Shared Lives Carer Training

Shared Lives Carer Training

Shared Lives Carer Training is a trauma-informed foster care and caregiving training program developed by the Association of Children's Welfare Agencies (ACWA) Centre for Community Welfare Training (CCWT).

The program supports prospective and approved carers across a range of out-of-home care arrangements, including foster care, kinship care, respite care, and other family-based care settings. It may also support professionals and practitioners working alongside children, young people, carers, and families within the out-of-home care sector.

The training encourages reflective, therapeutic, and relationship-focused approaches to caregiving that support safety, connection, and stability for children and young people in care.

You’ll learn how to:

  • Understand the impact of trauma, attachment disruptions, grief, and loss on children and young people

  • Strengthen therapeutic responses to behaviours and emotional needs

  • Build safe, nurturing, and relationship-focused caregiving environments

  • Support emotional regulation, identity, belonging, and connection

  • Strengthen reflective caregiving and communication skills

  • Work collaboratively with professionals, families, and support networks

Topics covered may include, but are not limited to:

  • Trauma and brain development

  • Attachment and relationships

  • Emotional regulation and behaviour

  • Therapeutic caregiving approaches

  • Connection, belonging, and cultural identity

  • Reflective practice and self-awareness

  • Supporting children and young people with complex or additional needs

This training is suitable for:

  • Prospective and approved foster carers

  • Kinship carers

  • Professionals working within the out-of-home care sector

Delivery arrangements:

  • Shared Lives training is delivered exclusively under formal arrangements with authorised or registered Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) providers and associated organisations.

  • Public enrolments are not currently available for this program.

How to Book:

We offer flexible Shared Lives training options for authorised or registered Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) agencies only.

To enquire about private training delivery or opportunities for Hear to Empower to facilitate or co-facilitate Shared Lives training within your agency, please submit an enquiry or contact us directly to discuss your organisation’s needs.

Shared Lives training is not offered as a public course. Pricing and tailored training packages are available upon enquiry.

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