Transition From Care Month
‘Transition to Independence: the Journey Starts Here’

Since 2009, Queensland has acknowledged November as Transition from Care (TFC) Month, an initiative which aims to raise awareness of the journey to independence undertaken by young people leaving the child protection system.

The initiative was developed by the G-Force cross-sector group and this year marks the third anniversary of this awareness raising campaign which the Commission actively supports through its Community Visitor Program.

G-Force is a sector wide working party of the Child Protection Partnership Forum made up of government and non-government organisations including the Department of Communities, CREATE Foundation, Foster Care Queensland, the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian, Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak (QATSICPP), Peakcare, Youth Advocacy Centre, Legal Aid and the Office for Youth.

TFC Month encourages government and non-government organisations to work together with more than 400 young people exiting the care system each year in Queensland to achieve sustainable outcomes during transition to independence and beyond. The focus for TFC Month 2011 promotes broad awareness that:

• during this time of ‘growing up’, the relationships young people have with significant adults in their lives are of vital importance
• in the midst of all the other work we do with children and young people, time and resources should be set aside to support young people transition from care to independence, and;
• young people need all the adults in their life working in collaboration to provide support

The G-Force group has distributed TFC Month kits to child protection sector agencies and organisations across the state. The TFC Month kit includes six postcards developed using artwork, quotes and questions developed by young people to promote discussion among practitioners about how they can be better supported with their transition to independence. Child protection practitioners and community professionals are encouraged to answer the following questions featured on the postcards:

• What works in supporting young people to a successful transition to independence?
• What are the barriers to a successful transition?
• What kind of information tools or things should young people have access to during, and after their transition?
• What is out there that young people can access during and after they transition to independence?
• Who should be involved in supporting a young person to independence?
• What does transition to independence mean to you?

The Commission Community Visitors (CVs) regularly visit children and young people in out-of-home care and detention to ensure their safety and wellbeing and they have been using the TFC Month kit resources in recent regional meetings. During November, CVs will be actively raising awareness among the young people they visit about the importance of participating in developing a plan for their transition.

G-Force would love to hear responses to these questions from those committed to helping young people make a positive transition to independence. Please complete the survey online at the Survey Monkey site http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9PM8QPZ or email qld@create.org.au

Last Updated: November 1, 2011

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