Anglicare Victoria (AV) is proud to be the first organisation to bring MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ to Victoria. This unique approach creates a strong, supportive network around foster carers and the children and young people in their care.
MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ has been proven to strengthen placement stability, support sibling and family relationships, and reduce carer isolation. By creating a close-knit community of carers who share knowledge, respite, and encouragement, MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ helps everyone feel supported and set up to thrive.
How the model works
MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ brings six to ten foster and/or kinship carer families, called Satellite Families, together into a local community called a Constellation. An experienced foster carer, known as the Hub Home Provider, supports the Constellation.
Being a part of the Constellation is like having an extended family. The Hub Home is a familiar and comfortable place for all members. Each child in the Constellation is welcomed by the Hub Home Provider for visits, sleepovers, and social events. Carers benefit from connection, information, training, emotional support, and consistent respite.
The Hub Home Provider is an experienced foster carer, who has been carefully selected to provide practical and emotional support to Constellation families. They work with AV’s Mockingbird Liaison Officer to bring the families together, organise social activities, and facilitate learning.
What are the benefits of MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™
At AV, our clients always come first. That’s why we use programs and therapies backed by strong scientific evidence to help vulnerable young people and their families.
MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ is an established program which uses evidence and research to provide support for foster and kinship carers and the children and young people in their care.
International evaluations have shown that MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ has the following benefits:
- Carers report greater satisfaction and say they feel supported by the non-judgemental guidance they receive from the Hub Home Provider;
- Children stay connected to their community and culture, which helps them to develop socially, emotionally and academically;
- Carers receive regular respite, peer support, training and access to information;
- More carers choose to continue in their role for longer;
- Placements are more stable, helping children feel safe and supported.
“We’ve just welcomed a foster child into our home and it’s fantastic to have access to other local carers who we can rely on during the transition. We’ve also recently done a weekend respite placement with another foster child in our constellation, which went really well!”
For more information
For further information on MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ head to https://mockingbirdsociety.org/our-work/mockingbird-family
How can I be a part of a MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ Constellation?
If you have experience as a foster carer and want to know more about MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™, please contact your local care team to find out if we have a Constellation in your area.
Contact us
If you are interested in learning more about becoming a foster carer with Anglicare Victoria, please enquire below or contact us to talk with a member of the team.
