Transition from care
Transition from care refers to a young person's transition from out-of-home care to independence, when they reach 18 years of age.
All young people who have been subject to a Child Protection Order with custody or guardianship to the Chief Executive have the right to receive appropriate assistance and support with their transition from care to independence.
The years leading into adulthood are a time of opportunity. As young people learn to take greater control of their own lives, their relationships change and the connections with friends, family and community begin to alter to reflect their growing maturity.
The transition into adulthood can be both exciting and daunting, particularly for young people who have been in out-of-home care.
Young people who are in, or transitioning from, out-of-home care have the same developmental needs as those young people who are not in care, but they also face a range of unique issues and circumstances that highlight their particular need for support during this time.
Young people leaving care are often confronted by issues such as reconnecting with their families and communities, coming to terms with the reasons why they came into care or finding themselves alone, without the security of a family or community to fall back on.
A well-planned, gradual and flexible process for transitioning young people from care is very important, including the potential provision of support for a period of time after they have left care, until all the goals have been met.
When a young person turns 18 years of age, our Child Protection Order expires and we no longer have a legal role as their guardian. However, the Child Protection Act 1999 requires that we assist young people in their transition from the child protection system.
Where to from here? A guide to community services for young people making the transition for living independently is a directory of the full range of community services that are available to assist young people in their transition from care. It contains helpful information about registering for services and benefits, finding a job, finding a place to live, getting further education or training and access to health, counselling, support or legal services.
Young people are encouraged to make contact with these services if they feel that they can be of assistance. At any point in the future, young people can also contact us for information about local services and resources.
- Last updated
- 4 September 2008
