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 QLD’s Commission of Inquiry
- 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.
Please share our Wrap Ups far and wide! If you have any feedback, email marketing@create.org.au
July advocacy focus
Child Safety Commission of Inquiry
Through submissions, social media and media engagement, CREATE is supporting our members with lived experience of child protection to be heard in Queensland’s Child Safety Inquiry.
CREATE Young Consultants, Dakota and Georgie recently spoke to the media alongside our CEO Imogen Edeson about what needs to change in QLD’s child protection and care systems. Click the tiles to hear what they had to say.
News
CREATE welcomes the appointment of Sue-Anne Hunter as the new National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People. We look forward to working with Commissioner Hunter. Read more.
CREATE has shared insights from our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members with SNAICC as part of their research into the Review of the National Out-of-Home Care Standards, and the impacts on First Nations children, young people, families and communities.
Read more
CREATE is advocating for the standards to be realigned to reflect a strong rights-based approach, and a contemporary understanding of self-determination, truth-telling and treaty; inter-generational supports, opportunities and ambitions for children in care; calling for pre and post-natal wraparound support and care aligned with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lore and practices for young parents in care during pregnancy and for the first 1000 days post-partum for young parents in care; and transfer of systems design, case management, and family supports to First Nations organisations to enable transformative change to child protection in alignment with the findings and recommendations of Yoorrook Justice Commission.
CREATE updates
Thank you to our clubCREATE members who filled out our RAP Survey. Congratulations to our member (pictured) for being the lucky winner of our random iPad draw.
Opportunities
CREATE Foundation has started development of its Children and Young People Participation Framework and Practice Guide. Stay tuned for opportunities to have a say and contribute to the design and refinement of how CREATE Foundation’s expertise and practices are reflected and shared to promote safe, meaningful and impactful participation by all children and young people with lived experience of child protection and care systems throughout Australia. Contact advocacy@create.org.au if you are interested in being involved.
CREATE updates
You spoke, the law changed – New Children and Young People (Safety and Support) Act. Because our South Australian members showed up at CREATE Youth Advisory Groups, Forums, Panels, Roundtables and meetings with decision makers, the new Children and Young People (Safety and Support) Act has been shaped by their voices.
- Young people’s voices are heard in decision making
- Sibling connection is a priority
- and more… see our social media post.
CREATE updates
CREATE in NSW hosted a Ministerial Roundtable with Minister Kate Washington MP on the urgency for stronger transition from care supports. Our Young Consultants highlighted the critical role of secure, stable, and safe housing, and urged the government to use the new budget to take a holistic, wraparound approach to aftercare — starting with meeting basic needs like housing. Thank you, Minister Washington and Young Consultants.
CREATE attended the NCOSS Budget Event with the Treasurer, The Hon Daniel Mookhey MLC, Shadow Treasurer the Hon Damien Tudehope MLC, and Minister Washington. The session highlighted the influence of lived experience on investment decision-making.
Melissa Stubbings welcomed attendees to Country with powerful stories and sharing of language and Kate Mason held government to account to do more across housing, affordability, education and transport. Thanks for having us.
CREATE welcomes new Advocacy Lead for NSW and ACT. We’re thrilled to share that Tasha has joined our growing Advocacy Team.
CREATE Updates
Young Consultants in the Victorian Ministerial Advisory Group, CREATE’s CEO and National Advocacy Director attended the Victorian Children and Families Sector Forum hosted by the Minister for Children and Secretary of the Department.
CREATE was pleased to support and affirm the ambitions for reform outlined by the Minister and Secretary as they align strongly with CREATE’s advocacy priorities for children in care.
Read more
These includes advancing Aboriginal self-determination and self-management and improving outcomes for children and young people in care, supporting services to deal with the needs and risks for families earlier, and reducing disconnection between departments that limit responsiveness to the whole needs of children in care across education, health, disability, housing and employment.
CREATE was represented in each of the four breakout sessions, and the insights and perspectives from Victorian children in care, through Youth Advisory Groups and consultations were shared as part of these sessions.
CREATE welcomes new Advocacy Lead for Victoria. We’re excited to announce that Nina has joined our growing Advocacy Team.
Opportunities
CREATE is working with Melbourne University to support improvements to responses to children and young people who have experienced family violence. If you are interested in being involved, reach out to vic@create.org for a chat.
News
CREATE in the media:
- Listen to the children, Queensland child protection inquiry is told – The Community Advocate
- ‘Scary’ child safety system in spotlight ahead of Queensland inquiry – ABC News
- Commission of inquiry into child safety in Queensland will focus on children leaving care – ABC News
Submissions
CREATE Foundation responded to the Commission of Inquiry’s call for Submissions on Complaints Systems. Our submission draws on insights from young people throughout Queensland on complaints processes for children in care. Read our submission.
CREATE Foundation made a submission to the Independent review of Stage 1 and Stage 2 hormone therapies in Queensland’s public paediatrics gender services in strong support of the equitable provision of gender affirming care to young people in care. Read our submission.
Opportunities
The Inquiry is just beginning, and it is not too late for young people to express interest in being a part of CREATE’s state–wide work that will continue to elevate young people’s voices for the duration of the inquiry in Queensland. Sign up here to get involved.
CREATE updates
CREATE attended the Australian Government’s Anti-Bullying Rapid Review, sharing young people’s insights and experiences of bullying and discrimination in school as discussed in CREATE Youth Advisory Groups.
Our organisation joined a newly formed Coalition of Peak bodies to put pressure on all sides of government to support funding and delivery of social services and supports for Tasmanian children and families. CREATE Foundation will continue to work closely with the incoming government when formed to share the insights, ambitions and priorities for Tasmanian children in care.
CREATE welcomes new Advocacy Lead for TAS. We’re delighted to share that Caelin-Jane has joined our growing Advocacy Team.
News
CREATE condemns the Northern Territory Government’s amendments to youth justice and anti-discrimination laws. We stand alongside child rights, human rights and First Nations advocates in calling for government to reverse these harmful changes, and return to evidence-based responses to children and young people in the Northern Territory. Read our Media Release.
CREATE Updates
22 young leaders in the NT joined CREATE at NAIDOC Week events, a cooking demonstration with Domonic from NT Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corportation, Speak Up, YAGs, a CREATE Your Future workshop and Palmerston Youth Festival. Check out our social media post for pictures from the event.
News
As part of WA Foster and Family Carers Week, CREATE Young Consultant and Western Australia NEABY representative, Cheyenne reflected on her experiences of growing up in care and how it made her into the advocate she is today. Read the article.
CREATE updates
Young Consultants are preparing to host a Ministerial Roundtable with the Minister and Department to share insights into advocacy and support for children in care. The Roundtable will bring together the engagement and consultations held throughout Western Australia in recent months. Stay tuned.
CREATE updates
CREATE in ACT represented the views and experiences of children and young people at the Education attainment and access for children in care Forum hosted by the Department, with key education and sector leaders.
CREATE shared insights about trauma-informed practice, safe spaces and stigma from Youth Advisory Groups held throughout the year and reflected on the Educating the Educator resources. This work is connecting with work around the country where children and young people in care are sharing their education aspirations, and seeking equitable access and support to achieve their goals.
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
