Page 466 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 21 February 2012
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transitioning from out-of-home care. Key elements of the service delivery model include establishing a support and assistance service; aligning the services, assistance and supports available to young people as they enter out-of-home care through to transitioning to adulthood; and giving young people priority access to targeted services.
We have committed over $2 million over four years to implement the first element of this service by establishing a support and assistance service for young people transitioning from out-of-home care, in the Office for Children, Youth and Family Support. This service will be delivered by the youth support and transition team. Positions will also be available in the non-government sector. The government bill embeds in legislation that there will be assistance and supports for young people transitioning from care; this is a significant achievement by the government in developing a best practice model that supports young people in the ACT.
Earlier in the debate we heard from Mrs Dunne quite a list of negative stories. I would like to share some positive stories. I personally have a very high regard for the care and protection workers and the work that they do, and I think the positive stories need to be put on record.
Let me mention the story of an 18-year-old male. Last year a youth and support transition team worked with a young man who was turning 18 to successfully and confidently transition from out-of-home care. This included reuniting him with a number of his family members, who he now has a very positive relationship with. He is now working in hospitality part time; he recently bought his first car, which he himself saved up for; and he is starting a business course at the Australian Business Academy. The young man is very positive about his future. He is looking at moving into private rental with some friends and is currently saving for his first trip overseas, to Thailand. He was one of the first people to access the transition and support team and wants to help set up the program to ensure that it is achieving the best possible outcome for young people.
Another positive story is about a young woman who recently contacted the transition team to get back in contact with a caseworker, as she wanted to let her caseworker know how well she is doing. The young woman spoke about her great difficulties in her teenage years and said that it was the phone calls and contact from her caseworkers or a surprise visit that helped her to keep going and reminded her of all the good things happening in her life. She is now a qualified hairdresser engaged to be married and sees a very bright future for herself.
So there are very good stories. I could mention many more but we are here today to talk about the transition bill.
The first main provision in the government’s bill is about improving the operation of the Children and Young People Act. I propose removing section 455(b)(vii) from the Children and Young People Act; it makes a reference to “planning and services” when a child or young person leaves out-of-home care. Section 455 is about care plans. The government bill updates the language of “leaving care” to contemporary best practice of “transitioning from care”.
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