CARIE
Circles

As a Productised Service, CARIE means Connection and Reflection Insight Exchange. Each exchange is guided through Context, Awareness, Reflection, Interpretation and Engagement. Together, they help participants move from describing an experience toward greater understanding and an appropriate next step.

CARIE may operate as a structured peer-support, parent-learning, professional-reflection or community-connection group, depending on the edition and setting. Unlike an informal support group, each Circle has a defined purpose, facilitated process, participation agreement, professional boundaries and referral pathway. The available edition should clearly identify who the Circle is for, what it can address and what support it does not provide.

No. A general CARIE Circle is an educational, reflective and community-building experience. It does not provide psychotherapy, trauma processing, clinical assessment, diagnosis or mental-health treatment. An appropriately qualified professional may incorporate approved CARIE resources into existing practice where consistent with professional scope, consent, insurance, governance and NEXIE use rights. Professional authority comes from independent qualifications and role—not CARIE facilitator preparation.

No. Sharing is always optional. Participants may listen, reflect privately, write in a journal, discuss a general example or decline a question. No participant should be pressured to disclose trauma, diagnosis, family circumstances or other sensitive information. Listening and private reflection are valid participation.

Participants are asked to respect one another’s privacy, but a facilitator cannot guarantee that every participant will keep information confidential outside the group. Before the Circle begins, explain the group privacy agreement, confidentiality limits, safeguarding and mandatory-reporting responsibilities, immediate-safety responses, record management, host-organisation information sharing and online privacy risks.

Potentially, through an approved peer or facilitator pathway. Parent and carer lived experience may provide valuable insight, but it does not automatically authorise independent facilitation. Requirements may include facilitator learning, safeguarding, privacy, referral procedures, supervision, insurance and Licensed Delivery Rights.

Potentially, through a specifically designed, developmentally appropriate and child-safe edition. Youth participation requires suitable facilitator capability, consent and assent arrangements, accessible communication, safeguarding, privacy explanations, distress and disclosure responses, referral pathways and host approval. Facilitators must not investigate disclosures or promise secrecy they cannot keep.

Potentially. Eligible professionals may incorporate an approved edition where consistent with their qualifications, competence, professional obligations, insurance, consent, governance and NEXIE use rights. Professional access does not permit alteration of protected content, use of another edition or sublicensing unless expressly authorised.

Yes. The arrangement should define purpose, participants, edition, facilitator capability and supervision, consent, privacy, safeguarding, referral, host responsibilities, resources, documentation, feedback, review and NEXIE use rights. A conversation is not an approved delivery arrangement until requirements are agreed.

No. Completing learning does not automatically provide employment, certification, a commercial licence or authority to deliver every edition. Independent or paid delivery requires applicable preparation, capability, governance, insurance, supervision where required and written Professional Use or Licensed Delivery Rights.

The facilitator should respond calmly, avoid investigating or providing therapy, explain applicable confidentiality limits and follow the documented safeguarding, escalation and referral process. Immediate safety concerns, suspected abuse or neglect, threats of harm and reportable matters must be managed according to law, organisational policy and facilitator responsibilities. CARIE is not an emergency or crisis service. If someone is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000). Crisis support is available through Lifeline on 13 11 14, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.