HE KETE AKORANGA
Caregiver Training
The training offered by Caring Families Aotearoa is for caregivers parenting tamariki and rangatahi who have relationship difficulties, especially children who have experienced insecure attachments, trauma, loss and or separation, or family violence.
Our training model is based on the latest research, and pays special attention to the parenting attitude of PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy). It provides an understanding without judging the internal experience of the child. It also explores how to maintain connection while providing structure, supervision and discipline in order to support behaviour.
New Training for 2025
From May 2025, our training will look a little different.
We have listened to feedback from our members as to what works best for your ongoing learning. We know that for some caregivers, finding the time to attend a face-to-face training, or even a specific time slot, is difficult to fit in around busy days.
So, we have reviewed some of our existing training to meet the needs of caregivers, developing a new online self-directed platform, and creating shorter ‘Coffee Break’ learnings.
Click below to find out more and register for the first two courses we’re launching in Term 2 (May 2025). We hope our new training will offer you more tools to use on your caregiving journey.
Our Courses
From May 2025 we are introducing a NEW self-directed online learning platform for training. On this platform we have reshaped the key learnings from some of our existing courses into smaller, more manageable chunks – and developed some brand-new courses too.
Our courses are specifically designed by our training experts to suit the needs of caregivers, and will give you the understanding, tools, and practical advice you need to help the tamariki in your care heal.
Based on the framework of Dyadic Developmental Practice, which has been developed by Dan Hughes over the past 20 years, the core focus of our training is on creating healing through relationships.
Our Training Framework
As we introduce new courses, our training will be broken down into three levels:
- Foundational
- Progressive – Intermediate
- Advanced
The two courses available now fall into the Foundational level.
Each level has three tiers, with each tier containing four courses. Once you have finished a tier, you will receive a Certificate, and once you have completed 12 courses, you will receive a Caring Families Aotearoa level qualification.
Click the image below for a preview of what this Training Framework will look like.
Training FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Who is eligible to attend training, and is it free?
Our training is available for anyone who is caring for a child that is not biologically their own. Our courses are FREE if you receive your allowance from Oranga Tamariki (Ministry for Children) or Work and Income, or if you don’t receive any funding. This includes whānau/kin caregivers, grandparents raising grandchildren, and permanent caregivers. If you receive your allowance from another agency (e.g. Barnardos) please contact us so we can talk to your agency about payment.
I raised my own children, why do I need training as a caregiver?
We are forever learning, and we certainly didn’t get a manual when we had our own children. Some of us learnt through trial and error, and we basically parented how our caregivers parented us. Thanks to the science available, we now know how the brain develops and what we can do to build healthy brains.
All children who come into care have developmental trauma to some degree. They have missed some of the nurturing they needed in their early years, and so the architecture of their brain has been impacted. To heal our tamariki we need to change our traditional parenting to become more therapeutic. Our training will give you the therapeutic skills you need to build the relationship and help your child heal.
I'm new to training, where should I start?
We are introducing a Training Framework over the next year. (The courses we are releasing now fall into the Foundational Level.)
Eventually our Training will be broken down into three levels;
- Foundational
- Progressive – Intermediate
- Advanced
Each level will have three tiers to it, with each tier containing four courses. Once you have finished a tier you will receive a certificate, and once you have completed 12 courses you will receive a Caring Families Aotearoa level qualification.
We will provide more information in the coming months as we release more courses.
I'm having trouble registering for a course
If you are worried about the technical side, you can call us for support. We can talk you through it so you feel confident to get underway. Call 0800 693 323 for some friendly guidance.
Can I register for more than one course at a time?
Yes, but we recommend you check first the estimated completion time for each course to ensure you are able to finish them by the due date.
Can I book a group training session for my caregiver group?
Yes. Our Regional Coordinators can deliver an online course in a group setting. We would ideally like to have a minimum of six participants. Please contact our Training Coordinator HERE to enquire.
Do you provide training for other groups besides caregivers?
We can provide our training to any group, including schools, social workers, NGOs, Iwi social services and other professionals working in the social service sector. All our training is based on Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP) using an attitude of PACE. Please contact our Training Coordinator HERE to enquire.
Why is there no Face-to-Face Training anymore?
We recognise that many caregivers prefer face-to-face training. Unfortunately, we are a small team, operating on a limited budget, so do not currently have the capacity to deliver all our training courses in person across the country like we used to.
We hope that our new self-directed online learning makes it easier for our caregivers to complete a course in the comfort of their own home, at their own pace.
Can I still access the old Training courses?
The key information from our old courses has been broken down into smaller chunks and we will be releasing them over the next year.
Training Framework Preview
Learning Resources
We’re working on putting 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.