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Children living in foster, kinship, and residential care face profound and complex challenges that deeply affect their educational journeys. These young people, often affected by early trauma, struggle developmentally, socially, and emotionally, with long-term impacts on their ability to succeed in school.
Children who have experienced abuse and neglect who are in foster, kinship and residential care are among the most disadvantaged students, often falling behind their peers in literacy, numeracy, and engagement. The effects of trauma can manifest in behavioral difficulties, leading to higher suspension and exclusion rates in school. Placement instability further disrupts learning, with children frequently changing homes and schools, adding to their struggles in maintaining academic progress.
Without targeted intervention, these children are at significant risk of lifelong social and economic disadvantage.
Conducted by Lumenia
The Little Stars Learners program is designed to address these challenges by providing early intervention and tailored support which is trauma-informed and grounded in relationship. Our early intervention approach focuses on helping children and young people connect with learning, rebuild their self-esteem, and develop a sense of stability and success.
Improved Engagement: Children are motivated to participate in their education, showing increased school attendance, enthusiasm for learning, and academic progress.
Enhanced Confidence & Wellbeing: Through consistent support, children gain confidence and experience positive changes in their mental health, leading to improved behaviour both at home and in school.
Strengthened Care Placements: By reducing conflicts over homework and school issues, our program fosters more harmonious household environments, reducing the risk of placement breakdowns and ultimately over reliance on residential care.
Carer Support: Carers benefit from a reduction in stress and feel more confident in their caregiving roles, with a deeper understanding of trauma-informed strategies that improve the lives of the children in their care.
Enhanced Community Understanding of Trauma: Education Support Mentors gain valuable experience, developing skills in trauma-informed practices that positively impact their careers in education and beyond.
Assisting Teachers and Schools by improving student engagement: Working one on one with students who have fallen behind to get them up to speed with the curriculum ultimately has flow on benefits for teachers and other students in the classroom.
Improved Engagement
Children are motivated to participate in their education, showing increased school attendance, enthusiasm for learning, and academic progress.
Enhanced Confidence & Wellbeing
Through consistent support, children gain confidence and experience positive changes in their mental health, leading to improved behaviour both at home and in school.
Strengthened Care Placements
By reducing conflicts over homework and school issues, our program fosters more harmonious household environments, reducing the risk of placement breakdowns and ultimately over reliance on residential care.
Carer Support
Carers benefit from a reduction in stress and feel more confident in their caregiving roles, with a deeper understanding of trauma-informed strategies that improve the lives of the children in their care.
Enhanced Community Understanding of Trauma
Education Support Mentors gain valuable experience, developing skills in trauma-informed practices that positively impact their careers in education and beyond.
Assisting Teachers and Schools by improving student engagement
Working one on one with students who have fallen behind to get them up to speed with the curriculum ultimately has flow on benefits for teachers and other students in the classroom.
The Little Stars Learners program is not only transforming lives but is also delivering a high return on investment. For every $1 invested, $5.60 of social and economic value is created, benefiting children, carers, the education system, and the community at large.
Our Social Return on Investment Analysis completed by Lumenia in September 2024.
This powerful return highlights the significant impact of Little Stars Learners in addressing the educational challenges faced by children in care, creating lasting benefits for individuals and society.
By investing in these young lives, we are breaking the cycle of disadvantage, giving children in care the opportunity to succeed in school and beyond. Together, we can create a brighter, more hopeful future.
Discover more about our trauma-informed education support program for young people living in Foster, Kinship & Residential Care and other children impacted by trauma in Queensland by requesting a Little Stars Learners Information Kit.
Corporate House
Lobby 1, Gasworks Plaza
Level 2, 76 Skyring Terrace
Newstead QLD 4006
Phone: 07 3062 9455
info@littlestarslearners.com.au
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Lisa is the Founding Director of Little Stars Foundation. Lisa is a qualified lawyer and practised as a lawyer in private practise for over 20 years. Lisa also holds a double major in psychology and has completed a significant amount of training and assisted in developing training on the impact of trauma on the developing brain. Lisa has a particular interest in the rights of the child in the legal justice system and has been involved in advocating for the rights of the child in a litigation role and a non -adversarial role for many years.
