Transition to Independence Month

November 2012 - Helping young people plan their journey to independence

What is Transition to Independence Month?

Each year, nearly 400 young people leave the Queensland child protection system to live independently. Help and support for these young people often comes from carers, family and community members, as well as government and non-government service providers. However, a number of young people make this transition without the support of a family network.

Transition to Independence Month, held in November each year, focuses on how we can all help young people make the journey from the child protection system to independence, and achieve positive life outcomes.

The Child Protection Act (1999) under the Charter of Rights states that young people are entitled to receive appropriate help with their transition to independence. This includes help with housing, access to income support, training and education.

How can you promote the Month?

A promotional kit has been developed for government and non-government service providers promote Transition to Independence Month. The kit includes:

• the DVD On our own two feet
• a digital poster (PDF, 2.2 MB)
• the booklet Out of care and onto further education, training and work: career and life planning for young people in out-of-home care¹

The DVD, which was produced by young people, contains a series of clips featuring advice and encouragement from young people who have made the journey to independence. The young people share their vision on how the community can better support those transitioning from care. The DVD can be used to support and motivate other young people in care to be involved in their transition planning.

The booklet aims to help young people in care to plan their future career, organise their education or training, and eventually find employment.

There are a number of different activities that you can organise to promote Transition to Independence Month. Here are just a few ideas:

• Hold a workshop or staff meeting to discuss good practice and ideas for change when it comes to young people successfully transitioning to independence. Watching the DVD On our own two feet is a great way to initiate discussions.
• Plan a training session, workshop or forum to hear from local young people about how they view transition to independence.
• Organise your own local event for young people to celebrate their achievements in becoming independent.
• Coordinate an art exhibition featuring works from young people.
• Hold a morning tea with young people to encourage discussion on transition to independence.
• Organise a Transition to Independence expo where local service providers showcase the help they can provide to young people who are transitioning to independence.

You will need to register your event with the CREATE Foundation.

For more information about Transition to Independence Month, or to provide feedback, please contact Kelly Bucknall at the CREATE Foundation on (07) 3317 6020 or email kelly.bucknall@create.org.au

Transition to Independence Month is coordinated by G-Force, a sector-wide working party of the Child Protection Partnership Forum made up of government and non-government organisa­tions including the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services; CREATE Foundation; Foster Care Queensland; PeakCare and the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian.

¹ Creed, P., Tilbury, C., Buys, N., Crawford, M., and Praskova, A. (2012). Out of care and onto further education, training and work: career and life planning for young people in out-of-home care. Brisbane: Griffith University