The Greens’ Meredith Hunter has launched a discussion paper on improved support for young people transitioning out of care.
Intriguingly Ms Hunter says that care in the ACT turfs the kids out when they turn 18 where other States wait until 21 or even 25. When they leave care:
- — 64% do not have a leaving care plan
— 35% are homeless in the first year of leaving care
— 46% of boys are involved in the juvenile justice system
— 29% are unemployed
[Joy Burch’s office has been in touch to point out that this data is Australia wide]
The paper has five proposals:
- 1. Young People in Care receive material and non-material support from the ages of 15 to 25 years
2. Individual plans for all young people transitioning out of care
3. Every young person leaving care has the right to the possession, free of charge, of any personal material held by the Department or other bodies, such as passports, photos and birth certificates
4. Establishment of a specific after-care support service in the non-government sector to support young people leaving care
5. Secure specific funding pool for the purpose of financial supports for young people transitioning out of care in the ACT