Please note the following dates in your diary:
2026 dates are set as best as possible at this point in time.
Please be mindful they may be subject to change and continue to check.

Week 4 Tuesday 4th August -Day 1 School Improvement Day-Review Wednesday 5th August- Day 2 School Improvement Day-Review Friday 7th August- Yr 6 multicultural Melb. excursion  Friday 7th August- Yr 1 grandparents day mass 9.15am

Week 5  Tuesday 11th August- Prep Ambulance Visit Thursday 13th August - Yr 5 debating Friday 14th August - PSGs

Week 6  Monday 17th August- Prep specialist day (please note swap for this week only) Monday 17th August - Yr 5 Market incursion Wednesday 19th August - Confirmation Preparation Day Year 6 Friday 21st August- St Bernards Day Mass (9:15am) and Mannya Lapathon

Week 7 Monday 24th August - Teeth on Wheels first visit Monday 24th August- Year 3 democracy Incursion Friday 28th August- Teeth on Wheels second visit Friday 28th August- PSGs Sunday 30th August - Confirmation Mass 1pm and 3:30pm

Week 8 Monday 31st August- Teeth on Wheels third visit Tuesday 1st September- Year 1 Sovereign hill excursion  Tuesday 1st September- Division Athletics Tuesday 1st September- Yr 4 excursion Wednesday 2nd September- Yr 2 wool museum and bollard walk Thursday 3rd September- Father’s Day Stall  Friday 4th September- Father’s Day open Morning

Week 9 Tuesday 8th September- Year 4 bodyworks evening at school Thursday 10th September- RUOK Day Thursday 10th September- Prep family mass

Week 10 Tuesday 15th September- Minty’s Birthday Friday 18th September- Book Week Parade and final day of term - we will incorporate a brief assembly into the book parade - 2:30pm dismissal

2026 Term 4 Week 1 Monday 5th October - First Day of Term 4 Thursday 8th October - Yr 4 incursion Friday 9th  October- Icypole day Saturday 10th October - Parents social night

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4 Friday 30th October- Icypole day Friday 30th October- World Teachers day

Week 5 Monday 2nd November- Student Free Day Tuesday 3rd November- Melbourne Cup Public Holiday Saturday 7th November -  Bunnings BBQ

Week 6 Wednesday 11th November- Yr 5 Leadership incursion Saturday 14th November - CARNIVALE

Week 7 Friday 20th November- Icypole day

Week 8 Monday 23rd November- Closure day Friday 27th  November- Junior Athletcs Day Year 2/3 Saturday 28th November- Election Day BBQ

Week 9 Monday 30th November- Junior Athletics Day Year Prep/1 Tuesday December 1st - Yr 6 Disco Wednesday 2nd December- Carols Evening Thursday 4th December -  Special treat day

Week 10 Tuesday 8th December - Step up day Tuesday 8th December- Parent teacher meetings Wednesday 9th December - Parent teacher meetings Friday 11th December - End of year mass

Week 11 Monday 14th December - Final Assembly Monday 14th December - Yr Graduation  Tuesday 15th December - Last day of school for 2026 (Adventure park for year 6)

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Dear Parents, Carers, and Community Members,

Welcome back to the start of the second semester! I trust that the recent break provided all of our families with a well-deserved opportunity to rest, recharge, and spend quality time together. We return to school with renewed energy, which is wonderful, as the upcoming term promises to be both busy and exciting.

Nurturing Growth Together

The Gospel reading from this past Sunday felt particularly pertinent as we commence this new term. The parable presented by Jesus provides us with a profound insight into our own lives and roles. As educators and parents, it is our shared responsibility to sow the seeds of faith, knowledge, and character into fertile soil, which, in our case, is the hearts and minds of our children.

Supporting our children's growth and development is a journey we walk together. By working in partnership, we can ensure our young people have the environment they need to flourish, thrive, and reach their full potential.

Thank you for your continued support, partnership, and dedication to our school community. Let us look forward to a rewarding and successful semester ahead.

Planning for Our Future

While our immediate focus is on the learning happening in our classrooms today, this time of the school year also marks the beginning of our strategic planning for 2027. Our goal remains steadfast: to continue providing the high-quality education our school is known for and to maintain our strong, vibrant position within the local community.

