EPIC Empowering People in Care
@epiconline.ie
National rights-based advocacy organisation working with and for children in care and young people with care experience. #CareAware
Thank you to everyone who joined us at TU Dublin - a day of learning, listening, and shared commitment to better education for care-experienced students. As one young person said, “If you can be sound, be sound!” ❤️
November 17, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Thank you to everyone who joined us at TU Dublin - a day of learning, listening, and shared commitment to better education for care-experienced students. As one young person said, “If you can be sound, be sound!” ❤️
Closing out a fantastic day, Róisín Webb and Anne O'Donnell emphasize the crucial importance of hearing care-experienced young peoples voices. "It's their right under the UNHRC but we need to do more than just provide a space for voices to be heard, now we need to take action to influence change"
November 17, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Closing out a fantastic day, Róisín Webb and Anne O'Donnell emphasize the crucial importance of hearing care-experienced young peoples voices. "It's their right under the UNHRC but we need to do more than just provide a space for voices to be heard, now we need to take action to influence change"
Panellists emphasise the power of collaboration across departments and sharing evidence-based practices and promising pilots to help build future focussed supports. Tangible and practical supports need to be tied with social and emotional supports to meet the needs of care-experienced students 🫶🏻
November 17, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Panellists emphasise the power of collaboration across departments and sharing evidence-based practices and promising pilots to help build future focussed supports. Tangible and practical supports need to be tied with social and emotional supports to meet the needs of care-experienced students 🫶🏻
Our second panel is chaired by Prof Eavan Brady (TCD) and features Áine O’Keefe (TESS), Liz O’Neill (Dept of Ed), William McNamara (Tusla), Betty Attwood (Univ of Galway), and Aideen Foley (Dept of Higher Ed) discussing supporting care-experienced students every step of the way 🪜
November 17, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Our second panel is chaired by Prof Eavan Brady (TCD) and features Áine O’Keefe (TESS), Liz O’Neill (Dept of Ed), William McNamara (Tusla), Betty Attwood (Univ of Galway), and Aideen Foley (Dept of Higher Ed) discussing supporting care-experienced students every step of the way 🪜
Panellists are discussing challenges around sharing care-experience data across sectors, disjointed supports rather than a “one stop shop”, and finding the link between the individual “one good adult” and the big picture “one good policy” to support care-experienced learners in education.
November 17, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Panellists are discussing challenges around sharing care-experience data across sectors, disjointed supports rather than a “one stop shop”, and finding the link between the individual “one good adult” and the big picture “one good policy” to support care-experienced learners in education.
This first panel is chaired by Anne McCluskey (TESS Advisory Group) and features Prof Neil Harrison (Univ of Exeter), Dr Merike Dermody (ESRI), Grainne Egan (Dept of Ed), John Gilbane (Dept of Children), and Daniel McFarlane (Irish University Association).
November 17, 2025 at 2:43 PM
This first panel is chaired by Anne McCluskey (TESS Advisory Group) and features Prof Neil Harrison (Univ of Exeter), Dr Merike Dermody (ESRI), Grainne Egan (Dept of Ed), John Gilbane (Dept of Children), and Daniel McFarlane (Irish University Association).
Welcome back! Our conference continues with policy and practice discussions focussing on how systems can better support care-experienced students - from school to higher education.
Our first panel is discussing responding to the needs of care-experienced students in national policy frameworks
Our first panel is discussing responding to the needs of care-experienced students in national policy frameworks
November 17, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Welcome back! Our conference continues with policy and practice discussions focussing on how systems can better support care-experienced students - from school to higher education.
Our first panel is discussing responding to the needs of care-experienced students in national policy frameworks
Our first panel is discussing responding to the needs of care-experienced students in national policy frameworks
Lunch time! 🥪 Join the thread after lunch for more panel discussions on policy and practice with professionals across the education and care sector. Back shortly!
November 17, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Lunch time! 🥪 Join the thread after lunch for more panel discussions on policy and practice with professionals across the education and care sector. Back shortly!
Young people emphasized that government should develop a specific education policy for young people in care, currently fails to see the full picture and distinct needs of care-experience young people. “The research is there, the recommendations are there, where is the policy?”
November 17, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Young people emphasized that government should develop a specific education policy for young people in care, currently fails to see the full picture and distinct needs of care-experience young people. “The research is there, the recommendations are there, where is the policy?”
Transitions to third level remain challenging. Stark difference between being so controlled pre-18 and then left to self-advocate post-18. Improving access to care-specific resources and funding pathways, such as HEAR and DARE, is vital.
