3–9 August 2026

Homelessness Week is a national awareness week that highlights the experiences of people facing or at risk of homelessness and the importance of working together to create lasting housing solutions.

4 August 2026

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day is held in August each year and is an annual celebration of the strength, culture, identity and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

6–12 September 2026

National Child Protection Week is a national campaign that encourages everyone to play a role in keeping children and young people safe. The 2026 theme is “Every Conversation Matters: Shifting Conversation to Action.”

All training times are subject to change. Please register for a training session via the Training
Calendar. Carers can also access further pre-recorded training and webinars via the Carer
Portal. Please contact training@carersforkidsnsw.org.au or call 1300 782 975 for enquiries.

Carer Drop-In Sessions (NSW)

Carer Drop-In Sessions are free online learning and support opportunities designed to connect, inform and support carers across NSW.

Each session includes a 30-minute presentation on topics relevant to caring for children and young people in out-of-home care, followed by time for questions and discussion with other carers.

These sessions are open to all foster, relative/kinship and emergency carers, providing practical strategies, shared learning and ongoing support in a flexible online format.

Registration Link.

Pathfinders Online Carers Catch-Up

Our next Pathfinders Online Carers Catch-Up will be held on Monday, 3 August at 10:30 am.

These informal online catch-ups are a great opportunity to connect with other Pathfinders carers, share experiences, ask questions and receive support from our team in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

📅 Date: Monday, 3 August
🕥 Time: 10:30 am

If you would like to join, please contact your Pathfinders Foster Care team for the meeting link and further information.

Position: Area Manager
Area/Program: Out of Home Care – Mid North Coast

I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Rita Karaminas, and I am the Area Manager, Out of Home Care (OOHC) at Pathfinders.

I have been supporting carers, children, and young people in the OOHC sector for over 25 years. Prior to this, I worked as a teacher in schools across Sydney and regional NSW. Throughout my career, I have been privileged to witness the incredible impact that dedicated carers have on the lives of children and young people

It takes a very special person to open their home and heart to some of our most vulnerable children and families. From staying up through the night when a child is unwell, to cheering them on from the sidelines, celebrating their achievements, and helping them navigate trauma and complex behaviours, the role you play is invaluable.

I want to reassure you that your commitment, compassion, and dedication are deeply appreciated and highly valued. The difference you make in the lives of children and young people cannot be overstated.

Thank you for all that you do.

In Appreciation

Rita Karaminas

To help ensure compliance and maintain safe care environments, carers are reminded of the following requirements:

All carers and household members aged 18 and over must hold a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC). WWCCs can be renewed up to 3 months prior to expiry and are valid for 5 years. If a young person in Out of Home Care remains in the household after turning 18, a WWCC is also required.

All carers and household members aged 16 and over must hold a current National Police Check. These are valid for 5 years. Any police-related matters must be reported to the agency immediately. Please contact Pathfinders for guidance regarding police checks for new household members.

Carers must notify Pathfinders of any changes to household members, including anyone entering or exiting the residence. This includes anyone staying overnight for more than 21 nights per year.

Any change of address must also be reported, and an updated home inspection will be required.

Where a pool or spa is present, a current Pool Compliance Certificate must be provided.

Carers are required to provide copies of their driver’s licence, vehicle registration, and registration expiry details.

All carers are also required to complete a minimum of two training sessions per year.

The NSW Government has announced major reforms to the out-of-home care system, described as the most significant changes to foster care in decades. The reforms aim to strengthen accountability, improve transparency and ensure children and young people remain at the centre of care and decision-making.

The changes follow a three-year evaluation of the Permanency Support Program (PSP), with the new strategy focusing on improved oversight of providers, stronger support for foster carers, and continued investment in Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to help Aboriginal children stay connected to kin, community and culture.

The phased reforms will continue through to 2030, with new foster care and restoration services expected to begin from July 2028.

Read the full article on the NSW Government website.

Foster and kinship carers across NSW are now receiving a 20 per cent increase to care allowances, marking the first major increase in more than 20 years.