Lisa is particularly passionate about improving the outcomes of children who are living in out of home care in Queensland and developed the first day camp program for children who have experienced trauma in Queensland.
Lisa was a finalist in the Queensland Community Foundation Emerging Philanthropists Category in 2019 for her work with children who have experienced abuse and neglect. She has worked in the area of advocating for the rights of children in care since 2012 in various ways including acting on behalf of a child living in care in court proceedings and developing social and educational programs to support children living in care.
Tristan is the Dealer Principal and Chief Operating Officer of the Keema Automotive Group in Queensland which operates over 5 sites across Brisbane and employs around 250 staff.
Tristan has an accounting background and was previously the Chief Financial Officer of the Keema Automotive Group.
Tristan has significant experience in financial matters and developing the strategic direction of the Keema Group.
Tristan is committed to making a difference in the lives of children living in care through the work of the Keema Childrens’ Foundation. He has been a Pyjama Angel with the Pyjama Foundation for several years, working with children in care to increase literacy and numeracy.
Kym is the Chair of Peakcare and the Director of Langill Partners Consulting. A Child & Family service system design and reform specialist. Kym has over 30 years’ experience spanning all tiers of government, operational & commissioning experience along with extensive Executive leadership in service delivery in Non-Government Organisations.
For the past 6 years, until September 2023, Kym was the Executive Director Families & Young People Services at Mercy Community Services. In that role Kym led the Families and Young People Services portfolio in the mission, vision and values; strategic and operational service delivery. Her portfolio included delivery of more than 40 programs spanning the full child & family service system from early intervention through to Foster and Kinship and residential care for young people in the child protection system in QLD.
Kym brings to the role a wealth of experience in the community services sector. Prior to joining Mercy Kym was an experienced NSW Public Sector Senior Executive spanning both Human Service and Central agencies including Department of Premier & Cabinet, Family and Community services and Juvenile Justice. Kym has demonstrated success in navigating and influencing human services reform agendas, leading organisational growth and change management.
Kym is a relationship builder, a strategist and a strong collaborator known for her friendly, energetic can-do attitude.
Randall is a Director at BDO Australia, an international accountancy firm, and has extensive experience in retail, particularly in the automotive sector but also more broadly with experience in food and beverage retail. His employment with a multi franchise dealership and a national automotive retail chain, as well as 15 years in chartered accounting, provides an excellent platform for specialist professional services. He is able to understand and support his clients with their operational and statutory requirements.
Randall is committed to making a difference in the lives of children living in care through the work of the Little Stars Kids and our Little Stars Kids Camps which provide so much Fun and laughter.
Martin has extensive experience in child and family well-being and has worked for both for-purpose organisations and statutory child protection.
Martin has held senior leadership and executive positions for over a decade, most recently at Mercy Community, where his portfolio stretches across the continuum of child and family services, including universal services, counselling, family support and intervention, family based and non-family-based care, early years support, and multicultural programs.
Martin is passionate about making a difference to the lives of children and families through strong leadership, innovative and practice excellence. He has a strong focus on genuine sector collaboration and partnerships.
Martin is a father of two and loves nothing more than spending time with his family and living an active lifestyle.
Kerri Chard is a leading authority in Child Protection with a background in psychology and over two decades of professional experience in the Non-Government and Government Sectors. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience in working with families impacted by intergenerational trauma, abuse and neglect. Kerri has spent significant time working in the court system with these families and has also run a regional intake service to determine intervention responses to children to meet their safety needs. She has developed award winning interventions within the Education sector, and spent time assisting schools to better understand complex developmental trauma and support children in the education system as well as bringing trauma informed curriculums into the classroom.
Kerri is Queensland’s leading Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI®) practitioner, having studied directly with Dr David Cross and the Karen Purvis Institute of Child Development team. Kerri trains residential care workers, foster and kinship support staff and also works directly with foster and kinship carers as well as biological parents using TBRI®. Kerri has spent time working in the USA with leaders and innovators helping children heal from their trauma. She is well known for her passionate yet pragmatic approach to the complex issue of Child Protection.
She is highly regarded as someone who can think differently and translate psychological theory into practical interventions that transform lives. Kerri is also a foster carer who successfully uses TBRI with children in the care system in her own home – and also on her own 3 sons (and husband!)
