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 our Youth-led Forum in Victoria.
- 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.
May advocacy focus
Final tickets to YEAG’s inaugural Youth-led Forum
If you are a Victorian professional working in a service where young people with a care experience regularly interact, don’t miss our FREE Youth-led Forum later this month.
Hear directly from young people with a lived experience in out-of-home care as they discuss topics ranging from education, housing and homelessness, youth justice and mental health. There will be plenty of opportunity for collaboration and networking and lunch will be provided. If you have any questions, contact our VIC team at victoria@create.org.au or call (03) 9918 0002.
Who: Sector professionals in Victoria
When: Thursday, 20 June from 9:30am-4:00pm
Where: 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne CBD
Cost: Free
Why: Gain insights on how to support young people with a care experience through meaningful dialogue with lived experience experts from YEAG.
Seats are strictly limited. RSVP with your dietaries as soon as possible.
News
Read CREATE Foundation’s response to the Budget 2024-25. While CREATE is pleased with the focus of the Budget on easing the burden of the rising cost of living, we are concerned the broader package of support measures won’t trickle down to young people with a care experience, especially those who are in the midst of transitioning from care.
Opportunities for young people
Consultation opportunities
Prevention United’s National Youth Survey is now open to young people aged 16-25 in Australia.
EOI’s are open for the National Child Voice Community of Practice. Express interest.
EOI’s are open for the First Nations Child Removal Class Action Investigation.
News
Media Release – Young people to drive residential care reform in Queensland.
New strategy to boost foster and kinship carer numbers.
Publications
The latest My Life in Care survey results are now available.
Consultation opportunities
Submissions to the Review of Queensland’s Human Rights Act 2019 are now open.
News
New whole of Government ACCO Strategy.
Read CREATE’s response to the WA Budget.
Publications
Former CREATE Young Consultant, Sjon wrote a letter to the Minister for Youth, the Hon. Hannah Beazley regarding the new WA Youth Strategy. You can read Sjon’s letter, including recommendations here.
Consultation opportunities
Apply to be on the Board for the Youth Disability Advocacy Network.
News
Victoria Police delivers ‘long overdue’ apology for role in Stolen Generations.
Read CREATE’s response to the VIC Budget.
CREATE consulted with young people to develop Better Futures and Home Stretch resources.
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CREATE echoes the sentiment of disappointment from Chair of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, Professor Eleanor Bourke, and Indigenous groups in Victoria, following the release of the Victorian Government’s response to Yoorrook For Justice Recommendations. We share concerns that the Victorian Government has not supported Recommendation 35 to urgently raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14 years without exceptions. Young people with a care experience are disproportionately in contact with the youth justice system. CREATE urges the Victorian Government to hasten efforts to raise the age. We also call for the Victorian Government to reconsider its response to Recommendation 1 and commit to transferring decision-making power, authority, control and resources to First Peoples, giving full effect to self-determination in the Victorian child protection system. This is critical to reducing the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in care.
Consultation opportunities
Students! Complete the Climate Survey from the Victorian Department of Education.
News
Last year we asked our young people to workshop with the ACT Government on the Children and Young People Act 2008 reform. As a result of that consultation a Listening Report was released: Changing the Children and Young People Act 2008 – Stage 2
CREATE is excited to see that the voices of our community have been not only listened to, but genuinely heard. We hope to continue to be a part of consultations moving forward, with the aim to support a legislative framework that is inclusive and considerate of the needs of children, young people and their carers.
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
