Raising them strong

Help the child feel safe and welcome from the moment they arrive

Gently show them around your home – where they’ll sleep, where the toilet is, and where they can find things like toys, the phone, TV or computer. Children often need information repeated, especially when they’re feeling unsure or overwhelmed, so it’s okay to explain things more than once.

Share what life in your home looks like

Let them know about your routines – when you usually eat, bedtime, playtime, and what your family does during the week. This helps them understand what to expect and builds a sense of predictability and comfort.

Talk about family connection with care and clarity

Let the child know when they’ll be seeing or talking to their family, and check in gently about how they’re feeling. Follow the agreed plan with the caseworker or agency and make sure you’re clear about what’s happening. Keep conversations private and respectful – avoid sharing information through the “grapevine” or community chatter.

Always speak kindly about their parents and family

Children carry deep love and loyalty for their families. Don’t criticise their parents or ask lots of probing questions. Create space for the child to yarn about their family at their own pace, without shame or pressure.

Help the child stay connected to the people they care about

Encourage them to put up family photos or special items in their room so they can feel close to home, even while they’re staying with you.

Let them know they can come to you anytime

Explain who they can talk to – and even wake up at night – if they feel sick, have a bad dream, wet the bed, or feel worried. Reassure them that you’re there to support them and that they are not alone.

Learn what matters to them

When they’re ready, ask little things like what foods they enjoy or what they like doing for fun. Keep it relaxed so it doesn’t feel like an interview. These small moments help you get to know them and let them know they matter.

Respect their privacy and personal space

Let the child decide what they want to share about their story. Don’t pressure them to talk and don’t go through their belongings. Trust grows when children feel safe, respected and in control of their own story.

Checklist — Things to check with your caseworker and talk about with the child or young person

• Health needs
Ask your caseworker about any medicines, health needs or routines that help the child feel safe and well. When it feels right, you can also check in with the child or young person, depending on their age and ability, so they feel included in their own care.

• Important records
Ask, your casewoker provide the child's immunisation information, their Blue Book health record, or a copy of their birth certificate. This helps you make sure they get the care they need.

• Family connection
Talk with your caseworker about the child’s family contact arrangements and how these can happen safely and supportively.  When you know the plan, explain it to the child calmly and simply, so they feel prepared and reassured and let them know they can share their feelings or preferences, so they feel included and have a say in what matters to them.

• Health check-ups
Work with your caseworker to organsie a visit to the doctor and dentist for a general check-up. Let the child know you’re doing this to help keep them healthy - not because anything is wrong - so it feels routine and comforting rather than worrying.

Tell them you are there for them and want to help them.

Children and young people thrive when the adults around them create calm routines, offer guidance with kindness, and help them feel safe in their bodies. These everyday habits—what we eat, how we move, how we rest, and how we care for ourselves—build confidence, connection, and wellbeing.

Food and physical activity

Children may arrive with very different experiences around food. Some may feel anxious at mealtimes or prefer familiar foods. Go gently and take your time getting to know what helps them feel comfortable.

Start with simple conversations

• Ask what foods they like and don’t like.
• Check what meals they are used to and explain how your family usually does mealtimes.
• Offer reassurance—there is no pressure, and you’re learning together.

Healthy habits that support wellbeing

• Provide plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Home-cooked food is often cheaper and nourishing.
• Encourage water as the main drink and avoid fizzy drinks and sugary juices.
• Save hot chips and takeaway as an occasional treat.
• Make sure they get enough rest—bedtimes that match their age help them grow and stay well.
• Turn off screens and get moving together: walking, swimming, bike riding or kicking a ball around.
• If they are interested, explore local sports or dance groups. Team activities can build confidence and belonging.

Turn off the TV, get kids walking!

Good hygiene helps children feel confident, comfortable, and ready to participate at school and in the community. A gentle, strengths-based approach goes a long way.

Support them to learn new routines

• Talk about how caring for our bodies helps us feel clean, healthy and proud.
• Keep bath or shower time consistent so it becomes part of their daily rhythm.
• Show them how to wash their face, feet, behind their ears, and how to wash their hair.
• Help with trimming fingernails and toenails.
• Check for nits using conditioner and a fine-tooth comb—most kids get them at some point. Keeping long hair tied back can help.
• Teach them how to blow their nose and explain why it matters (“This helps you breathe easier and keeps your ears clear”).
• Avoid calling children names like “smelly” or “stinky”. Focus on encouragement and helping them understand why hygiene matters for friendships and comfort.
• Keep clothes clean and fresh to help them blend in and feel confident.
• Show teens how to use deodorant, and explain where pads or tampons are kept.

Remind them to wash their face, feet, behind the ears.

TV, computer and game screens can be fun and help kids stay connected, but too much screen-time, or the wrong kind of screen use, can get in the way of rest, learning, safe relationships and real-life connection.

