Transitioning from Out-of-home care: Support for
Aboriginal young people
Guidance for Regions
1. Context
The Children Youth and Families Act 2005 (the Act) (section 16) requires the Secretary of the Department of
Human Services (the department) to provide services that support young people up to 21 years, to make the
transition to independent living.
Section 12 of the Act also recognises the principle of Aboriginal self-management and self-determination and
requires that in making a decision or taking an action in relation to an Aboriginal child or young person,
Aboriginal community members and organisations should be involved.
2. Purpose
The purpose of this initiative is to provide a model of culturally appropriate support for Aboriginal young people
transitioning to independence/interdependence1 from out-of-home care, including kinship care from 16 to 21
years of age (noting the Government has proposed to increase the age of eligibility support to 25 years where
this support is required).
The proposed model would require that one or more Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCO) in
each of the eight department regions be identified to provide the support services for eligible Aboriginal young
people identified in the region. The ACCO/s would facilitate or provide:
 advice on the identification of Aboriginal young people who require transition and leaving care support,
particularly young people up to 21 years of age no longer in out-of-home care
 cultural advice and consultation on the transition needs of individual Aboriginal young people whilst they are
on custody, guardianship or long-term guardianship orders whether placed with Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal
agencies
 active support to Aboriginal young people who have left care up to 21 years of age including facilitating
access to leaving care brokerage
.Independence/Interdependence definition - Preparation for adulthood is generally defined as the development of
practical, emotional and interpersonal living skills that enable us to cope physically and emotionally and form effective
social relationships (Dixon & Stein (2005)
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Department of Human Services – Transition Support for Aboriginal Young People - February 2012
 liaison with regions, mainstream Post Care Support, Information and Referral Services (PCSIRS) and
Housing & Community Building (H&CB) Leaving Care Housing and Support Initiative providers to build the
capacity of these services to meet the needs of Aboriginal young people and ensure equitable access by
Aboriginal young people requiring these supports.
3. Target group and Eligibility
3.1
Transition Support for Aboriginal Young People
The primary target groups for this initiative are Aboriginal young people:
 on a custody, guardianship or long-term guardianship order to the Secretary between 16 and 18 years of age
placed in residential, lead tenant, home based or kinship care (transition support)
 from 16 to 21 years of age where their final custody guardianship or long-term guardianship orders have
expired and they subsequently need assistance to transition to independence
The Aboriginal leaving care support initiative may have flexibility outside of the primary target group subject to
negotiation with regional staff to respond to:
 exceptional circumstances where Aboriginal young people require support to transition from kinship care
arrangements and they are not subject to a custody, guardianship or long-term guardianship orders
 exceptional circumstances where Aboriginal young people outside the 16-21 years age range who are no
longer subject to Child Protection involvement require assistance to transition to or maintain
independence/interdependence.
3.2
Mainstream Post Care Support Information and Referral Services and Brokerage
To be eligible for mainstream leaving care support services and brokerage, young people must have been
subject to a custody, guardianship or long-term guardianship order on their 16th birthday, or after. There are two
target groups for these services:
 young people on a custody, guardianship or long-term guardianship order and between 16 – 18 years of age
 young people whose custody, guardianship or long-term guardianship order has ceased for the final time (16
– 21 years of age).
4. Data and Anticipated Demand
As at 30 June 2011, there were 58 Aboriginal young people aged 16-17 years on open custody to Secretary,
guardianship to Secretary or long-term guardianship orders in Victoria. The break-down by region is outlined
below.
Aboriginal young people 16-17 years of age on open
custody, guardianship and long-term guardianship orders
at 30/06/2011
Region
16 years old
17 years old
Total
BSW
4
0
4
EMR
3
4
7
GIPPS
7
5
12
GRAMPS
3
0
3
HUME
4
1
5
LMR
1
2
3
NWR
7
12
19
SMR
4
1
5
Totals
33
25
58
Note: This is Department of Human Services CRIS data - not
AIHW publishable data
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Department of Human Services – Transition Support for Aboriginal Young People - February 2012
In addition, the approximate current number of Aboriginal young people between 18 up to 21 years whose orders
have expired is 87 across the state at any one time (based on an average of 29 young people multiplied by 3
years;18, 19, and 20 years). Thus, it is estimated a minimum of 145 Aboriginal young people would be eligible
for support through this initiative each year.
