Page 3708 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 24 August 2011
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significant associations that were observed in a survey done by Forbes, Inder and Raman of 60 care leavers between having a plan and positive transition outcomes; those with plans were twice as likely to be living in stable housing and three times more likely to be employed.
The bill provides clarification about which young people and young adults qualify for assistance. The bill clearly sets out the entitlements young people and young adults have to their personal information and materials, supports to access social services, or financial assistance to help with the costs of education, training and household furnishings. They are just a few examples.
Currently within the Children and Young People Act 2008 all planning for transitions towards independence begins at the age of 15. Nationally some 65 per cent of young people in care are without a care plan, which means no plan for their future independence. In Transitioning from care in Australia: an evaluation of CREATE’s What’s the plan? campaign of 2011, McDowall reports that 40 per cent of young people aged between 15 and18 years reported having a current leaving care plan. McDowall also reports that for the 17-year-olds in the ACT preparing to leave care 63 per cent reported that they had a leaving care plan. Many report not knowing that they were even supposed to have one, and this is simply not good enough.
We know that many young people are not aware of their rights within the system that has been put in place to protect them and look after their best interests. Therefore we need to strengthen this system by providing information, advice and more opportunities to develop the knowledge of workers, carers, families, children, young people and young adults as well as the broader community about what rights and assistance these young people have access to as they prepare to transition towards independence.
This part of the amendment bill seeks to provide a clear mandate that the young person or young adult must be involved in all planning and the development of any proposals about accommodation, education and training, employment, financial security, social support, life skills support and health care. These areas provide examples of the types of things that must be explored to ensure that each young person or young adult has a comprehensive plan for the future. However, while young people must be involved, we cannot ignore that there is likely to be a power difference between them and their caseworker.
The ACT Greens have used this bill to ensure that the interests of young people and young adults are paramount and that they receive additional support through the involvement of their carer, particularly in ensuring that the planning process actually occurs. It is important that the community that surrounds, protects and cares for the young person or young adult is provided with the opportunity to formally support and be a part of the process, just like any other family in the community.
All participants need to have greater awareness of the importance of young people and young adults transitioning to independence doing so in a supported way. To ensure that this greater awareness is not put to one side or forgotten, the bill provides that transitioning plans must be reviewed at least annually and, regardless of the amount of
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