It is no secret that the education sector is facing some strong headwinds. Financial challenges are currently confronting schools across the country, and Catholic schools in Victoria are certainly not immune to these pressures. Please be assured that we are committed to stewarding our resources responsibly, ensuring we maintain our strong educational position while navigating these broader economic challenges.

Staff Professional Learning: Deepening Our Mission and Identity

To commence the school term, our staff engaged in a powerful day of professional learning, hearing from two renowned experts in their respective fields.

Exploring Connections: Aboriginal Spirituality and Catholic Theology

On Monday morning, we welcomed Sherry Balcombe from Aboriginal Catholic Ministry. Sherry guided our staff through the profound intersections between Aboriginal Spirituality and Catholic theology.

The core of the session featured a rich comparative analysis, mapping the beautiful similarities and unique distinctions between Aboriginal and Catholic spiritual traditions. Staff also explored the concept of Eco-Spirituality, reflecting on our shared responsibility to care for Creation and deepen our connection to the land we gather on.

Navigating Faith in a Secular World

In the afternoon, we were fortunate to hear from Dr. Paul Sharkey, who broke open our contemporary responsibilities regarding Story, Mission, and Identity in a Secular World. Dr. Sharkey challenged and inspired us to think deeply about how we live out our Catholic identity in today's society, ensuring our schools remain places of authentic witness, dialogue, and hope.

A Shared Responsibility

One of the greatest privileges and responsibilities of being an educator in a Catholic school is the opportunity to actively shape the values, vision, and future of young people.

This day of learning provided our staff with invaluable insights, renewing our collective commitment to guiding our students with faith, wisdom, and a deep respect for all spiritual journeys as we begin the new term.

School Improvement Update

Over the recent term break, we successfully completed a major infrastructure project at Clairvaux. In a fantastic joint exercise with the St Bernard’s Parish, we successfully upgraded and modified our main sewer system.

Despite some incredibly inclement weather trying to slow us down, our dedicated teams pushed through to get the core engineering and pipework fully completed before the students returned.

The Finishing Touches

We are currently awaiting a stretch of warmer, drier weather to complete the final stage of the project: laying down fresh, new instant turf. We are highly optimistic that this topsoil and turfing work will be wrapped up in the coming week, getting our grounds back to looking their absolute best.

Projects of this scale require  coordination and hard work. We extend our gratitude to:

• St Bernard’s Parish for their brilliant collaboration.
• Hungerford Plumbing for their expertise and tireless work in tough conditions.
• Luke Belleville for his exceptional efforts in bringing this project to the finish line.

Brendan

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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS

Sacrament of Confirmation

Family Faith Evening with Elio Capra

Thursday 23rd July 6.30 pm at Clairvaux School - Foley Centre

We are delighted to invite all Year 6 Confirmation candidates and their parents / carers to a special Family Faith Evening, facilitated by Reverend Dr. Elio Capra.  Elio, a priest of the Salesians of Don Bosco, lectures in liturgy and Sacramental theology at Catholic Theological College. and is a renowned and inspiring speaker.  This evening is a wonderful opportunity for both parents and students to pause and reflect on their faith journey together.  Fr Elio will guide families through meaningful conversations and shared moments that aim to enrich spiritual growth and deepen faith development in a relaxed and welcoming environment, as we prepare our Year 6 students for the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Confirmation Mass Bookings

The Sacrament of Confirmation Mass bookings will open on Friday 24th July at 9:15 am. 

There will be two mass options available on Sunday 30th August  - 1pm or 3.30pm.   Bookings will be made through  https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/uknhz

Year Level Masses for Term 3

• Year 1  Grandparent’s Mass:  Friday 7th August 9:15 am
• Year 3 Father’s Day Mass: Thursday 3rd Sept  9.30am
• Prep  Family Mass:  Thursday 10th September  9.30am
• Whole School Mass -  St. Bernard’s Day   Friday 21st August 9:15 am

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School Attendance Monitoring & Communication of Semester 1 Attendance

At Clairvaux, we understand that there are many valid reasons why children may be absent. Whether it is due to family holidays, prolonged sickness, or specific Individual Learning Plans, we recognise that life and health sometimes take priority over school hours.

