Caring for Children
Owned and managed by Department of Communities & Justice
Preparing for independence
All teenagers can benefit from some support and guidance as they mature into adults. That help is possibly even more valuable for young people who have been in care and may have had an unstable family life in the past.
Building independence
Aside from all the love and care you provide daily, you can help the child in your care prepare for adulthood in three key ways:
- teaching life skills such as cooking, cleaning and money management
- putting in place plans and arrangements that will help them reach their goals – things like setting up bank accounts, applying for passports, enrolling to vote and getting a place at university or TAFE or establishing an apprenticeship.
- managing their expectations around how things will change, including their relationships with you or their birth family, along with the new rules and responsibilities of being an adult.
Resources for careleavers and carers
- Resolve A smartphone app that helps young care leavers on their journey to independence with information, advice and links to services. Download it via Windows, Google Play and the Apple App Store.
- YOU is a website that informs young people about their rights, particularly what sort of things they can ask for and make happen before and after they transition from out-of-home care.
- The Independent Living Skills checklist is a handy and extensive checklist that helps young people and their carers identify the skills they might need to develop as they move towards independence.
- Leading the Way – preparing young people for leaving care is a guide made specifically for carers to help them through the arrangements and discussions that will prepare their child for independence.