The increase, which took effect from 1 January 2026, aims to help carers manage rising living costs and better support children and young people in out-of-home care. The additional funding will assist with everyday expenses including food, clothing, education and activities.

The allowance increase forms part of the NSW Government’s broader child protection reform package, which also includes new supports for foster carers and ongoing reforms across the out-of-home care sector.

Read the full article on the New England Times website

We would like to congratulate Blake on reaching an incredible milestone.

Blake was supported through Pathfinders Foster Care before transitioning into our Supported Independent Living (SIL) program. Now 22 years old, he has recently marched out after completing his training with the Australian Army.

Blake’s former foster carer shared this photo with us and said she is incredibly proud of everything he has achieved. We couldn’t agree more.

Congratulations, Blake! We wish you all the very best for the future and thank you for your service.

Pathfinders is proud to have been appointed as a provider of Intensive Therapeutic Residential Care (ITRC) services across the Northern Territory.

As part of this important work, Pathfinders will operate two therapeutic residential care homes supporting children and young people with complex needs, providing safe and nurturing environments that promote healing, stability and positive futures.

This milestone reflects months of planning and collaboration across the organisation, including the recruitment of more than 30 staff members to support the new services. We thank everyone involved for their dedication and commitment in helping Pathfinders expand its impact and continue supporting vulnerable children and young people in communities across Australia.

Link to Media Release: New Care Partners to Strengthen Support for Vulnerable Territory Children

This year’s Pumpkin Run was our biggest and most far-reaching yet, with Pathfinders staff, volunteers and young people delivering more pumpkins, reaching more communities and involving more team members than ever before.

Over two weeks, more than 10 tonnes of pumpkins grown at Tilbuster Station made their way across New South Wales, helping provide nutritious meals and support to people experiencing hardship during the winter months. From Armidale to Newcastle, Sydney, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Kempsey, Wingham and Taree, our teams worked alongside community organisations, neighbourhood centres, food relief services and soup kitchens to prepare meals, serve community lunches and distribute fresh produce.

The impact of the Pumpkin Run also extended across the New England region, with Pathfinders staff delivering pumpkins to local organisations in Inverell and Glen Innes, ensuring even more communities could benefit from the harvest.

What made this year particularly special was the incredible level of involvement from Pathfinders staff across multiple programs and locations. More staff than ever pitched in to help make the Pumpkin Run a success, demonstrating the strong commitment across the organisation to supporting communities and creating meaningful opportunities for young people to give back.

Along the journey, our young people gained hands-on experience in teamwork, leadership and community service while seeing firsthand the difference a simple act of generosity can make. They helped prepare meals, serve community members and connect with organisations working every day to support those doing it tough.

A memorable highlight of the trip was a visit to Government House in Sydney, where Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales, recognised the dedication and community spirit shown by everyone involved.

Thanks to the dedication of our young people, staff, volunteers and community partners, thousands of kilograms of fresh pumpkins were distributed to organisations across the state. Many of these pumpkins have already been used to prepare warm meals, with plenty more set to provide nutritious meals for community members in the weeks ahead.

On 15 April, Pathfinders staff came together in Armidale to support Youth Homelessness Matters Day and help raise awareness about the challenges young people experiencing homelessness face across regional communities.

Teams from the Armidale Youth Refuge, along with Specialist Homelessness Services staff from Inverell and Glen Innes, connected with community members throughout the day and highlighted the importance of safe and stable housing for young people.

The event attracted strong community support and media coverage, including NBN News and The Armidale Express, helping shine a light on youth homelessness across the New England region.

Read the full article here: Youth Homelessness Matters Day

During the first week of Domestic Violence Prevention Month, Pathfinders hosted the Clothesline Project across the New England and Kempsey, creating safe and supportive spaces for victim-survivors, families and community members to come together and stand against gender-based violence.

Events were held in Kempsey, Armidale, Glen Innes and Inverell, with community members invited to design t-shirts sharing personal stories, messages of hope and support for others impacted by violence.

Staff from Pathfinders Specialist Homelessness Support Services and Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Service (IDFVS) teams helped deliver the events across the regions, with strong support and donations also received from local businesses and community members.

