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youth
Foster care support
AGE (Assistance and Guidance Engagement) Program
To provide comprehensive support for children entering the foster care system, ensuring their safety, well-being, and smooth transition into foster care placements, while also supporting foster families during the adjustment period.
Partnership with Ability to Assist
We actively collaborate with Ability to Assist, a charity dedicated to meeting the basic needs of children in care. Recognising that most children in foster care experience over 20 placements, often with very few personal belongings, Ability to Assist provides essential items such as personal care products, school supplies, sporting gear, suitcases, and donated clothes throughout their time in care. Their slogan, “It takes a village,” reinforces the message that every child knows they are not alone—there are people in the community who care about them and what they are going through.
This partnership strengthens our program, ensuring that children receive not only the essentials but also the emotional reassurance that they are supported by a compassionate community.
serviceS we offer
24-Hour Staffing Support:
- Immediate assignment of dedicated staff to care for children upon entry into the system.
- Around-the-clock supervision and care until a suitable foster care placement is found.
Relief Assistance and Transportation:
- Offering temporary relief care to foster families to prevent burnout and ensure sustained quality care for the child.
- Coordinating transportation for children to school, medical appointments, and extracurricular activities, ensuring continuity in their education and social development.
Educational Support:
- Working with schools to ensure a smooth transition for the child, including necessary academic support and counselling.
- Providing tutoring or additional learning resources if needed to help the child stay on track academically.
Foster Care Transition Support:
- Guidance and emotional support for children as they transition into foster homes.
- Assistance with helping children adjust to their new environment.
Foster Carer Assistance:
- Providing foster families with resources, training, and emotional support to help them understand and meet the needs of the new child.
- Continuous communication with foster carers to ensure they feel supported and confident in their role.
Children in Foster Care
As of 2023, there are approximately 48,000 children in out-of-home care in Australia, which includes foster care, relative care, and other types of care.
Criminal Justice System
Research suggests that a significant proportion of young people who have been in the foster care system are at a higher risk of entering the criminal justice system. According to a 2022 report by the Australian Institute of Criminology, around 30% of young people in the juvenile justice system have a history of out-of-home care.
Breaking the Cycle
Studies indicate that former foster youth are more likely to have their own children removed by child protection services. A report by the Australian Institute of Family Studies in 2020 found that around 25% of young people who aged out of the foster care system had their own children involved with child protection services.
DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Drug and substance abuse issues are also prevalent among those with a history of foster care. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s 2021 report shows that young people who have been in out-of-home care are more likely to experience substance abuse issues. Estimates suggest that up to 40% of young adults who were in foster care have struggled with substance abuse.
