Hello – thank you for reading CREATE Foundation’s advocacy wrap up for August. We’ve got a bunch of updates about how we are consulting with young people on issues that are important to them, advocating to governments at the state and federal level, and planning big changes in the out of home care sector that will help young people in care achieve their potential.
Consultations
We have been asked by the Queensland Government to bring together the voices of young people with a care experience on what support they think young people transitioning to independence need. We’ll be heading to Queensland communities right across the state, from Brisbane and Cairns, to Mt Isa and the Gold Coast. Head onto our website to find your local Club CREATE event for these consultations.
At the conclusion of the consultations we will be developing a report about what young people have told us and will make recommendations to government based on the views of young people. We will be in touch about how you can help provide your views to ensure that Queensland creates support structures that young people want and need as they transition to independence.
We have also been working with young people with a care experience to tell the New South Wales Government that they aren’t supporting young people transitioning to care enough. At the moment, NSW stops supporting young people to stay in their placements after they turn 18 – young people are forced to rely on the generosity of their carer to keep them on beyond that point and if they are in residential care they may receive no placement support after they turn 18. Every state and territory of Australia now has a guaranteed placement support program that extends at least to 21 – other than NSW. #itsyourturnNSW
We’re working with the NSW Government to try and show them how important this reform will be to the lives of young people in care. Last week we met with the Minister and departmental Secretary to discuss these issues. We had positive conversations with them and will keep you updated on how we go in the largest state in the country – both for the general population and the care population.
Also, in the transition to independence space, we’ve seen the announcement from Western Australia this month that they are confirming their pilot program will be extended to all young people who are transitioning to independence. It’s great news for young people in care in WA because and means they will have more certainty over their lives.
Meetings with decision makers
As we discussed above, we’ve spoken with Ministers and senior public servants in NSW about the make it 21 campaign. We have made sure that decision makers in NSW have heard directly from young people about how difficult and distressing it is to stop receiving government support for their placement after they turn 18. We have also gone into depth about international and domestic evidence that shows extending placement support for young people in care improves their lives. Education, physical health, mental health, employment, wellbeing, and social outcomes are all improved for young people when care is extended.
In Victoria, young consultants and CREATE staff also met with Matthew Bach, the Shadow Minister about the key priorities for children and young people in care in that state.
Our CEO Jacqui Reed met with SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle and VACCA CEO Muriel Bamblett to discuss how we can walk alongside our First Nations children and young people to improve outcomes for our First Nations children and young people in the out of home care sector.
Position Papers
We are also doing a big review of our position papers on different topics – so keep your eyes peeled on our website and our socials for updates when we release our new position papers! Have a great month and please get in touch with us via our email at create@create.org.au if you have any questions or want to contribute at all.