The week also saw local media and community conversations helping raise awareness about domestic and family violence, with Pathfinders staff speaking across radio and television about the importance of these events and the need for ongoing community support.

As part of Domestic Violence Prevention Month, Pathfinders’ Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Service (IDFVS) team attended the Candlelight Vigil held in Inverell on Wednesday 6 May, marking National Family Violence Remembrance Day.

Led by the Inverell Community Violence Prevention Team, the vigil brought the community together to honour and remember those who have lost their lives to family and domestic violence.

A big thank you to the Sapphire Collective for hosting a wonderful International Women’s Day event in Inverell and for your ongoing support of the Inverell Women’s and Children’s Refuge.

Members of the Pathfinders team were proud to attend, connect with the group, and share insights into the important work being done to support women and families in our community.

We appreciate the opportunity to come together, raise awareness, and continue strengthening community support networks for women and children experiencing domestic and family violence.

Photo: Pathfinders staff with Clare Doye, Event Host and Coordinator of the Sapphire Collective.

The Support Your Path (SYP) team recently attended two key community expos across the Mid North Coast, strengthening local connections and raising awareness of available disability supports and services.

On 13 May, SYP attended the Living Well Expo in Coffs Harbour, hosted by Blue Sky Community Services. The event brought together a range of disability and aged care providers, with a strong focus on community connection, wellbeing and information sharing. Interactive activities, presentations and a strong community turnout made it an important opportunity to engage with local services and families.

On 14 May, SYP also attended the Port Macquarie Community Disability Expo, hosted by DEC (Disability Events Community). The expo brought together people living with disability, families, carers and service providers in a welcoming environment designed to encourage connection and support.

Across both events, SYP staff engaged with community members from across the region, sharing information about available supports and strengthening referral pathways.

These events support SYP’s visibility across the Mid North Coast and its ongoing commitment to connecting people with the right support at the right time.

Read the full article here: Support Your Path at North Coast Expos

Pathfinders proudly celebrated NAIDOC Week 2026 with staff, children, young people and families joining communities across New South Wales to celebrate this year’s theme, 50 Years of Deadly.

Throughout the week, our teams attended community marches, flag-raising ceremonies, family fun days, school celebrations and cultural events across the Mid North Coast, New England and beyond.

A highlight of the week was the Deadly 3×3 Basketball Gala Day in Armidale, where children and young people enjoyed a fantastic day of basketball, culture and connection, alongside a Welcome to Country, cultural performances and special guest Annie La Fleur OLY.

Our Pathfinders National Aboriginal Birth Certificate Program (PNABC) team also continued travelling across NSW, helping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people access birth certificates and identity documents through free community sign-up events.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s NAIDOC Week celebrations such a success. We hope you enjoy this snapshot of just some of the wonderful events celebrated across Pathfinders.

Staff from Pathfinders’ Specialist Homelessness Support Services and Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Service (IDFVS) recently attended the Homes North Board Retreat as guest presenters, providing an overview of the organisation’s work and the realities facing the communities we support.

The presentation highlighted the strong connection between domestic and family violence, housing instability, and homelessness, drawing on local data and frontline experience from across Inverell, Glen Innes and Armidale. Staff also shared insights into Pathfinders’ integrated, trauma-informed approach, including the delivery of IDFVS and broader support services.

The session provided an opportunity to strengthen partnerships and highlight the critical role of safe and affordable housing in supporting victim-survivors and families to achieve stability and long-term change.

We are proud to celebrate the incredible progress Jack has made through his involvement in the Support Your Path (SYP) program.

Jack first joined SYP with a goal of building independence and confidence, particularly through driving lessons. Since then, his journey has continued to grow, and he has recently reached a significant milestone- moving into his own independent unit for the very first time.

With ongoing support from his Pathfinders support workers, Jack has been developing key life skills including cooking, community access, and employment preparation. He has also recently secured a job interview, marking another exciting step toward his future goals.

Jack was also recognised at the Coffs Harbour Youth Fest, receiving the Resilience Award in acknowledgment of his determination, strength and positive attitude.

