What's the Answer? - Create

to focus on getting accommodation and ajob to support themselves.• Lack of stable housing impacts on youngpeople being able to focus and participatefully on their education.“Kids would get a better education and getbetter employment if their placements weremore stable”Employment• Limited career planning with young people,and a general lack of information aboutwhat employment options are available tothem.• An essential component to be included in an appropriateTransition from Care Plan.Financial Security• Young people liaising with Centrelink toaccess, for example, Youth Allowance arechallenged when providing evidence of carestatus and having ID.• Develop a system that can “flag” young people with a careexperience. Young people would have the right to opt outof this system if they wish.• Workers to receive training/information about the specificchallenges and needs of young people in care.• Employ dedicated Centrelink workers who are responsiblefor supporting young people transitioning from care (one ineach office at a minimum).• Provide training for Centrelink workers and fund thedevelopment of a video that provides the perspective ofyoung people in the transition process.Social Relationships and Support Networks• Lack of planning and support for youngpeople reunifying with birth families.• Young people lack support to developrelationships and connections to theircommunities.• Providing information about supports andservices needs to be more than just words;it needs to be practical and “hands on”.• Ensure that, where appropriate, the reunification withselected birth family members commences before a youngperson turns 18. This could be through a program ofgradual visitations.“Community contact and support is veryimportant to Indigenous young people”“... The interaction between one’s self andtheir community is how a young persongrows into a contributing adult”“You need to be independent to haveconfidence to engage with your community”Health (Physical, Emotional, Mental, and Sexual)• Access to free counselling and mentalhealth support services is difficult, andyoung people are often “put off” by theprohibitive cost.• Implement an Exit Health Check for young peopletransitioning from care as part of the planning process.15