Adults set the limits

• You decide what’s allowed and when—it’s your role to help create safe, balanced screen time.
• Avoid shows or apps with lots of violence, swearing or sexual content.
• Explain to children that many ads try to sell things we don’t always need—so knowing how to switch off the ad and choose for yourself is powerful.
• Try to eat meals away from the TV, so “tucker time” becomes a relaxed moment of connection.
• Pick shows or apps suitable for kids. Make sure the TV or device isn’t just on continuously in the background.
• Turning off the screen opens space for play, talking, creativity, exploring outdoors and being together.

New Social Media Rules for Children

Starting 10 December 2025, the law in Australia says that children under 16 years old cannot hold accounts on many social media platforms. 

This change is designed to keep children safer online by giving them time to grow, learn and engage in more real-life connections before being exposed to the risks of social media.
 

Tips for Carers and Young People

• Explain the changes to the child or young person in a calm way: “Because you’re under 16, this means you won’t be able to keep or start an account on these apps right now—it’s about helping you stay safe and have room to grow.”
• Help them find other ways to stay connected: phone calls, video chats with trusted people, offline hobbies and joining groups that meet in person (sports, culture, art).
• Create a family screen-plan: when screens are OK, when they’re off, what devices we use and in what rooms.
• Monitor how they use devices and talk about what they’re doing online—a safe, open conversation is better than a hidden screen world.
• If they are worried, anxious, feeling left out or pressured because of social media changes, encourage talking with you, a caseworker, teacher or counsellor.
• Remind them: This isn’t a punishment or “you did something wrong”—it’s about safety, wellbeing and helping them build strong connections in real life.

Where to find more info:

we also strongly recommend having open conversations with your caseworker to help navigate this space and best support the children/young people in your care. 

Resources to help parents & carers keep children safe online: 

• Online safety book for parents and carers
• Online safety book for under 5s
• eSafety Parents advice and resources
• Webinars for parents and carers.

Resources to help with reporting online harms: 

• ‘What to do if something bad happens online’ is a flowchart listing the reporting options available for online harm, with links to both eSafety and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation.
• The eSafety Guide is where you can learn about the latest games, apps and social media, including how to protect your information and report harmful content.  
  For full details and guidance: eSafety Commissioner – Social media age restrictions page. ESafety Commissioner FAQs, 

Turning off the screens creates space for play, talking, creativity, exploring the outdooes and having fun with you.

Smoking or vaping near children is harmful—even for a short time. Second-hand smoke or vape aerosol can irritate children’s lungs, cause ear infections, asthma, chest infections, and even increase the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in babies.

By law in NSW:

• Smoking is not allowed in cars when anyone under 16 is present.
• Smoking indoors at home or near children is strongly discouraged to keep them safe.

Tips for carers:

• Never smoke or vape in the same room or car as a child.
• If you smoke, consider quitting or using smoke-free areas outside the home.
• Wash hands and change clothes after smoking to reduce exposure to smoke residue.

Support is available:

• Quitline: 13 78 48
• Local health services can provide free advice, programs, and support to quit.

Remember: Keeping children safe from smoke is one of the simplest ways to protect their health, now and in the future.

Water is fun—but it can be dangerous. Keeping kids safe around water is one of the most important things you can do as a carer.

Always know where children are

• Never leave children alone near water. If you must step away, take them with you.
• Watch toddlers closely near dams, creeks, canals, rivers, pools, or even shallow water. Hold their hand when near open water.
• If you’re having a party, picnic, or BBQ by water, nominate adults specifically to keep an eye on children at all times.
• Make sure anyone looking after the kids is fully alert and not drinking alcohol.

Even a small amount of water—in a bucket, esky, bath, or shallow pool—can be dangerous. Always supervise children and empty water containers after use.

Pool safety

In NSW, all pools and spas must have a compliant safety barrier (Public Health Regulation 2012). Follow these rules:

• Ensure fences, gates, and latches are in good condition.
• Keep pool doors shut and never prop them open.
• Clear the area of climbable objects, like pots or chairs, that children could use to get over the fence.
• Consider taking a first aid or CPR course so you’re ready in an emergency.

Sun safety

Fun in the sun is great—but protection is key.

• Slip, slop, slap: slip on a t-shirt, slop on sunscreen (SPF30+), slap on a hat.
• Keep children out of the sun during peak hours (10am–3pm).
• Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
• Set a good example by being sun smart yourself.