Congratulations, Jack!

Pathfinders is proud to have been recently featured in Port Macquarie Focus Magazine, highlighting the breadth of our services and the impact of our work across the New England North West and Mid North Coast regions.

The feature showcases Pathfinders’ integrated approach to supporting children, young people and families through foster care, family support, domestic and family violence services, and homelessness programs. It also highlights our commitment to early intervention and community connection through locally delivered services and partnerships across the region.

A key focus of the article is the importance of collaboration in creating lasting change, and the role of programs like foster care and Intensive Therapeutic Care in providing stability, healing and long-term outcomes for young people with complex needs.

We are proud to see the work of our teams recognised in this publication and to continue strengthening awareness of the supports available to communities across the Mid North Coast.

Read the full article here: FOCUS Magazine | Port Macquarie & Coffs Coast

Pathfinders is pleased to announce the introduction of FCS Brighter Beginnings, now being delivered through our Family Connect and Support (FCS) program, in partnership with Social Futures.

This new component of FCS expands our early intervention support for families with children aged 0–5 years, delivered through participating early learning services including eligible preschools and childcare centres.

The program supports families to access information, referrals and practical assistance during the early years of a child’s life, helping strengthen child wellbeing and connection to community services.

Families with children attending eligible services, or seeking enrolment in participating services that meet SEIFA criteria, may be able to access support through FCS Brighter Beginnings.

This initiative aligns with the NSW Government’s Brighter Beginnings framework, focused on supporting children during the first 2000 days of life.

Pathfinders’ Inverell Family Youth Support Service (IFYSS) has had a busy and engaging period, delivering a range of programs designed to support young people and families across the community.

During the school holidays, IFYSS ran School Holiday Hubs in Ashford and Tingha, along with additional workshops and activities in Inverell. Supported by funding from the Best Community Shed, the hubs provided young people with opportunities to stay active, connected and engaged during the break.

As part of Youth Week celebrations, the team also hosted a community fishing competition, encouraging young people to spend time outdoors, connect with others and enjoy positive, healthy activities. The event saw strong participation and positive feedback from families, highlighting the value of community-based programs that support wellbeing and connection.

Building on this work, IFYSS has also introduced a new Parenting Empowerment program this term, supporting families to better understand children’s development, behaviour, routines and emotional regulation. The program provides practical tools and resources, including individualised wellbeing and routine supports, designed to strengthen family relationships and confidence.

In addition, the “Yeah the Girls” empowerment program is being delivered at Ashford Public School this term, supporting students to build confidence, self-awareness, communication skills and positive relationships. Early feedback from families and students has been extremely positive, with participants describing the program as engaging, fun and supportive of positive behaviour change.

Read the full article here: School Holiday Hubs & Youth Week

Pathfinders would like to thank Bindaree Food Group and its staff for their generous donation of grocery items and gift cards to the Inverell Women’s and Children’s Refuge.

The donation was collected as part of Bindaree Food Group’s International Women’s Day initiative, which encouraged employees to contribute non-perishable food items and essential household goods to support a local charity.

These donations will help support women and children staying at the refuge, as well as families transitioning into their own accommodation. With the ongoing cost-of-living pressures facing many households, contributions such as these make a meaningful difference to the people accessing our services.

Photo: Brendan Tulczyn and Mackenzie Berkley from Bindaree Food Group with Pathfinders staff member Liesel Taber and some of the donated items.

Maria Showell from Pathfinders’ Out of Home Care team is celebrating 10 years with the organisation – a milestone that also marks an incredible 30 years working in the community services and child protection sector.

Maria began her journey with Pathfinders as a Caseworker before moving into Casework Support and later taking on leadership responsibilities within the team. She now works as the Quality Assurance and Systems Officer within the Out of Home Care program.

Throughout her time with Pathfinders, Maria has brought dedication, knowledge and positivity to every role she has undertaken. Her experience and the joy she brings to the workplace have made a lasting impact on both colleagues and the communities we support.

We thank Maria for her valuable contributions to Pathfinders over the past decade and congratulate her on this significant milestone.