Residential out-of-home care in
Australia: the story so far...
Jenna Bollinger and Stephanie Scott-Smith
jenna.bollinger@gmail.com
stephanies2@maristyc.com.au
Residential care in Australia

The vast majority of young people in OOHC live in foster
care (41%) or kinship care (47%) (AIHW, 2013).

Approximately 5.2% of young people in OOHC end up in
Residential Care (AIHW, 2013).
Pathways into residential care
Case Study AB and CD
What we know about residential care in
Australia

Residential Care is often viewed as a last resort.
Research suggests that young people in residential care tend
to have the most negative outcomes.

What is about residential care that leads to more negative
outcomes?

Are there benefits of a residential care setting VS foster care
setting?

What does the Australian research say?


The presumption that residential care produces negative
outcomes may exacerbate any potential negative
outcomes for the young person.
Case study: EF and GH
Predictors of long-term disadvantage for
young people in residential care

Unresolved anger towards family members, workers or the system;

Unsuitable and unstable placements and multiple changes of carers and workers;

Lack of long-term goals (e.g., education, vocation and living arrangements);

Lack of sufficient income;

Contact with the juvenile justice system and imprisonment;

Lack of preparation for leaving; and

Lack of later contact with the care system.
Placement disruption and the importance of
placement stability.

Case study IJ.
Predictors of long-term success for young
people in residential care

A positive experience of time in care – stability and consistency;

The development of belief in self and resilience;

The presence of mentors, advocates, previous carers and workers;

After-care support workers;

Family contact.
What we need to know about residential
care in Australia

Residential care VS therapeutic residential care
Therapeutic residential care has better outcomes

Foster care / Kinship care VS residential care with
similarly complex young people?

Post care support / follow-up is essential
Residential care in Australia

Young People in residential care have complex and diverse
presentations

Therapeutic Residential Care produces better outcomes than
residential care

Residential care can be the best option to met the needs of
young people
There’s always room for improvement
A final case study

PQ
References
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Questions