CREATE’s monthly Advocacy Wrap Ups provide regular updates on our latest advocacy for improving the lives of children and young people with an out-of-home care experience.
Our Wrap Ups include:
- CREATE’s latest submissions on issues including youth justice, residential care, housing and more.
- Media releases and statements about current issues affecting children and young people in care.
- Relevant news and research in the sector so you can catch up on what has happened over the last month.
- A monthly advocacy focus. This month it’s the Australian Federal Election.
- Consultation opportunities for children and young people to ensure that their lived experiences and voices are heard in decision-making about the out-of-home care system in Australia.
April advocacy focus
CREATE congratulates Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese
CREATE Foundation congratulates Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese who has won a second term.
CREATE will continue to work with the Federal Government, returning and new members of Federal Parliament, to ensure that the voices, experiences and priorities of children and young people in care are listened to and prioritised in the coming term of government. We will focus on embedding your voice and influence in child protection, health, education, disability policy, systems and service delivery.
For all children and young people in care, CREATE Foundation will continue to work across all levels of government to strongly advocate for whole of systems improvements to child protection and out-of-home care throughout Australia – and champion your rights to be supported in your health, development, wellbeing and ambitions from early childhood to young adulthood.
CREATE welcomes the promises made that seek to promote an inclusive and bright future for children and young people throughout Australia. We will continue to advocate to ensure that children and young people in care are afforded the very best access to early childhood care and development, education, schooling and higher education; health care and services, mental health supports and treatment, early assessment, diagnosis and supports for all abilities; recreation, artistic and cultural participation.
News
National Families Week is from 12 – 18 May and we’re sharing what young people have told us about ‘family’, and a call-to-action to the care community: create.org.au/national-families-week
CREATE updates
During Youth Week, our CEO announced that CREATE will be developing a Child and Youth Participation Framework to support capacity building of our sector partners around safe and meaningful engagement with children and young people. Read the announcement here.
On 10 April, Siblings Day, CREATE took the opportunity to share stories by young people in care about sibling connection, alongside our Guide for caseworkers and carers. Read more here.
Your voices and insights from YAGs and Consultations have shaped CREATE’s submissions to the government this month. Read submissions here.
Improving Outcomes & Experiences for At-Risk Children | 6-7 August | Sydney & Online. Join us this August in Sydney/Gadigal & Online for a pivotal national event centered on the rights and voices of at-risk children. Hear from 6 Children’s Commissioners, 8 CEOs and powerful contributions from those with lived experience.
Designed for practitioners and those working in service delivery, this conference offers vital insights into interagency collaboration, early intervention, and culturally safe, trauma-informed practices. Together, let us shape a future where every child is safe, heard and supported.
CREATE’s CEO, Imogen Edeson and two NEABY members will present at the Conference. Register by Friday, 9 May and save with the early bird sale here.
Opportunities
The What Matters? writing competition is open to students in years 5 to 12 from Australia. Responding to the simple question ‘what matters?’, entrants are free to express their views on any matter they care about. Enter here.
The ABC Heywire competition is open and seeking real stories from young people (aged 16–22) living in regional, rural, and remote Australia. Share your story here.
News
The Honourable Kate Washington MP has announced that there are no more children or young people living in unaccredited alternative care arrangements in NSW. This is a win hard-fought by children and young people, including a number of CREATE Young Consultants. Read our Media Release here.
CREATE Young Consultant, Lachlan Hobman was honoured with the Inspiration Award at the Central Coast Youth Week Awards. We are thrilled to see Lachlan recognised for his advocacy and dedication. Read more here.
CREATE updates
Young voices from Lower Eyre Peninsula share vision for change with the Minister. Young people from Port Lincoln and surrounds met with the Minister and DCP’s Deputy Chief Executive (DCE) to share their experiences and the changes they want to see to create a better system for all.
News
CREATE Young Consultant, Emmarita Brown is a Finalist for the Department of Human Services Aboriginal Achievement Award, part of the 2025 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards. Emmarita is a talented artist and advocate for young people with a care experience. Winners will be announced at the gala dinner in June. Good luck, Emmarita!
Opportunities
Nominations for the Department for Child Protection SA Child Protection and Family Support Awards are now open. Make a nomination here.
CREATE updates
Four CREATE Young consultants delivered powerful speeches to decision-makers at Queensland Family & Child Commission’s Youth Summit. Well done to our Young Consultants for always speaking with courage and from the heart.
Ministerial Youth Advisory Group, SHIFT contributes to design of policy priorities for the new Minister.Young people provided advice and feedback on the Minister’s reform agenda through a series of design sprints. Topics included things like the $1,500 financial boost to fund extracurricular activities for young people in care.
Opportunities
The final round of the CREATE x QFCC Art Competition is now open. Young people with a care experience, up to the age of 25, are invited to share their art on the theme of ‘Life in Care: My Story’. Enter here.
Nominations are open for the 2025 Child Protection Week Awards. Make a nomination here.
CREATE updates
Young people in WA recently came together at CREATE Youth Advisory Groups to discuss their experiences in care. Insights from these meetings will be shared with WA’s new Minister for Child Protection, the Honorable Jessica Stojkovski at our meeting in May. A couple of our Young Consultants will join the WA team in meeting with her for the first time.
Engaging the community on the out-of-home care system. Our WA team conducted a conversation experiment at the Jarrahdale Serpentine YouthFest where we surveyed attendees’ awareness of the care system. Of 51 people asked, 15 could accurately describe what out-of-home care is, but once it was explained to them, 25 were able to identify someone in their lives with a care experience.
Children and young people in Albany and Geraldton provided insights about their experiences of speaking up for themselves and others in care. These insights will be drawn on at the WA Roundtable with decision-makers.
Opportunities
Are you 14-25 with a care experience? Join CREATE’s upcoming consultations in-person (Perth) or online on 22 May & 6 June. Young people receive a $50 voucher for their attendance. Email wa@create.org.au to RSVP.
Are you 14-25 with a care experience? RSVP to CREATE’s Roundtable in-person (Perth) or online on 7 July. Young people receive a $50 voucher for their attendance. Email wa@create.org.au to RSVP.
CREATE updates
Children and young people joined a Roundtable with the Northern Territory Department of Children and Families, the Commissioner for Children and Young People, and our very own CREATE CEO. The young people provided important advice on improving supports for young people transitioning from care to independence, and on safety and stability in care. A report on the Roundtable is being developed to help government and sector to act on what young people had to say.
Subscribe to our enews below to be the first to know when our monthly Advocacy Wrap Ups are published! Please share our Wrap Ups with your colleagues and if you work with children and young people with a care experience, be sure to flag with them any current consultation opportunities so they can have their say.
Thank you for reading our Advocacy Wrap Up. To provide feedback, please email marketing@create.org.au
