Event Details

Please note that this group is currently FULL.  You can email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register your interest to go on the wait list.

The FCAV, Carer Assistance Program (CAP) Therapeutic Group, will focus on children’s challenging behaviours and is a forum to normalise and validate issues for Permanent Carers.

This Therapeutic Group is for Permanent Carers.

It will run over four weekly sessions.  These 1.5 hr sessions are held ONLINE via Zoom.  It is encouraged that you attend all four sessions.

The CAP Therapeutic Group will explore children's challenging behaviours and how Permanent Carers can manage their wellbeing.

Often Permanent Carers can feel isolated and alone, and these sessions will encourage shared stories to provide significant learning, as well as skills to manage carer wellbeing.

David Susman PHD, states the benefits of therapeutic groupwork as:
1) Realizing you are not alone
2) Expressing your feelings
3) Learning helpful information
4) Improved social skills
5) Gaining hope
6) Reducing distress
7) Increased self-understanding
8) Helping others
9) Affordability

The groupwork therapeutic model will allow Permanent carers to explore challenges and parental stress they have experienced within the safety of a group environment while connecting with other carers with share lived experiences.

Each weekly session will explore a theme and provide an opportunity for discussion along with tools to practice carer self-care and wellbeing.

Session 1: Parenting Stress

• Introductions
• What is Parental Stress?
• Identify and explore this within the context of Permanent and Long-Term Foster care carers.
• Exploring the personal impact on wellbeing e.g what it ‘feels like’ - anxiety &mental health
• Exploring Mindfulness/Mindfulness practice

Session 2: Parenting Styles

• When we have different parenting Styles
• how do we find the middle ground with therapeutic parenting?
• Breakout room for mindfulness practice/ self-compassion

Session 3: Challenging Behaviours & System Stress (schools and access)

• Navigating the challenging behaviours/hurdles
• Strategies for coping (individual and other members of the carer household/bio children)
• Breakout room for mindfulness practice

Session 4: Building Hope

• Exploring hopefulness/reframing/new stories
• Self-care – what does this mean?
• Mindfulness practice

FCAV Group Facilitators:

Tessa Hughes, FCAV’s CISS Manager and former meditation teacher ran a Mediation business for 5 years offering a variety of opportunities in a range of settings including schools, hospitals, and corporate organisation prior to coming to lead the support team at FCAV. Tessa has experience working for DHHS and the non-government sector for over 20 years prior to joining the FCAV team.

Nic Masuku, carries deep experience working with in the Child youth and family sector, focusing on increasing and supporting families improve their relational focus and build parental capacity. Nic recently joined the CAP team, providing counselling and therapeutic support to permanent carers and their experiencing in Family therapy has been helpful in supporting carers/parents to process an understand their experiences.

As this is an online group, both Metro and Regional Permanent Carers are encouraged to attend.  

* This Group is for Permanent Carers only.  If you have any questions, please email us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Presented by: Foster Care Association of Victoria

Please note that Carer KaFÉ can cover the cost of babysitting while you attend a Carer KaFÉ training session.  You need to organise for an approved babysitter via your agency.  This needs to be organised and approved by Carer KaFÉ at least one week prior to the training session.