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About Us

CREATE Foundation is the national consumer body for children and young people with an out-of-home care experience. We support children and young people from 0-25 who are currently in, or have experience in foster care, kinship care, permanent care or residential care.

Our Vision

That all children and young people with a care experience reach their full potential.

Our Mission

To create a better life for children and young people in care.

To do this we;

Connect

Connect

children and young people to each other, CREATE and their community

to Empower

Empower

children and young people to build self-confidence, self-esteem, and skills that enable them to have a voice and be heard

to Change

Change

the care system, in consultation with children and young people, through advocacy to improve policies, practices and services, and increase community awareness
Learn more about what we do
Check out how children and young people can participate with CREATE

Core Principles

What we value

  • Children and young people are the centre of the work we do
  • Our practice is inclusive and respectful of culture and diversity
  • Our advocacy is independent and driven by the voices of children and young people
  • We believe that meaningful participation is essential for engaging children and young people
  • Partnerships with Government, NGOs and individuals are important to success
  • We are enthused by creativity and fun
  • We invest in our people
  • We provide a safe and inclusive environment for children and young people where they are safe, respected and have opportunities to have a say, free of judgement and prejudice.

Our Story

CREATE's Journey

In 1993, Jan Owen AM formed the Australian Association of Children and Young People in Care (AAYPIC), a variety of state and territory groups that aimed to give children and young people in care a say in the decisions that affect them. It was in March 1999 that AAYPIC networks met in Brisbane to form one combined organisation and call it CREATE – not an acronym but an action – meaning to ‘create opportunities with and for children and young people in care.’

Over 25 years, led by the courage, strength and advocacy of our Young Consultants, CREATE has contributed to many significant improvements to the care system, including;

  • The introduction of transition from care and post care services and legislation in each state a territory
  • The development of a Charter of Rights for Children and Young People in Care in each state and territory
  • The establishment of a National Children’s Commissioner
  • The development of National Standards for Out-of-Home Care
  • Accreditation of service providers in Out-of-Home care
  • Increased supports to age 21 in all states and territories
  • And more.

CREATE has grown significantly from its humble beginnings at garages and community halls across Australia. CREATE is now a national organisation with offices in each state and territory, over 50 dedicated staff and 30,000 children and young people with a care experience as clubCREATE  members. While we’ve grown, what hasn’t changed is our commitment to our vision that all children and young people with a care experience reach their full potential. Our model of Connect to Empower to Change has helped us play a vital role in the care sector today by ensuring the voices of children and young people are at the center of decision making and heard loud and clear.

In 2019, to celebrate CREATE’s 20th Birthday, we put together a booklet of some of the highlights of the past 20 years. Come on the journey of CREATE’s history and read about advocacy wins, Young Consultant achievements, CREATE’s growth, and so much more.
In celebration of CREATE’s 25th Birthday in 2024, we crunched the numbers on our impact so far, reflected on all the positive changes, and thanked every child and young person who has connected with CREATE over the years. Read the article.

“CREATE has opened up so many doors for me to advocate on behalf of young people to make their experience better. They gave me a safe environment when I did not know any. I have made lifelong friends. I will never forget what CREATE has done for me, CREATE is so important to ensure the next generation of kids have someone to speak up for them”

Chris Ticehurst, CREATE Young Consultant

"CREATE exists to help children and young people with a care experience connect with community, feel empowered and influence change to make things better for all kids in care. We listen to young people as the leaders who are best placed to define the changes we need to see to improve things for kids in care. This is needed more than ever, so all kids can be supported to thrive."

Imogen Edeson, CREATE CEO

Find out more about CREATE

What we do

Our advocacy

Our Annual Reviews

Our Strategic Plan

Our events

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This website was built in consultation with children and young people with a care experience. Thank you to all the young people involved in providing feedback and sharing your insights throughout this process.

CREATE Foundation acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples and Traditional Owners of the lands, skies and waters where we live and work. We pay deep respect to Elders, knowledge holders and community leaders across all Aboriginal communities.

We acknowledge that Australia is culturally rich with the oldest living cultures on earth. And we acknowledge over 60,000 years of growing kids strong, connected to culture and Country.

CREATE Foundation

National Office – Sydney
Suite 6.01, Level 6, 80 George St
PARRAMATTA NSW 2150

Phone: (02) 9267 1999

Email: create@create.org.au

ABN 69 088 075 058