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SummaryThe solutions identified by young people are simple, and easy to implement, and more importantlywill facilitate better outcomes. Legislation and policies exist that are well intentioned, articulate andconsidered. However, it is clear that reducing the chasm between policy and practice is wherechange must begin to make a positive impact on the system.The Commonwealth needs to exercise strong leadership and State/Territory governments mustdemonstrate a high degree of "political will" to implement and enforce policies and make it a priorityto monitor and hear the voices of young people to ensure that the intent of policies translates togood practice on the ground. This Report highlights that, for practice to improve, resources andfunding must be made available across government. Young people exiting care MUST be givenpriority status.The planning phase is particularly important. It needs to be well considered and interactive. Stringentmonitoring processes must be developed to ensure compliance with policy; for example, every youngperson must have a leaving care plan (a plan for their future). To enable quality planning, resourcesmust be allocated to workers directly involved with young people, and specialist workers should belocated in each region to oversee and monitor the transitioning of young people to independence.Importantly, specialist workers need to be the responsibility of both the Commonwealth andState/Territory governments.The community and the corporate sector are willing and able to be involved in improving the lives ofyoung people transitioning from care, but have few mechanisms and opportunities to do so.Mobilising the community to become mentors would make a huge impact on reducing the workloadof workers, and would provide long-term stable support for young people post-care giving themevery chance of succeeding. Moreover, it is cost effective!A whole-of-government commitment would change the future for young Australians leaving the caresystem.22
ReferencesBromfield, L., Holzer, P., & Lamont, A. (2010). The economic costs of child abuse and neglect.National Child Protection Clearinghouse Resource Sheet, June. Melbourne: Australian Institute ofFamily Studies.Commonwealth of Australia. (2009a). Protecting Children is Everyone’s Business: National Frameworkfor Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020.Commonwealth of Australia. (2009b). Implementing the first three-year action plan, 2009-2012.Protecting Children is Everyone’s Business: National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children2009-2020.Courtney, M.E., Dworsky, A., & Pollack, H. (2007). When should the state cease parenting? Evidencefrom the Midwest Study. (Issue Brief). Chicago: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago.Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA). (2010).Transitioning to independence from out of home care: A national priority under the NationalFramework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020. A discussion paper for the Transitioning toIndependence sub-group of the National Framework Implementation Working Group (NFIWG).Prepared by the Children’s Policy Branch, FaHCSIA. August 2010.Maunders, D., Liddell, M., Liddell, M., & Green, S. (1999). Young people leaving care and protection: Areport to the National Youth Affairs research Scheme. Hobart: Australian Clearinghouse for YouthStudies.McDowall, J.J. (2008). CREATE Report Card 2008 - Transitioning from Care. Sydney: CREATEFoundation.McDowall, J.J. (2009). CREATE Report Card 2009 - Transitioning from Care: Tracking Progress. Sydney:CREATE Foundation.McDowall, J.J. (2010). What’s the Plan”. Paper presented at the Association of Children’s WelfareAgencies Conference. Sydney:2-4 August.Mendes, P., & Moslehuddin, B. (2006). From dependence to interdependence: Towards betteroutcomes for young people leaving state care. Child Abuse Review, 15, 110-126.Morgan Disney & Associates, & Applied Economics. (2006). Transition from care: Avoidable costs togovernments of alternative pathways of young people exiting the formal child protection system inAustralia. Volume 2: Technical Report. Canberra: Dept. of Families, Community Services andIndigenous Affairs.Ombudsman Victoria. (2009). Own motion investigation into the Department of Human Services ChildProtection Program. Melbourne, November, Session 2006-09, P.P. No. 253.Stein, M. (2008). Transitions from care to adulthood: Messages from research for policy and practice.In M. Stein & E. R. Munro (Eds.), Young people’s transitions from care to adulthood: Internationalresearch and practice (pp. 289-306). London: Jessica Kingsley.Tweddle, A. (2007). Youth leaving care: How do they fare? New Directions for Youth Development,113, 15-31.23
Page 3: TABLE OF CONTENTSPart A: BACKGROUND
Page 6 and 7: • reviewing and reporting on TILA
Page 8 and 9: The YAG consultations included spec
Page 10 and 11: These workers projected that the ov
Page 12 and 13: Planning needs to ensure that young
Page 14 and 15: The remainder of this Report detail
Page 16 and 17: ProcedureThe focus group questions
Page 18 and 19: PREPARATION PHASEISSUESYOUNG PEOPLE
Page 20 and 21: “...it should be made that a youn
Page 22 and 23: • Lack of support for young peopl
Page 24 and 25: PlanningISSUESAFTER CARE INDEPENDEN
Page 28 and 29: Appendix AStage 1: Initial Consulta
Page 30 and 31: • Young people transitioning from
Page 32 and 33: Age• Age - not being 18 can limit
Page 34 and 35: No preference• I don’t care if
Page 36 and 37: 2. Did you (do you) have a Leaving
Page 38 and 39: • Link young people in with local
Page 40 and 41: Case Study 4: A Mental Well-being P
Page 42 and 43: Appendix EStage 2: NYAC ForumQuesti
Page 44 and 45: Appendix FStage 3: NYAC ForumForum
Page 46 and 47: • Different educational pathways
Page 48 and 49: Independent living skills• There
Page 50 and 51: Connections to community the young
Page 52 and 53: Appendix GBest Practice ExamplesBes
Page 54: Leaving Care BrokerageBrokerage is
Page 57 and 58: Best Practice Example: Young People
Page 59: Centrelink Brochure targeting young
Page 63 and 64: 3. Service response: increase the c
Page 65 and 66: Types of employment Applying for wo
Page 67 and 68: 2. CREATE Your Future Intensive Pro
Page 69: 5. CREATE Your Future Grant SchemeT

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