November 17, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Transitions to third level remain challenging. Stark difference between being so controlled pre-18 and then left to self-advocate post-18. Improving access to care-specific resources and funding pathways, such as HEAR and DARE, is vital.
Young people highlighted the importance of shared knowledge about care system and building awareness of language in schools, “empathy rather than assumptions”. Recommended mandatory training on care-experience for teachers and guidance counsellors.
November 17, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Young people highlighted the importance of shared knowledge about care system and building awareness of language in schools, “empathy rather than assumptions”. Recommended mandatory training on care-experience for teachers and guidance counsellors.
Care-experienced young people from our education youth advisory group are sharing what helps, what doesn’t, and what policymakers can do to improve educational outcomes for care-experienced children and young people in primary, secondary, and third level.
November 17, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Care-experienced young people from our education youth advisory group are sharing what helps, what doesn’t, and what policymakers can do to improve educational outcomes for care-experienced children and young people in primary, secondary, and third level.
Research suggests that inclusive local solutions can improve educational attainment for care-experienced learners and help make up for “lost learning”. Another theme, flexibility and adaptability to diverse care experiences in education system is key for effectiveness.
November 17, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Research suggests that inclusive local solutions can improve educational attainment for care-experienced learners and help make up for “lost learning”. Another theme, flexibility and adaptability to diverse care experiences in education system is key for effectiveness.
We’re back, as Prof Neil Harrison highlights improving outcomes requires policy progression for care-experienced learners. Another theme emerging today is the importance of a “single point of contact”, such as a designated teacher in each school leading a care-aware culture @neilharrison.bsky.social
November 17, 2025 at 12:23 PM
We’re back, as Prof Neil Harrison highlights improving outcomes requires policy progression for care-experienced learners. Another theme emerging today is the importance of a “single point of contact”, such as a designated teacher in each school leading a care-aware culture @neilharrison.bsky.social
Come say hi to EPIC Advocates Catherine and Criomhthann, grab some resources, and learn about our advocacy work! 👋🏻
November 17, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Come say hi to EPIC Advocates Catherine and Criomhthann, grab some resources, and learn about our advocacy work! 👋🏻
Coffee break! Time for some networking and building connections to support care-experienced students. Back soon! ☕🗣️
November 17, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Coffee break! Time for some networking and building connections to support care-experienced students. Back soon! ☕🗣️
Martin Grehan shared data on attendance and attainment for young people in care, highlighting the need for joined-up responses. @csoireland
November 17, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Martin Grehan shared data on attendance and attainment for young people in care, highlighting the need for joined-up responses. @csoireland
Check out the Care to College research here:📄
Care to College | An Exploratory Study on Care-Experienced Students’ Educational Journeys
Care to College | An Exploratory Study on Care-Experienced Students’ Educational Journeys “You want to be a normal child … you want to have a boundary, a healthy boundary, or maybe just kind of … som...
www.epiconline.ie
November 17, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Check out the Care to College research here:📄
Dr Merike Darmody presented findings from Care to College. The reserach highlighted that care-experienced young people have individual needs and challenges as well as aspirations and hopes for the future, continuing a common theme we’ve heard today “see the person, not the label”. @esri.ie
November 17, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Dr Merike Darmody presented findings from Care to College. The reserach highlighted that care-experienced young people have individual needs and challenges as well as aspirations and hopes for the future, continuing a common theme we’ve heard today “see the person, not the label”. @esri.ie
However, young people also shared that proactive and flexible support and connections with people who understand the care experience can have a positive impact and help young people manage these challenges and increase opportunities to flourish
November 17, 2025 at 10:46 AM
However, young people also shared that proactive and flexible support and connections with people who understand the care experience can have a positive impact and help young people manage these challenges and increase opportunities to flourish
We’ve just heard some powerful contributions from care-experienced young people about what their educational journey has been like for them – invisible disruptions, administrative hurdles, constant instability, chaotic transitions – which impacts academic success and wellbeing.
November 17, 2025 at 10:46 AM
We’ve just heard some powerful contributions from care-experienced young people about what their educational journey has been like for them – invisible disruptions, administrative hurdles, constant instability, chaotic transitions – which impacts academic success and wellbeing.
Opening remarks from EPIC CEO Wayne Stanley highlighted the immense opportunities for care-aware educational supports to help young people with care experience thrive throughout their education.
November 17, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Opening remarks from EPIC CEO Wayne Stanley highlighted the immense opportunities for care-aware educational supports to help young people with care experience thrive throughout their education.