Page 400 - Week 01 - Thursday, 16 February 2012
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While we know that young people in care need stable and supportive placements to overcome their experiences of abuse, neglect and family breakdown, we are also aware through research into the area that they require ongoing monitoring when they transition from care.
Young people require long-term support post care so that difficulties, be they in housing, education, social, emotional or other key areas, can be overcome before they lead to personal crises. Often part of the longer term post-care supports are around access to personal items and information from childhood that can help a young person or young adult work through the issues they have been affected by. Therapeutic support in care and post care are identified as being a high priority for this target group.
In conclusion, we know that affirmative action, supports and programs are needed to compensate care leavers, given their disadvantaged position compared with other young people their age in the general population. The territory as parent has an obligation to redress these disadvantages by providing care leavers with the same ongoing resources and opportunities that any parent in the general population offers their children.
I am disappointed that our bill was not supported, as I believe it is the better legislative instrument to support young people through their transitions from out-of-home care towards adulthood. However, I am extremely proud that the Greens have been able to push this agenda and to be able to ensure that the voice of young people in the ACT has been heard. And with the amendments which I understand will be supported we will have largely achieved what we set out to do for these young people and young adults.
While work in this area has begun, there is still much to do and we will keenly watch the anticipated outcomes of legislative change and increased supports to this group. Research informs us that care leavers experience multiple disadvantages, as I have said, resulting from traumatic experiences early in their lives or prior to being put into care, their often unhelpful experiences in care at times and the non-availability of ongoing support after they leave care. All of these can be negative experiences and they are preventable.
Ultimately, early intervention programs for families at risk are imperative to ensure that children are kept safe and well nurtured. Providing a good out-of-home care system with stable, positive and caring placements with relatives or foster carers is vital for those who cannot remain with their birth parents. Finally, we need to provide ongoing support to care leavers to ensure we play a part in their healing, help them to develop positive outcomes and make sure that ultimately these young people can reach their potential. The Greens will be supporting this bill with amendments.
Debate (on motion by Ms Porter) adjourned to the next sitting.
Adjournment
Motion by (Ms Burch) proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
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