There is an anticipated increase in the number of Aboriginal young people who will be transitioning from out-ofhome care in coming years. This is due to a 30% increase between 2007-2010 of Aboriginal children and young
people in out-of home care in Victoria2.
5. Outcomes of the initiative
The outcomes sought for Aboriginal young people transitioning to independence/interdependence as a result of
this service include, but are not restricted to:
 Aboriginal young people from at least 16 years of age are supported to be involved in their case planning
processes, and transition planning that will assist them to achieve their personal, educational and vocational
plans into the future
 The young person is assisted to maintain and strengthen connection or re-connect with their culture, family
and identified community
 The young person is clear about the nearest, and most appropriate, ACCO from whom they can seek support
 Aboriginal young people are assisted to attain their desired educational, vocational and personal goals so
they may gain sustainable independence
 Assistance is provided for the young person to attain safe and sustainable independence/interdepedence by
having strong linkages with:
o
Aboriginal community members or organisations that can facilitate cultural and community
connections
o
all relevant Aboriginal community based services (welfare, health and housing)
o
PCSIRS in their region and the Leaving Care Helpline, including financial and material supports
o
Housing and Community Building (H&CB) Housing and Support Initiative programs,
o
Education and employment programs.
It is also anticipated there will be service system benefits derived from strong and collaborative relationships
between the proposed Aboriginal leaving care support services and mainstream PCSIRS in each of the eight
regions.
6. Service model design
Funding for the Aboriginal leaving care support initiative could be utilised flexibly to provide individually tailored
support packages, staffing to provide Aboriginal specific post-care support to young people, or a combination of
support packages and staffing.
It is recommended that regions and ACCOs utilise existing network and collaboration structures to decide the
specific service model to be implemented in each region and how to best distribute the funding to ACCOs to
deliver the initiative. It could be decided that funding is allocated to one ACCO in a region to deliver the initiative
across the region or to multiple ACCOs in the region to deliver the initiative at a localised level.
7. Service elements
The types of services that could be delivered as part of the initiative include:
 Preparation phase – confirming and ensuring young Aboriginal people in out-of-home care have the
opportunity to develop self-care and social skills that will enable them to live a good life
2
Based on published AIHW data at 30 June each year.
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Department of Human Services – Transition Support for Aboriginal Young People - February 2012
 Transition support – provided following referral to the Aboriginal leaving care support initiative at least six
months prior to the final expiry of the young person’s custody, guardianship or long-term guardianship order.
Support could include:
o
Consultation with young person regarding their identified short, medium and long term
independent/interdependent living goals
o
Input into the young person’s transition plan for example where do they see themselves living or
how may they attain safe and sustainable accommodation options, income, 100 points re:
identity documentation, banking arrangements etc
o
Consultations regarding post-care support needs with the young person’s Care Team about
ongoing education, training and/or employment plans, future safe and sustainable
accommodation, re-connection with community or family of origin or maintaining and
strengthening current connection, legal issues, health issues, and parenting support services as
required
o
Facilitating access to leaving care brokerage through the region to meet identified transition
support needs.
 Post care assistance - to address challenges in young people’s move to sustainable
independence/interdependence following the expiry of their final custody, guardianship or long-term
guardianship order. Support could include:
o
providing personal support based on the young person’s identified needs and transition plan
goals
o
providing information and support in accessing and maintaining education, training or
employment
o
maintaining existing accommodation, or facilitating access permanent or more appropriate
housing as required
o
supporting re-connection with family and community as appropriate or maintaining and
strengthening current connection
o
providing assistance in accessing other community based services including health, housing,
social, and counseling services
o
facilitating access to leaving care brokerage through PCSIRS to meet identified transition
support needs.
