Self-directed Online Learning

Our members have told us that committing to face-to-face learning, or even completing a facilitated online course at a fixed time, can be challenging among the normal day-to-day of caregiving.

So, we’ve taken that feedback onboard and reshaped our training into manageable chunks of learning that can be completed at your own pace, in your own time. These courses cover key concepts in therapeutic parenting for you to add to your kete (basket) of caregiving knowledge.

All Caring Families Aotearoa training is based on Dan Hughes’ Dyadic Developmental Practice, which creates healing through relationships. We also offer training on the National Care Standards for Oranga Tamariki and NGO caregivers.

Each course takes about one hour to complete.

NEW! Understanding well-being through a Cultural Lens

This course will show you how to use a cultural model to develop a holistic view of your own well-being and that of others. It is a gentle learning experience giving you the time to explore how connection and balance contribute towards overall well-being.

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At Caring Families Aotearoa we acknowledge and celebrate the many different cultures that make up and contribute to our country. We embrace these differences as they form the foundation of our identity – both as individuals and as a community. Each culture is steeped in history and lore, and each has their approach to health and well-being. This course focuses on well-being from a Māori perspective.

The information it contains is a humble offering of centuries of knowledge passed down through generations by way of stories, karakia (spiritual incantation), waiata (songs), whakapapa (genealogy) and practice. We have taken a small cross section of that knowledge to share.

Healing using the House Model of Parenting

We look at Kim Golding’s House Model of Parenting, which is a framework designed to help caregivers provide a safe and nurturing environment for children, especially those who have experienced trauma or adversity.

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Using the House Model, we cover the importance of a secure base, fostering strong relationships and the need to support emotional and behavioural development. You will learn about attachment-focused and trauma-informed approaches to connecting with the child in your care, including Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy (PACE).

The key parts of the House Model, such as boundaries, nurture, and guidance, are a common thread across many of our training courses. Healing using the House Model of Parenting will give you a good understanding of them all.

Developmental and Historical Trauma

Developmental trauma refers to the chronic exposure to traumatic events during childhood, such as abuse or neglect, which disrupts normal development and can lead to long-term emotional and psychological issues.

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Historical trauma, on the other hand, is the collective emotional and psychological damage experienced by a group over generations due to significant historical events like colonisation, slavery, war or genocide. Both types of trauma can profoundly affect individuals and communities, influencing behaviours, health outcomes, and social dynamics.

You’ll learn to recognise signs of trauma, understand their effects on emotional regulation, relationships and brain development. Explore strategies to create safe, supportive environments, and much more.

Why Therapeutic Parenting?

Therapeutic parenting is essential for children who have experienced trauma or attachment issues. This approach combines high structure with high nurture, providing a safe and supportive environment where children can heal and develop trust.

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Therapeutic parenting aligns with the principles of manaakitanga (care and compassion), wairuatanga (spiritual wellbeing), and whanaungatanga (building strong relationships). It acknowledges the impact of mamae (hurt) and whētuki (trauma) on tamariki and seeks to restore mauri (life essence) and mana (dignity) through consistent, empathetic, and culturally grounded care.

By using empathy,consistency, and understanding, therapeutic parenting helps children regulate their emotions, form secure attachments, and build healthy relationships. It focuses on addressing the underlying needs behind challenging behaviours, promoting long-term emotional and psychological well-being.

How our Past Shapes Parenting

Our past experiences, especially from childhood, play a significant role in shaping our parenting styles. They can affect the way we communicate with children, including our body language, facial expression and tone of voice.

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What are ACES / Adverse Childhood Experiences?

This course breaks down Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). ACEs are traumatic events that occur in childhood, such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. These experiences can significantly impact a child’s development and long-term health.

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Understanding ACEs is the first step on the journey to therapeutic care. There are four parts to this training:

An introduction to Adverse Childhood Experiences
How to identify ACEs and understand their long-term effects on health and opportunities
Protective factors and therapeutic strategies to support children and help them build resilience
Creating a safe and nurturing environment for children affected by ACEs.

Caregiving 101

We have temporarily withdrawn this training to ensure it gives you all the tools you need when beginning your caregiving journey. Whether you are a statutory or non-statutory caregiver, we want Caregiving 101 to offer guidance to help you understand the roles, challenges and rewards of caregiving. We will let you know when it is available again.

More details coming soon

National Care Standards

The National Care Standards set the minimum requirements that must be met for tamariki and rangatahi in care, as well as the support caregivers should receive when they open their hearts and homes to children.

There are SIX parts to the National Care Standards. We have adapted them into four easy-to-understand, self-directed courses giving caregivers a clear understanding of their rights and responsibilities.

National Care Standards training

Accessing our new training

We aim to make our training available to as many caregivers as possible.

If you are a caregiver or professional supported by an agency other than Oranga Tamariki or Work and Income, please check with your agency first before registering on one of our courses.

Read our faqs

Looking for more?

There’s more exciting online learning to come. Watch this space for some shorter, self-directed versions of our former training courses, as well as some brand new content.

If you want to be the best therapeutic parent you can be, we’ll have a course for you, no matter what stage you are at in your care journey!

Learning Resources

We have put together a library of supplementary training resources to help you on your therapeutic parenting journey. These can be used to help refresh your learning, shared with other caregivers in your network, or printed out to post around your whare (house) as an everyday reminder.

explore our resource library

0800 693 323

Allegations: 0800 693 278

events@caringfamilies.org.nz