At your child’s parent-teacher meeting, you will also be able to check on your child’s attendance percentage. This number is based on class time minutes and may differ slightly from the number reported in your child’s report card, which is based on full and half days absent.

Families who have a child with an attendance percentage of less than 90% for the semester (indicating approximately 2 weeks or more of absences), in line with MACS policy and direction, will be emailed directly to alert you.

To support our students' academic and social development, we are committed to transparent communication regarding attendance.

You can monitor your child’s overall attendance via PAM. Please note that our records include a culmination of:

• Full and half-day absences.

• Late arrivals: Our school day begins at 8:50 am. This is when children enter the classroom and begin their day.

• Early pick-ups: Leaving before the final bell.

Guided by MACS (Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools), we inform families of their child's attendance via school reports, PAM and updates when attendance percentages fall below certain percentages.

• A Communication of Awareness: This is a duty of care and a courtesy to help families see the cumulative impact of "missed minutes."

• No Formal Explanation Required: These notifications are not intended to question the reasons behind an absence. We understand that attendance may be lower due to planned holidays, medical recovery, or ongoing arrangements. You do not need to explain time away that has already been communicated.

• Acknowledging Prior Communication: If you have already spoken to your child’s teacher, please do not feel this automated update is sent without consideration of your previous messages.

Even small amounts of time away, arriving late, leaving early, or missing just one day a fortnight, can add up over time and affect learning progress. Our goal is to work together to promote consistent attendance, which plays a key role in each child's academic and social development.

• The School Office: Please notify the office or via PAM by 9:00 am if your child will be absent or arriving late.

• Teachers: While teachers appreciate being informed of planned absences and will endeavour to touch base during extended periods of sickness, official notification must still be provided to the office.
  
  Our Year Level Semester 1 attendance percentages are as follows:

  Year Level		School Attendance Percentage
  Prep		94.18%
  Year 1		90.67%
  Year 2		92.34%
  Year 3		91.79%
  Year 4		91.55%
  Year 5		91.90%
  Year 6		90.72%
  		91.88%

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16th July 2026

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are excited to share that Clairvaux Primary School will soon be hosting university Occupational Therapy (OT) students as part of their professional clinical placement. Placement will occur in Term 3 from Thursday 16th July through to Friday 4th September. These OT’s will work in specific year levels over their placement time.

Because occupational therapy looks a little different in a school setting compared to a private clinic, we want to share some information about what they will be doing and how this placement will support our whole school community.

What does an Occupational Therapist do in a school?

In a school setting, Occupational Therapists look at the "occupations" of being a student. This includes learning, playing, making friends, and organising oneself. Best practice in school-based occupational therapy focuses on building overall classroom capacity and supporting students where they learn and play.

The OT students will be working across two specific areas:

• Tier 1 (Whole School & Classrooms): Providing school-wide strategies, universal design ideas, and modeling learning techniques that help all students succeed.
• Tier 2 (Targeted Small Groups): Running small group sessions or providing whole-classroom instruction to offer targeted support where it is needed most.

What will the OT students be helping with?

During their time at Clairvaux, the students will be focusing on practical skills that promote inclusion and student wellbeing. Depending on the needs of the classrooms, they may address:

• Classroom Independence: Building organisation skills and confidence in daily school tasks.
• Physical Skills: Supporting fine motor skills (like handwriting and scissor use) and gross motor skills (active play on the playground)
• Social Wellbeing: Supporting social skills, building friendships, and developing cooperative play.
• Regulation & Inclusion: Providing sensory processing support, self-regulation strategies, and guiding neurodiversity-affirming practices so every student feels included.

Do we need to provide parent consent?

Because the OT students are only with us for a short time, they will not be working one-on-one with individual children. Instead, their focus is on whole-class support, small group work, and capacity-building for our staff.

Because they are not providing individual clinical therapy, formal parental consent forms are not required. This approach ensures that all children in the classroom can naturally benefit from their expertise under our philosophy of whole-school inclusion.

However, we deeply value parent choice. If you do not wish for your child to participate in any small group activities facilitated by the OT students, please contact your child’s classroom teacher or myself to let us know.

