ABSTRACT

Young people transitioning from out-of-home care, commonly called care leavers, are known to be a vulnerable group. Many experience poor outcomes leading them to become homeless or involved in the criminal justice system. Yet compared to most other Anglophone democracies, Australia lacks mandatory assistance for care leavers beyond 18 years of age. There are also major legislative, policy, and program differences between care leaver entitlements in the individual states and territories. This paper argues that the Commonwealth Government should introduce a nationally consistent extended care system that would require all jurisdictions to provide a minimum standard of support until at least 21 years of age. A uniform set of extended care standards is even more vital in the context of COVID-19.

IMPLICATIONS

• Many Australian care leavers have poor life chances despite recent advances in the support programs provided by the states and territories.

• A nationally consistent extended care program is likely to progress improved opportunities and outcomes for care leavers.

摘要

从户外护理过渡的年轻人，通常称为护理离开者，众所周知是一个弱势群体。许多人经历了糟糕的结果，导致他们无家可归或卷入刑事司法系统。然而，与大多数其他英语民主国家相比，澳大利亚缺乏对 18 岁以上的护理人员的强制性援助。各个州和领地的护理离开者权利之间也存在重大的立法、政策和计划差异。本文认为，联邦政府应引入全国一致的扩展护理系统，该系统将要求所有司法管辖区提供最低标准的支持，直到至少 21 岁。在 COVID-19 的背景下，一套统一的扩展护理标准更为重要。

影响

• 尽管各州和领地提供的支持计划最近取得了进展，但许多澳大利亚护理人员的生活机会很少。

• 全国一致的扩展护理计划可能会改善护理人员的机会和结果。