Preparing for independence

Your caseworker will begin working with you, the young person and significant other people in their life on a Leaving Care Plan once they turn 15. The plan will include reasonable steps to prepare the young person for their transition to independence.

The Leaving Care Plan generally covers:

• a safe place to live (whether they are staying on with you, returning to their birth family or setting up independent living arrangements)
• access to education and training
• employment and income support
• independent living skills (including financial management, health and lifestyle issues)
• personal history (including cultural background)
• contact details
• agencies and people responsible for carrying out each part of the plan.

Your caseworker will talk to the young person about ongoing support needs and how to access information and services. Carers and young people should receive a copy of the Leaving Care Plan.

Young people in care may choose to enter an apprenticeship, traineeship, university or enlist in the Australian Defence Force (ADF), as their preferred training, study or employment option. Before applying, they’ll need consent from the agency. All decisions will be documented in their Leaving Care Plan.

Careleavers with disabilities

Where a young person with disability in statutory out-of-home care is likely to require ongoing support when they leave care, the agency with case management responsibility (either DCJ or the non-government agency) should notify Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC), and/or, if the young person is eligible to access the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), ensure this is discussed with an NDIS planner during their planning meeting.

Leaving Care planning with ADHC or the NDIS (whichever is available in your area) should begin at least two years before the young person is due to leave care.

If a young person has a disability that affects their ability to weigh up information to make a decision in their best interests, even with support, it may be useful to appoint a Public Guardian. The Public Guardian is a statutory official appointed to advocate on behalf of the young person to assist with leaving care planning.

For more information about care-leaver support for young people with disabilities, talk to your caseworker.

What happens when the Care Allowance stops

Payment of the Care Allowance usually stops when the care order expires. Sometimes, though a young person is still completing their school or similar studies at the time they turn 18. Post Care Education Financial Support is a non-means tested payment aimed at helping young people aged over 18 complete their education by providing their carers with financial support to maintain the current living and support arrangements until they complete their Higher School Certificate (HSC).

When a young person turns 18, their care order legally comes to an end. This doesn’t mean the young person has to leave their carer’s home. Some young people will stay on with the support of their carer. Others will choose to move out, either to return to their birth families or to live independently.

When young people stay on with carers

Leaving care definitely doesn’t mean that the young person must leave the home they have been sharing with you. That will be a decision that you make together, with the support of your caseworker if you need it.

If the young person is staying on with you, think about what it will mean to you both and how your relationship and your arrangements might change. As an adult, your child will probably want to assert their independence, but it’s important that everyone in the household is treated with respect and consideration. For example, will it be alright for your child to bring someone home for the night, or to stay out overnight without letting you know? Will they be expected to make a contribution to the household budget? Having a fresh discussion about the house rules can be a good idea.

When young people move out of their carer’s home

Some young people will move out once they turn 18 or soon after. This could be because they want to try living independently, or because they want to move back in with their birth family. It could also be because the placement has been challenging, and you have both agreed to the idea that the young person will move out of your house.

Both you and the young person in your care could find this a very emotional experience. If there are other children in the household, they could also be feeling a sense of grief and loss. You might have serious concerns about the choice the young person has made, either because you don’t think they’re ready to live independently or because you are not comfortable with the idea of them returning to their birth family. If you are struggling with these sorts of feelings, it’s a good idea to discuss them with your caseworker.

If the young person is moving out, there are a few issues to keep in mind:

• Belongings Anything that your child had when they entered care, and anything that has been bought for them with the Care Allowance or as a gift, is theirs to take with them. To avoid misunderstandings and disappointments, you should have specific discussions around other items, including shared gifts bought for the whole family and even pets.
• Financial arrangements Have a think about any expenses that you currently cover for the young person, for example, you might pay for a phone plan or gym membership. Will they take over those bills, or will you continue to pay them? Make sure that you both understand what will happen with those expenses in the future.
• Post-care relationships Both you and the young person need to understand what your relationship will be like after they move out. Are you both happy to have completely open contact, dropping in on each other at any time? Will you need some structured arrangements? Or do you both feel a need to have some space for a while? If you are struggling with these decisions, ask your caseworker for some support.
• Goodbyes Talk to the young person about how they would like to mark the end of their time in your home. Would they be happy to have a farewell party so that everyone can say their goodbyes, or would they rather leave without a fuss? Whether it is a public or a private moment, this is an opportunity to help everyone feel positive about the young person leaving care.
• Coming back It is not unusual for young people to jump at the opportunity to move out of their carer’s home at the age of 18, and then to want to return within a year or so. Keep in mind that this is a possibility. If it’s something you would like, make sure your child knows that you would welcome their return, whenever they are ready.

What documents should care-leavers take with them?

Apart from personal belongings, it’s important that the young person has all the documents necessary to prove their identity and access required services. If you are having any difficulty, your caseworker can help you locate and access these documents. For example, check they’ve got:

• their original birth certificate
• Medicare card, Health Care Card and medical records
• school reports, transcripts and certificates
• training enrolment details or qualifications
• tax file number
• ATM card
• leaving care letters from your agency
• copy of their Leaving Care Plan
• My Life Story Book

How do care-leavers access their records in the future?

Young people can access agency files about their time in care, either at the time they leave care or in the future. These files may contain original documents, such as their birth certificate, school reports and sporting certificates. If the young person wants to read their file or get their original documents, they need to contact their agency.

For legal reasons, some types of information may be removed from the records before they are released. This can include:

• personal information about other people unless they have given their consent to release the information
• information that could lead to the identification of a person who reported that a child was at risk of harm
• privileged communications between a lawyer and their client where that communication was created for the main purpose of providing legal advice or assistance, or preparing for Court proceedings.

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.

There’s no easy way to say goodbye to a child or young person you have welcomed into your home, loved and cared for. Handling emotions associated with kids leaving can be difficult, even if you accept the decision.

Saying goodbye properly is an important part of the grieving and healing process. There’s no single right way to do it. Each situation is different and everyone needs to say goodbye in their own way.

Take time to reflect on how you want to say goodbye to the child or young person who has been in your care. Here are some suggestions.

• Reassure them about the change.
• Spend some time together, create a scrapbook filled with memories you have shared, talk about special times and laugh about the funny things that have happened.
• Write a letter telling them how much the time you’ve spent together means to you and the things about them that make them special.
• Make a video of your home, places they liked to go and messages from your family and their friends.
• Have a party or special dinner surrounded by family and friends so that everyone can say their goodbyes.
• Don’t be afraid to cry or to give them a hug.

You might disagree with your teen’s decision and worry about how it will affect their wellbeing or their prospects for the future. If that’s the case, raise your concerns with your caseworker. Otherwise, focus on the positive and try to make the transition as easy as possible for everyone concerned.

Staying in contact

Your caseworker will have a discussion with you about whether ongoing contact between you and the child or young person leaving your care is in everyone’s best interests.

If your caseworker thinks it’s a good idea for you to stay in touch they will talk to you, the child and the birth family to make sure that everyone feels comfortable with ongoing contact.

There may be some very good reasons for contact not to be maintained between you and the child that you cared for. However, if you are in a position to agree to ongoing contact, you are showing that child how much they mean to you and helping them build a strong support network of caring and responsible adults.