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 Young Consultants’ visit to Parliament.
- 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.
November advocacy focus
CREATE Young Consultants attend NSW Parliament and meet with Minister Kate Washington MP
CREATE’s Young Consultants were invited to Question Time at Parliament House where they also hosted a lunch and special presentation for Minister Washington, her parliamentary colleagues, and allies of CREATE.
Our Young Consultants shared some of their greatest achievements, their experiences in care, and how they continue to overcome stigma and adversity.
Thank you, Minister Washington, for listening to their voices of experience and making what they say a priority. CREATE pays special acknowledgment to our Young Consultants who have been sharing their voices loudly, with courage and passion for many months leading up to this visit.
CREATE updates
New clubCREATE Magazines focused on Children’s Rights.
Work in a government department or out-of-home care sector agency with young people transitioning from care? Our CREATE Your Future (CYF) licensing program enables professionals to undergo CYF facilitator training and deliver life skills workshops to help young people with their transition to adulthood. Contact create@create.org.au to learn more.
Latest research and reports
SNAICC releases their annual Family Matters Report. CREATE supports in full the recommendations from the report, including increased funding for ACCO-led prevention programs and to empower communities to control the decisions affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Read the Report for the full list of findings and detailed recommendations.
News
Landmark plan to address ‘systemic, structural’ racism.
Opportunities
Applications are open for the AMA Indigenous Medical Scholarship.
Want to have a say about the government’s proposed social media ban? Share your thoughts in up to 5 sentences to info@ayac.org.au.
News
Our team recently had the privilege of hearing from Fiona Duncan, Chair of The Promise Scotland about Scotland’s promise to care-experienced children and young people to grow up loved, safe and respected.
In response, CREATE’s Bella shared a list of aspirations she wrote while growing up in care some years ago, during the Child and Family Focus SA AGM. To hear how Bella’s aspirations mirrored The Promise Scotland was food for thought about what a South Australian ‘Promise’ could look like.
We would like to acknowledge and thank Bella, Fiona, Melissa and the CAFFSA team, and the Department for Child Protection, South Australia for bringing us all together and sharing these insights.
There’s more…
CREATE also had the opportunity to attend the South Australian Child Protection and Family Support Symposium where we presented on our brand-new Sibling Connection Practice Guide for the sector, created in partnership with SA young people with a care experience and the Department.
Check out photos from the day and download the Sibling Connection Guide.
The final episode of the Voices in Action Podcast (series 2) is out now. In this episode, we are joined by Nature Play SA, CEO Jason who shares wisdom about nature and its power to ground us, especially in trying times.
News
November Transition to Adulthood (T2A) Month was a huge success with CREATE’s Ipswich and Cairns launch events, Sortli webinars on ‘Adulting 101’, sector events and giveaways. Thanks to all involved in T2A Month 2024, supporting young care-leavers in their transition from care to independence.
Queensland Parliament has repealed the Path to Treaty Act 2023 despite advocacy from First Nations peoples, orgs and allies who called on the Government to allow this work to continue.
News
CREATE supports calls to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 14 years in all Australian states and territories and for governments to invest in service supports that work. You can join the movement in NSW.
A review of the out-of-home care system in NSW has highlighted significant gaps and systemic failures. It is crucial for the government to act on the findings and to meaningfully engage children and young people with lived experience at every stage of the reform process.
Latest Research and Reports
One in six children are living in poverty in NSW. The impact can last a lifetime, affecting their health, education, and employment. Poverty is preventable. Read the Report prepared for NCOSS by Impact Economics and Policy.
Opportunities
ACWA wants to hear from carers in their survey closing 12 December.
News
YACWA has released their Policy Priorities for next year’s WA State Election.
Study finds majority of WA respondents were unaware children as young as 10 can be incarcerated.
Content warning: Child abuse, sexual abuse, mental health and suicide: Calls for urgent reform in WA’s child protection system.
News
Opportunities
Students from Canberra and regional NSW who may face barriers to higher education will soon be able to apply for Snow Scholarships. Register for updates.
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