Raising babies and toddlers

• Get a routine going – do things like bath, sleeping and feeding at the same time every day.
• Talk, smile and sing to baby and repeat simple sounds. Baby is learning you are the person who cares!
• Watch out when babies begin to roll and crawl! Never leave little fellas alone on a bed where they could fall.
• By about six months babies start to eat mashed food – rice and pasta, mashed veggies, banana and avocado. Baby formula and water are the best drinks (no juice /cordial) – no cows milk till baby is about 12 months old.
• Baby will need two sleeps a day – keep life calm and predictable. This poster shows you what is the safest way to sleep for a baby
• Crawling babies like to stick things in their mouth, so check out what’s on the floor. Keep poisons, sharp objects and dangerous items locked up high.
• Toddlers are curious and energetic – give them lots of cuddles so they know you care. By 18 months they will begin to feed themselves, say simple words like ‘milk’ and ‘car’ and be able to name food and body parts. At this age they like to climb – keep a close eye on them!
• Use barrier gates or lock doors to stop toddlers going into dangerous places. Keep matches and lighters out of reach.

Keep kids well and get them immunised.

Under the National Immunisation Program, people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent can access free vaccinations that provide protection against some of the most harmful infectious diseases that cause severe illness and deaths in our communities.

It’s free and can be done at your local GP or Aboriginal medical service. For more information, visit the Immunise Australia Program website or download the National immunisation program schedule.

You can get a copy of the child immunisation details at any time through:

• Medicare online accounts
• by requesting a statement through Medicare Australia website: “Immunisation History Statement”
• at your local Medicare Service Centre
• by calling the Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged six months to less than five years are eligible for a free flu shot.

Free flu vaccines are also available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years and over and children aged five to 15 years who have a special medical condition that increases their chances of catching the flu.

Free flu vaccines are available through community controlled Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS), state/territory immunisation clinics and your GP.

Kids can get tired and frustrated and chuck a tantrum very quickly. Try to step in before tantrums begin. Be calm and try to distract kids by giving them something else to do.

Talk about feelings and how they feel.

• make sure kids get rest and plenty of sleep
• distract them with a book, toy or a song
• respond when they say something, show you are listening!
• look them in the eyes – talk about feelings … “It hurts my ears when you shout”
• use physical closeness to calm them.

Never punish or hit a child when they are having a tantrum. If you feel angry, walk away till you calm down. Don’t swear or ‘put down’ the child.

Preschoolers love talking and asking questions. They need good role models to teach them.

• kids can be fussy eaters – try yoghurt, carrot sticks, avocado, rice, meat, fish (without bones), cheesy pasta, noodles, rice and vegies, fruit kebabs, and soft cooked chicken with mashed potatoes and peas. Don’t add salt and sugar to the food
• make meal times fun and relaxed – eat together, praise good eating, teach them to use the fork and spoon
• at this age kids can get lots of colds and infections. Teach them about washing hands before they eat and after going to the toilet
• make sure they brush their teeth and praise them for doing that. Teach them to brush after brekkie and before they go to bed at night
• tell them they’re deadly – kids need to know when they are doing good!

If they are not talking much, they may need their ears checked out. Hearing problems can mean trouble learning at school. Take them to the doctor for a check up.

Most kids begin toilet training at about two or three years old. Boys usually start later than girls. You can tell they are ready if they pull at wet and dirty nappies, or tell you their nappy is wet or if they don’t want to wear nappies anymore.

Getting started

• teach your child words such as wet, dry, wee, poo, it’s coming
• choose a potty, or a special toilet seat with a step so they can get up and feel safe
• make sure the toilet area is safe. Keep cleaners, deodorants and toiletries out of reach
• make sure clothing is easy to get on or off
• teach them to wash their hands after using the toilet or potty.

Give praise for small steps. Toilet training takes time and accidents happen. Try not to get cross!

Children can feel sad or worried when they wake up in a wet bed. Tell the child that bedwetting happens sometimes, don’t be shamed and that they will grow out of it over time.

Explain that sometimes the brain doesn’t send the message to the body to go to the toilet. Change the sheets, don’t make a big fuss. Make sure they have a wash in the morning to feel fresh.

• try leaving a potty in the room at night
• leave a soft light on or tell them to call for you if they don’t like the dark
• waking them up to go to the toilet later in the night sometimes works
• don’t punish or tease the child – this will make it worse
• don’t make young children change the bed – it might feel like punishment.

Talk to the caseworker, doctor or nurse if you are worried.

Find out about local preschools or child care in your area. Going to preschool helps kids get ready for big school. They meet new little friends, have lots of fun and games – and it gives you a break to get things done too!

• babies don’t need toys that cost a lot – they will have fun with wooden spoons, cardboard boxes, pegs and banging saucepans!
• you can tell stories, read to them or play a story CD. Don’t let them watch too much television
• take kids to the park, the beach or bush, or for a picnic – point out birds and trees and talk about what’s around them – ask them ‘what’s that?’
• kids like to pretend – a box of old clothes and shoes and hats can be fun! A sheet over some chairs can be a cubbyhouse
• get them using pencils and crayons, painting, building things with sand and blocks – they can have fun and learn about making things, colours and shapes
• by this age kids can follow simple rules and will enjoy helping you. They are learning about playing, getting along, sharing and how to take turns.