Children & Parenting
Homelessness affects Children and Parenting
Despite popular belief, children are one of the largest groups of Australians experiencing homelessness. In fact, children under the age of 18 make up 27% of people experiencing homelessness (ABS, 2012). In 2015-16, approximately 4,000 people presented to a homelessness service in the eastern region with one or more children.
Homelessness can affect children in different ways. Children don’t necessarily see homelessness as whether they have a house, but rather the level of connectedness to family, the presence or absence of fear and feelings of instability and insecurity. (Keys. C, 2009, Children and Homelessness: literature review)
Statewide Children’s Resource Program (CRP)
The Statewide Children’s Resource Program (SCRP) advocates for and assists practitioners in homelessness support and other non-government services to respond more effectively to the needs of children who have experienced homelessness and/or family violence.
Regional CRP Representatives
Each region across the state of Victoria has a Children's Resource Program Respresentative who offers flexible and tailored support to agencies. This includes regional information; training; support and resources; and promoting best practice to those working with children in homelessness and support services. They also administer the Children's Brokerage Funds.
Sector News
Staff from Opening Doors, Women’s Refuges, Family Violence Support agencies, Family Support Services, Police FV Liaison and other agencies who work with families experiencing homelessness and family violence are invited to attend. We love to see familiar faces and new faces are welcome as well so please feel free to invite people you feel may benefit from this meeting.
This network will provide a forum for agency updates, sharing of resource information and practice challenges, discussions around regional themes, opportunities for case discussions and the potential to invite guest speakers as well as possibilities for interagency collaboration and capacity building.
Training
The Ringwood Magistrates’ Court Specialist Family Violence Service invites you to participate in the: “Walk in Her Shoes Tour”
Join us for a tour of the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court. It is anticipated that you will gain a sense of the experience of applying for an intervention order and gain knowledge and understanding of the court process, including an overview of the support services available at court.
Upcoming Events
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Thu 13-Jun-24 9:30am-11:30am (2 Hrs)
Staff from Opening Doors, Women’s Refuges, Family Violence Support agencies, Family Support Services, Police FV Liaison and other agencies who work with families experiencing homelessness and family violence are invited to attend. We love to see familiar faces and new faces are welcome as well so please feel free to invite people you feel may benefit from this meeting.
Client Supports and Activities
Uniting deliver youth support programs for young people aged 15‐25 in the Eastern Metro Region who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness and family breakdown. To access support, young people can contact us or drop into our Ringwood entry point, with youth workers available to triage calls and
presentations.
Research and Reports
In late 2021, The Salvation Army did a nationwide Social Justice Stocktake to get to the heart of what people were seeing in their local communities. From there, they built a map of social justice priorities across Australia.
Practitioner Resources
CEEP funding supports young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to develop and sustain pathways into Education Employment and Training (EET). Brokerage funds assist young people to purchase uniforms, books and school materials, tools, education fees, work clothes, computers, public transport and other EET related expenses.
Uniting are the administrators for the Eastern Metro.