Page 398 - Week 01 - Thursday, 16 February 2012
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people transitioning from care and the creation of four transitioning from care workers to provide assistance in a government and non-government setting.
On 8 March 2011 the minister gave in-principle support to extend the age limit for supporting children in formal care arrangements beyond the age of 18. The Greens began drafting the Children and Young People (Transition to Independence) Amendment Bill in March 2011.
On 4 August 2011 Minister Burch made a commitment to extend supports to young people from 18 to 25 years and to introduce a bill in the December sitting period. The ACT Greens’ bill was ready to go and, as a result, we tabled our bill in August 2011.
The ACT government’s bill is very much based on the bill the Greens presented to the Assembly in August of last year, and the Greens are pleased to see the inclusion of young adults up to the age of 25 into the act. This has been an important step for young people who are transitioning from care to be able to access supports beyond their 18th birthday. Some young people will leave care abruptly from age 15 or so and commonly refuse to participate in transition planning. However, this group of young people should still be entitled to ongoing support at a later stage if and when they want it.
We are also pleased to see a formalised definition of what a transition plan is and should include. Planning for transition is very important and should occur from age 15 onwards. It is important to note that international research indicates that three key elements are required to improve the outcomes for care leavers. They include improving the quality of care, a more gradual and flexible transition from care and more specialised after-care supports.
The other aspect of transition plans that cannot be ignored is the need for young people to be involved in the development and implementation of the plans. It is critical that young people are also encouraged to get the people who support them or those who could support them into the future on board with a transition plan and share that information.
At 6 pm, in accordance with standing order 34, the debate was interrupted. The motion for the adjournment of the Assembly having been put and negatived, the debate was resumed.
MS HUNTER: There is no point developing a plan that is for a young person only and does not encourage them to use the assets and strengths they have available to them.
However, the ACT Greens’ bill proposed several other clauses which were intended to strengthen the functions of a transitioning from care bill. These included the inclusion of the Charter of Rights for Children and Young People in Out of Home Care, access to information and personal items, financial loans for young people leaving care, without the imposition of interest, and support and assistance to access protected information.
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