CREATE has grown from a small grassroots advocacy group into Australia’s national voice for children and young people with a care experience - led by their stories, strength, and etermination to drive change. 26 years and counting.
In 2000, 247 children and young people joined clubCREATE in its first year. Today, membership has grown to almost 30,000 young people across Australia.
Since 2000,CREATEhas published more than 150 editions of the clubCREATE magazine.
In the last financial year alone, 88,876 copies of our magazine were sent directly to children and young people in care - keeping them connected, informed, and inspired.
In 2024, CREATE hosted 55 Connection Events involving 3,560 participants - including 2,026 children and young people with a care experience.
Of these, 1,134 were First Nations young people, reflecting CREATE’s commitment to cultural connection and inclusion.
That same year, 100 Youth Advisory Groups (YAGs) brought together 685 young people - 310 identifying as First Nations - to share ideas and shape the future of care.
CREATE’s advocacy has helped embed youth voice in national and state care reform, ensuring lived experience drives system design and decision-making.
We’ve partnered with governments, researchers, and peak bodies to co-design policies, practice guides, and submissions that push for a safer, more responsive care system.
From connecting siblings across placements to amplifying care-experienced voices in public conversations, CREATE has sustained a trusted national presence for over two decades.
"I love that CREATE helps me know my rights."– Young Person
"I feel like we get heard more when we come to CREATE. People are quiet when I talk and don't talk over me." – Young Person
"I have learnt about how to speak up for myself, and got to connect with other young people with an out-of-home care experience." – Young Person
CREATE began in 1993 as the Australian Association of Children and Young People in Care (AAYPIC) - a network of state-based groups giving kids in care a voice. In 1999, those groups united to form one national organisation: CREATE Foundation.
From community halls and garages to offices in every state and territory, CREATE now represents over 30,000 young members and employs more than 50 staff nationwide. What’s never changed is our purpose: to ensure every child and young person with a care experience is connected, empowered, and driving change.
With the courage and leadership of our Young Consultants, CREATE has influenced many of the most significant reforms in out-of-home care, including:
The introduction of transition and post-care supports in every state and territory
The creation of Charters of Rights for children and young people in care
The establishment of the National Children’s Commissioner
The development of National Standards for Out-of-Home Care
Accreditation of care service providers
Extending care and support to age 21 across all states and territories
Each of these reforms represents more than policy change - they’re real outcomes born from the voices of young people being heard and acted upon.
Systemic change doesn’t happen overnight. It can take a long time to see the impact of speaking up. For this reason, CREATE acknowledges our Young Consultants of today as well as those who are older now.
Relationships: Improving supports for young parents in care
Youth Justice: Calling for evidence-based approaches to addressing public safety concerns that ensure children in contact with youth justice maintain their rights, dignity and are given every opportunity to break the cycle.
Safety and Stability, Residential Care, Relationships: Supporting young people’s voices to be at the centre of Queensland’s Child Safety Inquiry as the experts in what needs to change for kids growing up in care in Queensland.
CREATE’sConnect → Empower → Change model continues to guide everything we do.
Our impact isn’t just measured in numbers - it’s seen in the lives of young people who feel less alone, more confident, and more hopeful about their future.
“CREATE sees me for who I am, not just someone in care.” - Young Person
