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refer a

participant

or family

"I'm not sure how they do it but he has come away with such a boost in his self-esteem and confidence. He struggles in those areas and it was lovely to see him smiling from ear to ear."

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This information is intended for welfare agencies, schools, parents and carers that wish to make referrals for young people and families to attend an Edmund Rice Camps Victoria programs. It is suggested that all children and families be referred by an agency; please contact our office to discuss alternate options. 

 

Places on our programs are open to children and families who are experiencing some form of disadvantage, marginalisation or adversity such as:

  • Social or economic disadvantage

  • Financial or emotional hardship

  • Social or geographical isolation

  • Adverse Childhood Experiences

  • Young people who would not otherwise be able to access and enjoy such an experience


Through our supervision ratio of 1:1 volunteer leader to child, we aim to meet the varied needs of the young people in our care. We aim for the children on camp to leave with increased feelings of self-worth, resilience, and confidence. Activities on camp are designed to maximise this, as well as allow children new and varied experiences, opportunities for peer support, and lasting positive memories.

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Our participant handbook contains everything you and our participants need to know before coming on a program with us. Of course if you have any queries, please reach out to our team. 

How to Refer to ERCvic

Step 1: keep an eye on upcoming programs

Our program scheduling often changes year to year, so make sure you're aware of the current calendar and upcoming programs. All application opening and closing dates will be advertised here (and sent directly to those on our mailing list). 

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FIND UPCOMING PROGRAMS HERE

Step 2: submit an application/referral

We open applications to our programs regularly throughout the year. You can sign a young person of family up to a camp any time the applications are open. We'll require detailed information to ensure we can appropriately support the participant on our programs. 

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Step 4: Confirmation of placement

We will confirm your clients placement on our program via email, and provide any relevant information for the program including what to bring and any other logistical information. We ask that you please pass this information onto your client to ensure they are prepared for their Eddie Rice Experience. 

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We will also send the link to complete the Medical & Permissions Form as well as the invoice for payment. We request payment prior to commencement of the program. 

Step 4: COMPLETE MEDICAL & PERMISSIONS FORM

We ask to complete the Medical and Permissions Form which collects the required information for us to hold duty of care, as well as records your levels of permission for evaluations, photos and unplanned and emergency medical treatment. 

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We cannot have the participant turn up to camp without completion of this form. 

Step 5: WELCOME TO CAMP!

The young person or family is finally on a program! Please work with us to support your client on camp by ensuring all relevant information is passed onto the participant and family and the the 24-hour phone number (as provided on our application form) is always available. 

Guarantees

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Places on camp will be allocated and prioritised on a needs basis, and we will consider each referral equally based on the number of places we have available. We often receive more referrals than places available on camp. It is therefore very important that referral forms contain an appropriate level of information to demonstrate the reasons for referral to a program. 

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Fees

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Successful applicants will receive an invoice with their letter of acceptance.  Invoices must be paid within 10 days to reserve the place on camp. Please Contact Us to discuss this further. 


Our participant fees are heavily subsidised through fundraising, in-kind donations and volunteer support. The participant fee will go towards covering activity costs, accommodation and travel expenses and catering for the participant(s) over the course of the camp program.  


Fee structure for 2024 is as follows:

  • Family Camp - $350 per family, plus $125 per family member.. 

  • Kids Camp - $450 per young person. 

  • GEM Program - $100 per person, per day. 

 

cancellation policy

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  • We require a minimum of 10 business days notice to cancel a placement on a program. Full refunds will be offered for cancellations with 10 days business days notice.

  • Cancellations within 10 working days of the program will incur a 50% cancellation fee.

  • The full fee is required for any cancellations within 5 business days, and participants who do not arrive at the program.

  • All cancellations should be made in writing to ercvictl@edmundrice.org, as soon as possible. 

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FAQS

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Why do you require an agency after hours contact number?

ERCVic works with vulnerable children, and we require 24/7 access to a professional who works closely with the child and can provide information in the case of a child protection disclosure. It is only used as a last resort, and our policy means we are unable to accept a referral without this number.

 

The agency I work for doesn't provide an afterhours number, how can I still refer this child? 

We recommend you speak to the school the child attends; often they will have a school counsellor who can provide after-hours contact for the duration of the camp program. Otherwise, source another agency working with the family who can provide an afterhour’s contact number. This can include a therapist or doctor, as long as they are familiar with the disadvantage the family faces, and can provide detailed information on the child. Some agencies may choose to list Child Protection as the after hours contact. 

 

What will the children experience on camp?

Activities on camp encourage children to work as a team or to challenge themselves to try something new in a safe and supportive environment. While each camp will offer different experiences there are some key activities that are repeated across camps.

These might include:​

  • Adventure activities

  • Various arts and crafts

  • Outdoor games and sports

  • Obstacle courses

  • Talent show

  • Team games

  • Face painting

  • Candle Sharing - giving children the opportunity to say something positive about one of their peers, and hear something positive in return

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