What's the Answer? - Create

Part C: METHODOLOGYOverviewTo confirm that the issues identified in Part B of this Report were of current significance for youngpeople, and to give care leavers the opportunity to raise other points they felt worthy of discussion, aseries of consultations were conducted. The first tier of consultations utilised CREATE’s YouthAdvisory Groups (YAG) as they provide a state- and territory-based forum for young people with acare experience to establish the issues and priorities that must be addressed and resolved if theprocess of transitioning to independence is to be improved overall. These key priorities then formedthe basis of the second tier of consultations involving CREATE’s National Youth Advisory Council(NYAC) in a one-day workshop which culminated in the identification of practical solutions that couldbe applied by the Commonwealth and/or State and Territory governments, non-governmentorganisations and agencies to effect quality outcomes for young people transitioning from out-ofhomecare to independence.Stage 1: Initial Consultations (YAG Focus Groups)ParticipantsThis consultation targeted only those YAG members who were either preparing to leave care,actually transitioning, or were living independently. The total number involved in the consultationprocess was 27 representing all states (however, there were no individuals from either territory).Participants were aged between 14 and 23 years (mean age 18.5 years), with the majority beingfemale (n=18). Three identified as Indigenous (Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander) and twoidentified as having “Other Cultural Background” (Spanish/Italian and Solomon Islander). Theremainder of the group were Caucasian Australians. Members had experienced a range of placementtypes while in careInstrumentFive key questions were developed to elicit the priorities that young people with a care experienceidentified as needing to be addressed to improve the transitioning system. They were asked todiscuss: (a) What makes a successful transition? (b) What are the barriers to young people accessingservices and supports? (c) Would you prefer to go a specialised service (e.g. an after care service justfor young people who’d been in care) or prefer to go to a mainstream service (e.g. a general youthservice)? (d) Do you think there’s a stigma attached to specialised services, or do you think youngpeople are okay with accessing services tailor made to out-of-home care and aftercare supports? (e)What do you think about the idea of transitioning to ‘independence’? Is it a good thing to be aimingfor, or should we be focussing more on connecting young people to their community, friends, family,and other supports? Or should we be doing both? (see Appendix A).11