Strengthening Relationships & Connections Southern Cross Uni

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Strengthening relationships and connections for young people in therapeutic residential care

Young people in residential care face major challenges that can prevent them from forming healthy relationships and a strong personal identity, which are critical building blocks for their wellbeing and safety. For the first time in a large-scale mixed-methods study, we are listening to young people living in therapeutic residential care, staff and managers across NSW about current practice and how it can be improved.

This project aims to understand the practices that help young people living in therapeutic residential care to form strong, healthy relationships and have a positive self-identity.

Research Team

The study is being undertaken by an expert team led by Professor Lynne McPherson working with Professor Anne Graham, Dr Antonia Canosa and Dr Kylie Day at the Centre for Children and Young People (SCU). They are joined by leading international researchers Professor Kathomi Gatwiri (Flinders University), Associate Professor Tim Moore (ACU), Dr Donnah Anderson (Charles Sturt University), Professor Robbie Gilligan (Trinity College, IRL), and Adjunct Associate Professor Janise Mitchell (Centre for Excellence in Therapeutic Care).

Our project was co-designed with a group of young people with lived experience of life in the residential care system and guided by an adult advisory group comprised of international academics, policy actors, providers of intensive therapeutic care in NSW and cultural advisors.

Project Outputs

Policy Analysis: Strengthening relationships and connections for young people in Therapeutic Residential Care

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Feeling safe and well in ‘resi care:’ The importance of being valued, respected and cared about

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Feeling safe and well in ‘resi care:’ Perspectives from young people and staff

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How is Therapeutic Residential Care constructed within key policy documents?

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Young people’s lived experience of relational practices in Therapeutic Residential Care in Australia

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Lived experiences of First Nations children in Therapeutic Residential Care

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Research Partners

The project is funded by the Australian Research Council (LP210100177) and the Centre for Excellence in Therapeutic Care (CETC), a division of the Australian Childhood Foundation. Our collaborating partners include the Australian Catholic University, Charles Sturt University and Trinity College in Dublin.

PhD candidate

PhD candidate Kelly Hand has been selected to receive the project’s embedded research scholarship and is supervised by Professor Lynne McPherson, Dr Kylie Day and Dr Antonia Canosa. Her thesis is titled: ‘Connecting with family in out of home care: understanding young people’s experiences of engaging with family’ Read more here.

Kelly is currently interviewing care leavers and families to learn about what it was like trying to stay connected when they were living in care. If you would like to take part in this research, please contact Kelly. Your story could contribute to real change in the lives of children and young people living in care!