We are thrilled to have these future professionals contributing to our vibrant school environment and look forward to the positive impact they will have on our students' learning and participation.

Regards

Christine Brennan

Clairvaux Catholic School

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Respectful Relationships education is a core component of the Victorian Curriculum from Prep to year 12. It is all about embedding a culture of respect and equality across the entire school community. In 2022 Clairvaux became a partner school in the Respectful Relationships program and we launched our beginning with a Respect week where we all dressed up as pirates because pirates say ‘aRRR’. During this week we focused on a range of areas where we can all demonstrate respect with cultures, genders, the environment, disabilities etc. The program consists of 8 topics which we will aim to cover over the course of the year. Our staff have been briefed by staff from the Respectful Relationships team.

Myth: Respectful Relationships teaches radical gender theory

Fact: Respectful Relationships does not teach radical gender theory. It is a primary prevention initiative to reduce family violence. Respectful Relationships promotes respect and gender equality and helps students learn how to build healthy relationships. It prepares students to face challenges by developing problem-solving skills and building resilience and confidence. Schools involved in the Respectful Relationships initiative are building a culture of respect and gender equality, by looking at their practices and policies to drive meaningful change. The Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence recommended Respectful Relationships be introduced to all government schools (Recommendation 189). Evidence presented to the commission showed that family violence is the most pervasive form of violence perpetrated against women in Victoria. You can view the updated resources here.

Over this term our school community will be having a strong focus on looking at RESPECT and RIGHTS though teachings from the Respectful Relationships curriculum.  Respectful Relationships is a wide-ranging mandated initiative to help young Victorians deal with a variety of challenges they may face and covers topics including being respectful, resilient and engaged at school and confident in themselves. As an evidence-informed initiative, Respectful Relationships challenges attitudes about gender construction known to lead to violence. It also aims to support students to develop resilience, confidence and pro-social behaviours for building equitable, healthy and respectful relationships.

The initiative prepares children to face challenges by developing problem-solving skills and building empathy, resilience and confidence.

In the primary years, the focus of Respectful Relationships is on treating everyone with respect and dignity. The teaching resources provide tailored learning materials for Prep to Year 6, including age-appropriate lesson plans and activities that help students learn new skills and build confidence and resilience.

This term students will be taught lessons from Topic 7 & 8 of the program. To support the rollout, last year we engaged the Respectful Relationships Barwon Area team to deliver a teacher information session in preparation for these lessons and how to best engage our students in the curriculum from Topics 7: Positive Gender Identity and Topic 8: Positive Gender Relations. Please note that we tailored our scope to ensure Year 5 and 6 partook in their Bodyworks lessons before commencing with topics 7 and 8.

TOPIC 7: GENDER AND IDENTITY (Year P, 1, 3, 5)

Learning activities within this topic assist students to challenge stereotypes and critique the influence of gender norms on attitudes and behaviour. They learn about key issues relating to human rights and gender identity, and focus on the importance of respect within relationships. The activities promote respect for diversity and difference.

TOPIC 8: POSITIVE GENDER RELATIONS (Year 2, 4, 6)

Learning activities within this topic focus on building an understanding of the effects of gender-based violence and focus on the standards associated with respectful relationships. Students develop the skills needed to solve problems, set boundaries within relationships, and play an active role within the prevention of gender-based violence. They develop peer support and help-seeking skills that can be applied in response to situations involving gender-based violence in family, peer, community or on-line relationships

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At Clairvaux, we believe that healthy bodies fuel healthy minds. We strive to be as healthy as we can in everything we do. From the lunchbox to the canteen, our goal is to surround students with nutritious options that support their growth, learning, and long-term wellbeing.

This guide which is on our website, outlines our daily healthy food guidelines, safety rules, and ordering procedures.

https://www.ccsbelmont.com.au/page/23/Canteen

Some points we would like to highlight include:

To protect children with severe, life-threatening allergies (anaphylaxis) and respect diverse health needs, we strictly enforce these safety rules:
● No Food Sharing: Students are taught never to share or swap food. Please reinforce this at home.
● Non-Food Birthday Celebrations: Food items (such as cupcakes, lollies, or donuts) are not to be supplied for birthdays. If you would like to send something to celebrate, fun non-food items like pencils, bubbles, erasers, or stickers are wonderful alternatives. Our teachers will ensure your child feels incredibly special without relying on sugary treats!

