Today, the Honourable Kate Washington MP, Minister for Families and Communities has announced that there are no more children or young people living in alternative care arrangements (ACAs) in New South Wales.
This is a win hard-fought by children and young people who have spoken up about their experiences of being placed in hotels, motels and caravan parks in NSW, rather than loving homes, and the impacts of this.
Today’s announcement forms part of much-needed reforms to NSW’s child protection system.
This reform comes after numerous reports of young people feeling unsafe (see the Advocate for Children and Young People’s Special Inquiry) and CREATE Young Consultant Lachlan Hobman sharing his experiences in NSW’s ACA’s which he described as having a traumatic impact on his life.
CREATE Foundation CEO, Imogen Edeson acknowledges all the young people who spoke up to share their experiences and create change for others.
“Lachlan, Alice and the other children and young people who shared their experiences growing up in NSW’s ACAs have made history.
They spoke up so that no other child or young person in NSW would have to go through what they did. I want to thank these young advocates for their courage.
CREATE would also like to thank Minister Washington for listening to the voices of lived experience experts and making what they say a priority.
This is what true collaboration can look like. This is what’s possible when we listen to the people who know most about what’s working and what’s not – the children and young people who experience systems and services firsthand.”
CREATE is pleased to have helped amplify young voices to enable the government to hear and respond to the insights and priorities of those who have lived in care.
CREATE continues to advocate for care models that promote therapeutic, trauma-informed, relational and holistic responses to children and young people, coupled with increased investment in early intervention, family preservation and reunification programs.
Today’s announcement is an important milestone in reforming NSW’s child protection system.
It also demonstrates the power and influence of children and young people’s voices when they are engaged meaningfully and listened to by decision-makers.
CREATE Foundation is the national consumer body representing the voices of children and young people with an out-of-home care experience. We provide programs to children and young people with a statutory care experience. We listen to what those with a lived experience of the care system tell us, and advocate with and for them to achieve systemic change. CREATE is a national leader in child and youth participation in Australia, bringing 25 years of child voice and participation expertise.
*ENDS*
For further comment from CREATE’s CEO, Imogen Edeson, contact Taylor Toovey, Communications and Media Specialist via (m) 0478 814 752 or taylor.toovey@create.org.au
Key statistics on out-of-home care in Australia
- There are currently around 45,393 children and young people in out-of-home (OOHC) care nationally (AIHW, 2023).
- As of 30 June 2022, of the 45,393 children and young people in out of home care, 19,432 identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (AIHW, 2023).
- Nationwide, only 67.5% of children and young people in care feel they could have a say ‘reasonably often’ and 15.7% reported that they rarely or never had a say (McDowall, 2018).
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2023). Child protection Australia 2021–22. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/child-protection/child-protection-australia-2021-22
McDowall, J. J. (2018). Out-of-home care in Australia: Children and young people’s views after five years of National Standards. CREATE Foundation.
