FAQsClick on questions below to jump to answer
 What is Out-of-Home Care?
Why do children and young people enter care?
How many Children and Young People are in Care?
What are the outcomes for Children and Young People in care?
What are the characteristics of Children and Young People in Care?
Is CREATE the right organisation for me to make an allegation of abuse or neglect?
I am a worker/carer. How can I get my young person involved in CREATE?
Does CREATE provide individual support and advocacy?
Is CREATE the right organisation for me to make a complaint about the care system?
How do I become a foster carer?
What does “CREATE” stand for?
What can I do to help support Children and young people in care?
What is Out-of-Home Care?
Out-of-home care is a support system for Children and young people who have been removed from the care of their parents. Out-of-home care has a range of accommodation options for example foster care, residential care and kinship care . The responsibility for these children lies with the statutory body in each State or Territory.
- Foster care is when a child is placed with an approved family, ideally located within the child's local community.
- Kinship care is provided by a person who is a relative, considered to be family or a close friend, or is a member of the child or young person's community.
Kinship carers can assist children and young people to maintain connections with their family.
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, a kinship carer may be another Indigenous person who is a member of their community, a compatible community or from the same language group.
- Residential care is when a young person is placed into a living arrangement staffed by workers. Residential care can include group homes, 24-hour high security accommodation, and supported independent living
Why do children and young people enter care?
It is important to remember that children and young people enter care through no fault of their own. Children and young people enter care because their parents are unable or unwilling to care for them. The reasons are varied and can include; accident, illness, bereavement within the family of origin or abuse (physical, emotional, sexual or neglect).
How many Children and Young People are in Care?
At any given time across Australia over 29,000 children and young people between birth and 18 years are in care. The number of Children and Young people entering the care system is rising at a rate of approx. 9% per annum.
What are the outcomes for Children and Young People in care?
Without sufficient social and community supports their life outcomes can be compromised. A 2005 Victorian Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare research project (“Investing in Success: The Economics of Leaving Care”) revealed that young people who have left care experience significant social disadvantage. Of those care leavers surveyed as part of this report:
- Only 13% had completed Year 12 or its equivalent
- 42% were unemployed within 12 months of leaving care
- 10% were homeless within 12 months of leaving care
- 47% previously had involvement with the juvenile justice system or police
- 28% were already parents of young children
What are the characteristics of Children and Young People in Care?
The characteristics of children and young people in care are hugely varied depending on the reason for being in care, how they came into care, their age, length of time in care, the number of placements and if they have been separated from their siblings and quality of contact with parents.
Does CREATE provide care services (e.g do we run any residential units or arrange foster care services)?
No, CREATE does not provide care. We are a sector advocacy group, and work with and support young people in care to enable their voices to be heard.
Is CREATE the right organisation for me to make an allegation of abuse or neglect?
No, the relevant statutory body should be contacted.
If you wish to report neglect or abuse, this is the number you should call:
VIC:
| 13 12 78 | | NSW: | 13 21 11 | QLD:
| 1800 811 810 | | SA: | 13 14 78 | | WA: | 13 14 44 | | ACT: | 1300 556 729 | TAS:
| 1800 688 009 | NT:
| 1800 700 250 |
I am a worker / carer. How can I get my young person involved in CREATE?
No referral is necessary contact your local CREATE office to find out more about CREATE programs and services. (link to contacts).
Wherever the young person lives in Australia they can instantly join ClubCREATE
Does CREATE provide individual support and advocacy?
No. We do provide sector wide advocacy. Depending on your issue, we can refer you to an organisation that can help.
Is CREATE the right organisation for me to make a complaint about the care system?
No, but we can help point you in the right direction, depending on your issue and the state you live in.
You can call us
How do I become a foster carer?
Call the number in your State or territory:
VIC:
| Foster Care Hotline – 1800 013 088 | | NSW: | DoCS Foster Care Recruitment Line – 1800 011 110 | | SA: | Families SA Foster Care Recruitment Service – 1800 210 145 | | WA: | DCP Fostering Services – 08 6380 5900 | | QLD: | DCS Foster Care Recruitment Line – 1300 550 877 | TAS:
| DHHS – 1800 001 219 | NT:
| DHCS – 1800 814 599 | ACT:
| Foster Care Agencies:
Barnardos Australia ph: 62415466
Marymead Child & Family Centre ph: 6162 5800
Galilee Family Placement Scheme ph: 62902191
Life Without Barriers ph: 6242 6222
Richmond Fellowship ph: 62629869
|
What does “CREATE” stand for?
The word “CREATE” is not an acronym. It is the name that was created by young people in 2000. The name was chosen as it felt youthful, and represented limitless possibilities; anything can be created.
What can I do to help support Children and young people in care?
You can help by taking the time to understand that being in care is a difficult experience for most children and young people. Put yourself in their shoes for a moment and think about what you want, need and miss about being with your family. You can help CREATE to work with and for children and young people by making a donation. Or you can support another agency providing care and support services. You may be able to give time rather than money through volunteer work for CREATE or another non-government agency. You may be willing to commit to be a foster carer and provide a temporary or permanent home for a child or young person in care
You can make a donation
|