This also applies to special occasions such as Easter and Christmas - we ask that treats are not given out at school such as chocolate eggs or candy canes for example.

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Clairvaux Connect – our new and flexible way to volunteer   

Clairvaux Connect is our network for families to connect with each other, with the school, and to provide extra benefits for students outside of their standard education. Clairvaux has a strong community atmosphere, and we want to grow that – it’s one of the reasons many families choose to send their children to Clairvaux in the first place.

We invite you to attend the next meeting on Wednesday 29^th July 7pm at Clairvaux.

Clairvaux Connect volunteering is flexible

Volunteering needs to be flexible with an understanding that all of us have work, family, and children’s sport commitments, so there are many new ways you can get involved now.

Core team

The AGM was held in June, and all the roles were filled in the core team – so don’t worry, you’re not going to be roped into one of those main roles by helping ?  

Everyone is welcome to attend the Clairvaux Connect meetings two times per term, and the Clairvaux Leadership team will join half of these meetings each year.

We have a Clairvaux Connect WhatsApp group for anyone interested in being involved, hearing what’s happening overall, and potentially attending some meetings when possible. 

Help with individual initiatives without meetings

You can help in sub-groups to make events and initiatives happen without being part of the core team with meeting responsibilities.

These groups mainly operate online, and initiatives are organised remotely, although you could always catch up for a coffee.

Please contact us if you would like to be added to any of the following sub-groups:
a) Clairvaux Social Events
b) Clairvaux Fundraising Events and Initiatives
c) Clairvaux Canteen, Treat Days and Special Food Events like St Bernard’s Day
d) Clairvaux Carnivale
e) Clairvaux Uniform Shop

You can also ask to be added to the main Clairvaux Connect WhatsApp group.

Helping on the day  

If organising isn’t for you, then there will be one day opportunities as well such as helping in Canteen, the Uniform Shop, assisting the Family Support Network, or at Carnivale.

We’d love to hear from you!

How to contact us

Email: clairvauxconnect@ccsbelmont.com.au
Text: Gemma 0480349756
Facebook: DM the Clairvaux Chatter page  www.facebook.com/groups/302867856508231/

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Carnivale News

The students are starting to get excited about Clairvaux Carnivale on Saturday 14 November! Another Carnivale newsletter will be shared shortly, with more information about the event, rides and the activities on the day.
We still need help with the below tasks. If you can contribute to the event in a small way, it would be really appreciated. Behind the scenes, there are many parent volunteers spending a significant amount of time bringing this special day together. Please contact us:
General enquiries: clairvauxcarnivale@gmail.com
Donations: clairvauxcarnivaledonate@gmail.com
Gemma - Carnivale Committee 0480 349 756
Facebook DM: facebook.com/ClairvauxCarnivale

 Connections and borrowed items
We are seeking parents who have a connection with any of the following
businesses that may be able to help us organise a good rate, or those who
can loan us these borrowed items. The costs to run Carnivale are rising and
we are looking for ways to reduce spending.
a) Connections to any of the following businesses:
- Cool Room hire
- Event Security company
- Portaloo hire
b) To borrow:
- Large Eskies
- Generators

 Printing A4 colour sheets as a sponsor
We are also seeking a business or a few businesses to share the task of
printing bulk A4 colour sheets on standard A4 paper and be recognised as an
event sponsor in return. Please contact us for more information.

 Join our Coordinators team
We urgently need parents to fill these roles and join our big team. Any roles
can be shared with a friend. This is a good chance to get more Dads involved!
a) Facepainting Coordinator to work with Grade 5 &6 students, high school
volunteers, volunteer parents, and Clairvaux teachers.
b) Spinning Wheel or Lucky Envelopes Coordinator to help run a fundraising
game.
c) Silent Auction and Donations team member – we have a great team in
place, we just need more help because this area will hopefully raise the most
money for the new junior school playground.

 Wine donations – by Friday 14 August please
Mystery bottles is a very popular adults stall at Carnivale and to run this
game, we need a large amount of wine. We don’t need non-alcoholic wine,
thanks.

