About KIDS OUT WEST

Kids Out West is a child-safe, accredited organisation that delivers a range of child-focused, culturally responsive services designed to improve outcomes for children and young people in Out of Home Care across New South Wales.

We specialise in delivering flexible and responsive care that meets the individual needs of children and young people, including those living in metropolitan, regional, and remote communities. Our programs are grounded in trauma-informed and strengths-based practice, with all staff trained to provide care that promotes safety, stability, and healing.

With over a decade of experience working within the Child Protection and OOHC sectors, we have a deep understanding of the complex challenges faced by children, families, carers, and sector professionals. Our team brings practical experience, cultural competence, and a strong commitment to providing consistent, high-quality support.

Our Approach

Based in Maitland, NSW, Kids Out West provides services throughout the Central West, Far West, Riverina, Newcastle/Hunter, Central Coast, New England, Sydney, and Mid North Coast regions.

Our programs follow an integrated, accredited model of care that aligns with therapeutic care principles while remaining practical and achievable for direct care staff. Each child or young person is supported by a small, consistent team who work under structured guidance to implement daily care routines, build rapport, and help achieve case plan goals.

Staff at Kids Out West do not deliver clinical therapy but facilitate behavioural and emotional growth through everyday interactions that are predictable, supportive, and trauma-informed. Our goal is to provide a stable, nurturing care environment that supports each young person’s development and wellbeing.

Our Vision

At Kids Out West, we recognise the importance of all children having a strong sense of identity and the right to feel safe and respected.
Our vision is to provide families, children and young people with the opportunity to access reliable, relevant and professional services to support, assist and enhance their ability to thrive.

This is achieved by:

01

Supporting children in having safe and child focused opportunities to spend time with parents and loved ones through supervised contact. We believe that ongoing contact with both parents and/or family members is a vital part of having a positive sense of identity and building resilience. Our focus is on ensuring that the child's best interests are paramount during these interactions.

02

We create a trauma-sensitive environment where children and adults are safe and feel safe. Pro-actively prevent and/or de-escalate potential crisis situations with children. Manage a crisis situation in a therapeutic manner that reduces the risk of harm to children and staff. Process the crisis event with children to help improve their coping strategies. Effectively deliver in-house TCI training.

03

Using a strengths-based framework ensures that the care environment conducts a holistic and balanced approach in caring for the child or young person in Kids Out West’s care. Therapeutic Youth Workers working together as a Team, to reach set goals for positive outcomes for the child/ren or young person.

04

Creating a reliable and professional service which is seamless in its engagement, communication and referral process. We recognise the difficult and important role of caseworkers and their managers and we aim to maximise our support.

05

Keeping child safety at the forefront of our minds and to uphold the integrity and solid reputation Kids out West has formed.

Our Values

Our Team

Our trauma-informed, trained, and experienced team of Therapeutic Youth Workers provide compassionate, practical support to children and young people across a variety of care settings throughout New South Wales.

Working across our programs, our staff support children and young people who are living with their families, in foster care, kinship care, or residential care arrangements. They deliver consistent, day-to-day support that promotes safety, stability, and wellbeing, in line with each young person’s case plan goals.

Our team members are guided by therapeutic principles and strengths-based practice, and are committed to creating nurturing environments that help children and young people feel seen, heard, and valued..

At Kids Out West, our team of Therapeutic Youth Workers are trained and supported to deliver safe, consistent, and child-focused care. All staff working hold the following checks, training, and certifications to ensure best practice in service delivery:

Verified Working with Children Check (WWCC)
Current National Police Check
Comprehensive Kids Out West Induction, covering child safety, rights-based care, and organisational values
Training in managing trauma-related and pain-based behaviours, appropriate to the level of direct care staff
Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) – practical strategies for safely supporting children during escalated behaviours
Trauma-Responsive Practice – foundational understanding of trauma’s impact on behaviour and engagement
Cultural Awareness and Competency Training, including working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families
HLTAID011 First Aid & HLTAID009 CPR certification
COVID-19 Infection Control Training, aligned with current public health guidelines

All staff work under supervision and within clear care frameworks, contributing to the development and implementation of case plan goals through day-to-day therapeutic interactions.

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