PRESS RELEASE: CREATE SAYS QLD T2A MONTH IS ABOUT CONNECTING & SUPPORTING WITH YOUNG CARE LEAVERS TO GET AHEAD
MEDIA RELEASE
11 November 2020
CREATE SAYS T2A MONTH IS ABOUT
CONNECTING & SUPPORTING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET AHEAD
Each November the QLD sector comes together to highlight the needs of young people as they make the journey from the out-of-home care system to adulthood. Known as T2A Month, special events are held to highlight the issues and resources available to young care leavers are held across the state (event details shown below). Carers and workers are a vital part of young care leavers networks and gain a lot through T2A month to allow them to support and assist young care leavers on their transition journey.
Leaving care is often a challenging time, especially for vulnerable 18-year-olds. Navigating accommodation, seeking employment, building support networks, accessing services, learning to budget, sorting out transport needs, starting bank accounts, locating important documents and much more can be a mine field.
Without community, family, carers, government and service providers, young people are at risk of homelessness (35% become homeless within a year), joblessness (29%) or not completing their education.
CREATE says that all young people need support, networks and resources in their journey to adulthood. In T2A Month CREATE encourages child protection workers, support services and carers to “Have a conversation, host an event and get resourced!”
The T2A Launch is an event for young people with a care experience, carers and workers in the sector.
20-year-old Brittany, from Toowoomba, has a foster care experience and will be the Master of Ceremonies during Thursday’s T2A month launch event. When asked about T2A month she said: “Transitioning to adulthood is something I am very passionate about. At the moment I work in disability support and my goal is to specialise in transitioning support as my future job.”
CREATE Foundation is the national consumer body representing the voices of children and young people with an out-of-home care experience (including kinship care, foster care and residential care). CREATE develops policy and research to report on and advocate for a better care system.
CREATE Foundation’s Chief Executive, Ms Jacqui Reed, shared that, “Preparing to leave care should be gradual and not left until the last minute. CREATE urges anyone working with or supporting a young people preparing to leave care to access the plethora of resources available to facilitate a successful transition.”
“Whether a young person likes using digital information or booklets, there is the free Sortli app, Next Step Support website, and the ‘Go Your Own Way Kit’ booklets which will point young people in the right direction to access services and supports. Unfortunately, not everyone is aware of the resources and we invite the sector to get resourced and to also check out CREATE’s Voices in Action podcast.”
To listen to this podcast click here https://create.org.au/podcast/ and CREATE has more Transitioning from Care resources and information available here https://create.org.au/resources/transitioning-from-care/
EVENT INFORMATION: T2A Month (Queensland) Launch Event takes place at Toowoomba City Library on the afternoon of Thursday 12th November, 2020. For more information and this event and all T2A month events, visit: https://createyourfuture.org.au/about-me/leaving-care/t2a/events/
For more information about CREATE visit our website at www.create.org.au
For further comment from CREATE’s Chief Executive, Ms Jacqui Reed, and/or a young person with care experience contact Leigh White, CREATE Communications Advisor, via (m) 0431 932 122 or [email protected]
Sources:
Key statistics on the care sector in Australia:
1. 44,906 children were in out-of-home care across Australia, 8,125 in Queensland (AIHW 2020)
2. Young people in out-of-home care are 16 times more likely to be under a youth justice order than the general population
3. 35% of young people experience homelessness within the first year of leaving care
4. 46% of males have been involved with the justice system since leaving care
5. 29% of young people who have left care or preparing to leave care are unemployed
6. 36% children and young people in care do not live with any of their siblings
7. 35% of young people in care have five or more caseworkers during their time in care
8. 67% of young people in care over the age of 15 are not aware of having a leaving care plan
McDowall, J. J. (2016). CREATE’s Go Your Own Way resource for young people transitioning from care in Australia: An evaluation. Sydney: CREATE Foundation.
McDowall, J. J. (2018). Out-of-home care in Australia: Children and young people’s views after five years of National Standards. Sydney: CREATE Foundation.
