Prosody Blog
Prosody is the pitch and tone of the human voice. It is the very essence of connection. Our blog hosts articles and stories dedicated to innovation, research and practice with children and young people.
Rock cairns, reflections and lessons from 2020
This blog article was written by Chris Cussen, a Senior Advisor in the Therapeutic Services of the Australian Childhood Foundation. A friend introduced me to proper hiking when I was in my early 20s. I learned about things like switchbacks, trangias, scroggin, gaiters, and cairns as a part of this new adventure. Cairns are …
Read MoreT’was the weeks before Christmas
This blog was written by Noel MacNamara, Executive Manager of Research and Policy at The Australian Childhood Foundation. ‘Tis the season to be dysregulated Fa la la la la, la la la la! Christmas is a very special time of the year for so many of us. Despite our heartfelt desire to provide fun and …
Read MoreMessage of Hope
This article was written by Noel MacNamara, Executive Manager, Research & Policy at the Australian Childhood Foundation, Deputy Director, Centre for Excellence in Therapeutic Care and Carer. Two years ago, we were called to our kinship care child’s school almost daily. Sometimes she had disrupted other children, sometimes she had poked someone with a pencil, one …
Read MoreParenting After Family Violence Program
Women and their children are traumatised by the experience of family violence. It terrifies them. It destabilises the foundations of their world. It undermines the strengths of their relationships. It can overwhelm them. Family violence is experienced deep in the minds and bodies of those who experience it. They see it. They often hear it. …
Read MoreChristmas Isn’t Always Fun for Kids in Care
This article was written by Noel MacNamara, Executive Manager, Research & Policy at the Australian Childhood Foundation and Deputy Director, Centre for Excellence in Therapeutic Care It’s all too easy to get wrapped up in the fun and happiness of Christmas and forget that, for others, the season isn’t necessarily a joyful one. For some …
Read MoreEmpowering Carers with SPACE
This blog article was written by Colin Hayes, Therapeutic Specialist and Shaun Chandran, Manager, Therapeutic Services, Western Australia. In October 2020, the Australian Childhood Foundation launched OurSPACE WA: a new state-wide therapeutic consultation and support service in Western Australia for Department of Communities foster and family carers, where the placement may be under stress and/or …
Read MoreChildren’s mental health starts with adults
This article was written by Dr Joe Tucci, psychologist and social worker and the CEO of the Australian Childhood Foundation. When children see painted wooden spoons appearing in a garden bed in their neighbourhood, they stop and point to them. For them, they are not just wooden spoons. They see them as little people. Spoonville …
Read MoreMindful Parenting
The practise of mindfulness has many benefits. Amongst these, in our work with parents and families, we have observed that it can support parents in their efforts to develop contingent and thoughtful rather than reactive ways of responding to their children. This transformational change in parents comes as the result of the regular mindfulness practice …
Read MoreSibling Relationships in Therapeutic Planning
This article was written by Sue Buratti, Senior Manager of Therapeutic Services in NSW at the Australian Childhood Foundation. Sibling relationships can be the most rewarding and challenging of all relationships across our lifespan. They can provide an unbreakable connection or can be a source of deep pain. For children who cannot live with their …
Read MoreFree Play and Wellbeing
This article was written by Chris Hutchinson, Senior Consultant in the Parenting and Early Years Program at the Australian Childhood Foundation. Play is universal, children all around the world do their own version of play. Even if play is not intentionally encouraged in a country or community somehow children still find ways to play. Through …
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