this part helps carers remain steady, compassionate, and effective in their role.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
• Support teenagers to find their voice and develop autonomy
• Use co-regulation and emotional coaching to build trust and resilience
• Work effectively with resistance, shutdowns, and identity struggles
• Collaborate with caseworkers, schools, therapists, and care teams more effectively
• Advocate for teens within complex systems with clarity and confidence
• Recognise the signs of carer stress, secondary trauma, and burnout—and respond proactively
• Apply practical self-care strategies to maintain balance and wellbeing without guilt
• Use reflective practice to stay connected, compassionate, and purposeful in the care journey

This course helps carers understand their vital role in easing the transition for children returning to their birth families. It's structured to balance practical guidance, emotional support, and system awareness — all within the Australian child protection context.

Young people who identify as LGBTQI+ often face unique challenges, including stigma, discrimination, rejection, and increased risk of mental health concerns. For those in out-of-home care, these challenges can be intensified by experiences of trauma and instability. Carers play a vital role in providing safety, affirmation, and belonging. This course equips carers with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to support LGBTQI+ young people with understanding, respect, and compassion—helping them thrive as their authentic selves.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
• Understand key terms, concepts, and identities within the LGBTQI+ community
• Recognise the unique challenges faced by LGBTQI+ young people in care
• Apply strategies to create safe, inclusive, and affirming environments
• Respond to discrimination, stigma, and bullying with confidence
• Support positive identity development, self-expression, and resilience
• Collaborate with care teams, schools, and community supports to strengthen outcomes