 Facilitating access to leaving care brokerage – which is held by regions (for those on statutory orders) and
mainstream PCSIRS (for those whose Custody or Guardianship orders have ceased for the final time).
Brokerage for young people may fund (but is not restricted to):
o
Accommodation costs associated with setting up or maintaining accommodation or for contribution
towards a debt that could result in the young person being evicted or made homeless
o
Health expenses to facilitate and/or maintain a young person’s access to health services eg
interim service whilst on a waiting list, or assistance with a co-payment
o
Education/training/employment expenses to enable a young person to successfully complete
training or education – eg. laptop, printer, books, course enrolment fees and including contribution
to child care costs (where the young person is a parent or carer), transport costs, clothing or
equipment
o
Life skills education and connection to community such as cooking, budgeting, driver education,
transport costs to maintain links with family and community or costs associated with continuing
recreational activities.
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Department of Human Services – Transition Support for Aboriginal Young People - February 2012
8. Existing ‘leaving care’ services
8.1 Children Youth and Families
‘Leaving Care’ in Victoria has two components:
 ‘Transition’ support for those young people still on Custody or Guardianship orders – provided by their care
team who focus on ensuring the young person receives the necessary preparation and planning for their
move to adulthood,
 Post care support for young people up to 21 years of age (whose Custody or Guardianship orders have
expired for the final time) and who find they need support to achieve or maintain
independence/interdependence.
There are currently Post Care Support Information and Referral Services (PCIRS) in each of the eight
department regions providing a range of personal supports, and financial assistance via brokerage, to all young
people whose Custody or Guardianship orders have expired for the final time up to 21 years of age.
8.2
Housing and Community Building (H&CB)
By 2013 H&CB will have up to 20 positions across the state providing focused transition supports to young
people 16-18 years of age in out-of-home care who would be at risk of homelessness post care.
Additionally H&CB has funded ACCOs to assist Aboriginal young people who may be at risk of homelessness
after they have left care. There are three full time positions in three locations as noted below:
 North and West Metropolitan Region – Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA)
 Gippsland Region (La Trobe Valley)- VACCA
 Loddon Mallee Region (Loddon) – BEDAC.
9. Service targets and performance monitoring
It is proposed that targets for this initiative be negotiated between the region and the identified service provider
as local knowledge will best determine the young people requiring the support. The negotiated target should take
into account the possibility of considerable variability from year to year with regard to the number of Aboriginal
young people requiring support, thus allowing flexibility in the identified cohort, type of service and length of
support provided.
Whilst it is recognised that the initiative will respond to each community’s needs the following core service model
principles are considered important:
 local decision-making about the specific service model configuration and the agency/s to deliver the initiative
 the leaving care support services should be provided by ACCOs wherever possible as the organisations best
placed to advise and support young people in their communities
 the leaving care support services should be available across the state, wherever Aboriginal young people in
the target group are living and regardless of their community of origin
 funding allocation to the identified ACCOs should be sustainable and able to be used flexibly to meet the
needs of the individual young people in the target group.
10.
Funding principles
In allocating the available funding, a number of factors have been considered including the:
 population distribution of Aboriginal children and young people by region (census data)
 low numbers of young Aboriginal people on custody, guardianship and long-term guardianship orders
between 16-17 years of age (58) across the state
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Department of Human Services – Transition Support for Aboriginal Young People - February 2012
 approximate number of Aboriginal young people between 16 up to 21 years whose orders have expired and
are eligible for this service is 116 across the state at any one time (based on an average of 29 young people
multiplied by 5 years to 21)
 anticipated increase of Aboriginal young people transitioning from out-of-home care (predicated on a 30%
increase over 3 years from 2007-2010 of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care – Source AIHW 2010)
 potential increase in numbers of Aboriginal young people needing support if the CYF Act is amended to
provide leaving care supports up to 25 years of age
 the department’s simplified funding principles.
References
Dixon, J., & Stein, M. Leaving care: Through care and aftercare in Scotland. London - Jessica Kingsley (2005).
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