South Australian children and young people with a care experience will now receive improved access to housing, study and work opportunities as a result of an $800,000 investment by the Minister for Child Protection Katrine Hildyard.
In Australia alone, over 45,996* children did not sleep in their own home last night and are presently growing up in out-of-home care.
CREATE Foundation is the national consumer body representing the voices of children and young people with an out-of-home care experience (including kinship care, foster care and residential care). CREATE develops policy and research to report on and advocate for a better care system.
CREATE Foundation’s Chief Executive, Ms Jacqui Reed, stated that, “We applaud the recognition shown by Katrine Hilyard for the vital importance of children and young people with a care experience having the opportunity to participate in positively influencing the future of the sector for tomorrow’s care community.”
“Our organisation takes our commitment to young people very seriously and we place great priority on hearing their opinions, experiences and hopes and dreams as well. Young people have informed CREATE of the increasingly complex obstacles they are facing, especially since the global pandemic, and together we applaud Minister Hilyard’s formal support and priority placed on hearing the voices of those with a care experience.”
“On the news of this direct investment, CREATE and our community of young people are encouraged and invigorated towards our future projects, improving the lives of children and young people with a care experience through better access to housing, study and work opportunities.”
Read more on CREATE Foundation’s independent consultations with children and young people with an out-of-home care experience by reading CREATE’s research and publications
For more information please visit the CREATE website at www.create.org.au
For further comment from CREATE’s Chief Executive, Ms Jacqui Reed, and/or a young person with care experience contact Leigh White, CREATE Communications Advisor, via (m) 0431 932 122 or leigh.white@create.org.au
Key statistics on the care sector in Australia:
· * 45,996 children and young people were reported in 2019-20 as living in out-of-home care across Australia (Australian Institute of Health & Welfare, 2021).
· Young people in out-of-home care are 16 times more likely to be under a youth justice order than the general population.
· 30% of young people experience homelessness within the first year of leaving care. (McDowall, J. J. (2020).
· 46% of males have been involved with the justice system since leaving care.
· 29% of young people who have left care or preparing to leave care are unemployed.
· 36% children and young people in care do not live with any of their siblings.
· 35% of young people in care have five or more caseworkers during their time in care.
· 67% of young people in care over the age of 15 are not aware of having a leaving care plan.
McDowall, J. J. (2018). Out-of-home care in Australia: Children and young people’s views after five years of National Standards. Sydney: CREATE Foundation.
