What's the Answer? - Create

• The need for greater differentiation between TILA, Youth Allowance, and dedicated funds fromthe Child Protection Departments.• Better process for when a young person ceases to live with their birth family – payment to go tothe young person instead of the birth parents.• Increased funds for young people in or post care. Special payment for young people in care/postcare. This would have to be determined on a case-by-case basis, based on a young person’s livingsituation.• The rate of Youth Allowance needs to be reviewed. The cost of food goes up, but Youth Allowancedoes not.• Centrelink allowance or discounts for Post Office boxes (because of all the placement changesyoung people have).• On their 15 th birthday, case workers should take young people to Centrelink to sign up for YouthAllowance.• Young people should be deemed independent by Centrelink at 15 years.Transition to Independent Living Allowance (TILA)• It’s confusing and full of jargon.• There’s a lot of misinformation around.• The paperwork is hard.• You need letters from the Department – that can be really hard to get.• Young people need to be linked in to an NGO – it’s especially difficult for states that don’t havepost care support services• If a worker is not supportive, it is very hard.• Child Protection Departments have been known to use it as a ‘transition package’ – instead ofcontributing their own funds.• You can only get it once.• More training should be given to workers regarding how to support young people to access TILA.• This was the first time I’d heard about it.Transition PhaseImportant considerations for Transition Phase• Transition plan is implemented and evaluated.• The transition plan is reviewed every 3 months – either in the last year or the second last year.• Young people are involved – the young person’s view is heard and enacted upon.• Life skills are being developed with their foster carer or in a program.• Connected to supporters.• If a young person is moving back with their birth family, the transition has started earlier e.g.greater visitation on weekends.• Young people receive material supports.• Health checks – including physical, mental, and dental; funds needs to made available for this.• Their housing application is in (at 15 years they should be in the public housing waiting list).• Young people are in appropriate housing (there needs to be dedicated housing for young peoplein and post care).43