Page 4634 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 19 October 2010
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of Education and Training and the Canberra Institute of Technology will lead to the finalisation of protocols to improve education and training pathways and support.
My department has also started work on the next phase, which is improving and planning for this transition period in a young person’s life. Planning will begin at 15 years of age, and this planning will involve the young person and those people the young person wishes to be involved in this transition planning process.
As part of the process to inform the department and community thinking and planning, I am releasing a discussion paper today, Maximising potential: improving life transitions for young people in care. This paper discusses a proposal to develop a revised model of service delivery across government and non-government agencies for young people transitioning from care. The paper outlines the reasons for the need to change and proposes that we undertake to look at the services and supports already available in the government, non-government and general community and map them against the three important stages of transition. These stages are planning and preparation, transition and after care.
The department will ask young people and relevant stakeholders if this model makes sense. They will ask them to think what is needed in each of these stages and identify what services can be realigned or refocused. A consultative strategy will be developed as part of this process. A new model will be based on delivering the right services at the right time for young people. The department will also ask for innovative ideas that will help young people, such as developing community mentors to work with young people and accessing philanthropic organisations to offer supports.
Pivotal to the success of the proposed new model will be ensuring that young people are listened to and that services are integrated and customised to meet young people’s needs. Gaps will also be identified. There may be gaps in funding and legislation identified that will be need to be considered. I look forward to learning about the feedback my department receives about this proposed new model. My department acknowledges a need to improve services for young people leaving care and is proposing a revised model to support the government’s objectives that meets the needs of this group.
The discussion paper will be forwarded to peak bodies and agencies working within this group and young people for their consideration and comment. I will also be writing to young people in care to seek their views on what is required to meet their needs.
The department will welcome any feedback from young people, kinship and foster carers, Assembly members, community organisations, agencies and the ACT community who may like to make any comment. Following the finalisation of service models, I propose to inform the Assembly of the progress made and the services available to support the transition of young people from care.
The ACT government continues to be committed to providing services for children and young people.
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