Wine donations must be delivered by an adult and cannot be sent to school
with students. Please either deliver your wine donation to the Clairvaux Office
or contact us to arrange an alternative drop-off if the Office hours don’t work
for you.

 Display a Carnivale sign at the front of your house or business
If you live or work on a busy street near Clairvaux, we would love to display aCarnivale real estate board or small sign at the front of your property.
Having many signs around the area will boost attendance on the day.

 Silent auction, prize donations and small value vouchers
For the silent auction and game prizes, we need a large quantity of goods and vouchers of any value. All prizes are wonderful, and small denomination
vouchers are great too like coffee vouchers! Maybe you run a business or
have a connection to a shop or restaurant to ask. Businesses are publicly
acknowledged for the contribution.

 Spread the word
Please tell everyone to save the date!

 Block your calendar to volunteer on the day
Volunteering shifts to help on the day at Carnivale will be released next
month.

 Follow Clairvaux Carnivale on socials and share the posts!
Facebook: facebook.com/ClairvauxCarnivale
Instagram: instagram.com/clairvauxcarnivale/

We need everyone’s help to make this event successful.
Thanks!

Spread the word
Please tell everyone to save the date!

Follow Clairvaux Carnivale on socials and share the posts
Facebook: facebook.com/ClairvauxCarnivale
Instagram: instagram.com/clairvauxcarnivale/
Contact us
Donations: clairvauxcarnivaledonate@gmail.com
General enquiries: clairvauxcarnivale@gmail.com
or contact Gemma on the Carnivale Committee 0480 349 756

Your support will be greatly appreciated!

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Canteen Treat Day and St Bernard’s Day BBQ

A reminder to place an order for the July Treat Day, and all upcoming Treat and Icy pole Days for the remainder of the year via School24.

The next Treat Day is Thursday 30 July with ordering cut-off on Monday 27 July 10am.
Cookies and Cheesymite scrolls plus Gluten Free are available as the sweet and savoury options.

Orders are placed via the Events section in School24, and you can login anytime throughout the year to see the upcoming dates.

The cut-off times for ordering are always a few days before the distribution dates at 10am to allow time to place the product orders with suppliers in advance.

To avoid credit card fees in School24, you can transfer funds via EFT into your School24 account - see 'Top Up/Recharge' in School24 for more details. 

Vouchers are given to the students in class based on what they ordered, and they bring those vouchers to the canteen window at lunchtime to receive their orders. Except the orders for Preps are distributed in their classrooms.

Please tell your child what you have ordered for them, so they know what they are receiving when they bring their voucher to Canteen.  

Please note: if you have already ordered for the individual date or a treat/icypole day bundle, you do not need to order again. 

It has come to our attention that some families have accidently ordered twice for the same date or ordered a bundle as well as paying for a single date. We are in the process of contacting these families because each child can only have one sweet item or icypole each time.

St Bernard’s Day BBQ

We will be providing a free sausage and lollypop to each student. Keep an eye out for more details to come.

Volunteering

Parent volunteers run these special canteen days and assist on the day.

Canteen volunteering shifts can be selected via the Volunteer section in School24. You can add your name to any vacant shift. We really appreciate the support!

If you have any questions, please email canteenclairvaux@gmail.com

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MacKillop Family Services foster carers ensure that some of the 9210 children in Victoria living away from their families for safety reasons are also able to share in the joy, care, and stability that every child and young person deserves.

Our need for foster carers in the Belmont and Geelong area who can provide a temporary nurturing and supportive home for vulnerable children in their local community has never been greater.

A short-term placement, a weekend of respite, or a longer caring arrangement can make an extraordinary difference to a child’s sense of belonging, safety and well-being.

Foster carers come from all walks of life. They can be working full or part-time, retired, married or single, in same-sex relationships, and can own or rent their home. MacKillop supports our carers with comprehensive training, ongoing advice, respite care and an around the clock helpline.

If you would like to know more, please call MacKillop Family Services on 1300 791 677 or visit mackillop.org.au/fostercare.

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www.teethonwheels.com.au
Phone: (03) 9338 1191
Email: info@teethonwheels.com.au

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