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ABSTRACT
Young people transitioning from out-of-home care, commonly called care leavers, are known to be a vulnerable group. Many experience poor outcomes leading them to become homeless or involved in the criminal justice system. Yet compared to most other Anglophone democracies, Australia lacks mandatory assistance for care leavers beyond 18 years of age. There are also major legislative, policy, and program differences between care leaver entitlements in the individual states and territories. This paper argues that the Commonwealth Government should introduce a…
Abstract: In August 2016, Anglicare Victoria established the Home Stretch campaign to lobby all States and Territories to extend the transition from state out of home care (leaving care) age from 18 till at least 21 years. This campaign is driven by a concern that many care leavers face significant barriers to accessing the same educational, employment, housing and other developmental and transitional opportunities as most young Australians. Equally, the evidence from international research suggests that young people who stay in care till an older age experience better…
Abstract
In Australia, young people up to 18 years who are unable to live with their birth families are placed in different forms of out-of-home care, including kinship care, foster care, residential care, family group homes, and independent living. People who spent time in out-of-home care before the age of 18 are subsequently referred to as care leavers when they transition out of the system. Care leavers rarely transition to higher education. They are largely excluded from the level of education that brings the highest wage premiums and lifetime rewards. Despite their…