KNOWLEDGE , ADVOCACY & LEADERSHIP
Through our knowledge and advocacy , Berry Street contributes to a fairer and more inclusive community
Courage is one of our five organisational Values and is epitomised through our motto WE NEVER GIVE UP .
Providing services is necessary , but it ’ s not sufficient . We are committed to using our knowledge and experience of what works to improve policies and practices which will help the people with whom we work .
With 92 % of our funding from government , we are very conscious of our responsibility to be accountable for the way this funding is used and outcomes achieved .
Advocacy – whether on an individual , group or policy level – is part of the life blood of Berry Street . This can be uncomfortable – for funders and us – but is essential if we want to achieve the best possible outcomes .
Some of the highlights include :
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Our first Good Childhood Conference
In partnership with the Foster Care Association of Victoria , leading the ‘ Save Foster Care ’ campaign
Presenting our work at many Australian and some international forums ( Canada , Scotland , Japan , Portugal and New Zealand ) and sponsoring the CREATE National Conference
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Providing four formal submissions to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and participating in two roundtables
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Hosting visits from the Victorian Attorney- General ’ sOffice and contributing a submission to the review of Residential Care
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Playing a leadership role with the development of the Government ’ s Five Year Out of Home Care Plan and Aboriginal Plan and partnership framework between Aboriginal agencies and community service organisations
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Providing briefings to all Victorian Members of Parliament for the State Election
Commissioning work on : the Income Management trial in Shepparton ; barriers to implementing professional foster care and downstream costs of not investing ; our pilot leaving care program ; Connect for Kids and our Early Learning is Fun programs ; and exploring opportunities through the National Disability Insurance Scheme
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Publishing papers on : the trauma impact on children and young people who have experienced natural disasters ( for the Variety Club ); recruitment of GLBTI foster carers ( in partnership with the Benevolent Society ); the impact of our Berry Big Adventure , Foster Care Camps and Wilderness experience on young people ; assisting foster carers to improve educational outcomes for the children and young people in their care ; the impact of play groups for children in kinship care ; a trauma-informed approach for Aboriginal young people leaving care ; analysis of child death reviews ; and a literature review of young people at risk of sexual exploitation , absconding and other significant harms . We are also involved in Australian Research Council projects with Deakin University , the University of NSW and University of Melbourne
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Delivering training on : Yarning Up On Trauma ; Quality of Care ; Therapeutic Residential Care ; and Calmer Classrooms
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Developing program logics for 59 out of 127 ( 44 %) Berry Street programs .
Advocacy – whether on an individual , group or policy level – is part of the life blood of Berry Street .
KNOWLEDGE , ADVOCACY & LEADERSHIP