Preparing for independence

What is a Leaving Care Plan and how does it work?

Your caseworker will begin working with you (the carer), 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, and support with learning to drive
• financial support, and some help with medical and dental costs
• employment and income support
• independent living skills (including financial management, health and lifestyle issues)
• supporting connections to family, culture and community
• building a personal support network
• contact details
• agencies and people responsible for carrying out each part of the plan.

An Aftercare Plan is activated after a young person turns 18, and may include tailored financial supports. Aftercare assistance can be provided up until the young person turns 25 years of age (refer to eligibility note below).

Your caseworker will talk to the young person about ongoing support needs and how to access information and services. As the young person approaches 18, the plan will be finalised, and both the young person and carers should receive a copy. The Aftercare Plan can be updated and amended as and when things change. 

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 they turn 18. Talk to your caseworker about these options, and decisions will be documented in their Leaving Care Plan.

Eligibility note: To be eligible for leaving and aftercare assistance, the young person must be under the parental responsibility of the Minister immediately prior to their 18th birthday, have been under this parental responsibility for a cumulative period of at least 12 months, and be under the age of 25 years (assistance for those over 25 may continue to be provided at the Minister’s discretion).

Care leavers with disabilities

If a young person with disability needs ongoing support when they leave care, their caseworker should contact the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to commence leaving care planning. 

Leaving care planning with the NDIS should begin at least two years before the young person is due to leave care. Caseworkers should work together with the young person and their carer to do NDIS leaving care planning.

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).

Young people leaving care are also eligible for the Independent Living Allowance (fortnightly allowance to the young person to age 21) and Staying On Allowance (provided to the carer).

You can’t receive both the Post Education Financial Support and the Staying On Allowance.

CREATE Foundation has developed a Go Your Own Way (GYOW) kit to help young people in the development of their Leaving Care Plans and to support a successful transition to independence.

The kit includes a workbook with advice, information and checklists to help young people, their carer and caseworker plan for the future.

Staying on and moving out

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 live with family, or to live independently or in supported accommodation options.

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 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 live with family. For a range of reasons, the young person might move out.

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 don't feel comfortable with where or who they are going to live with. 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, 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 may want to have specific discussions around items like 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: Talk about how your relationship will look after the young person has moved out. For example, 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 'moving out' or the end of their time in your home. Would they be happy to have a farewell dinner or 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 change.
• 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.

Caring again

After the child or young person has left your home, you may want to consider looking after another child who needs the kind of safe and loving environment that you can offer.

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.

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, job readiness tips, 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 care leavers and carers

• DCJ Care Leavers Line: Care leavers can call 1800 994 686 or email careleaversline@facs.nsw.gov.au to ask questions or get support as they transition to independence.
• Resolve: A smartphone app that helps young care leavers on their journey to independence. Just a click away, it includes advice about identity, relationships, health, education and employment, finance, housing and accommodation, as well as living skills. Download from the Apple App Store. 
• NSW Government Youth Hub is an online guide informing young people about what goes into their leaving care plan and what support is available to help in a smooth transition.
• The Independent Living Skills checklist (PDF 600.04KB) 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 (PDF 5.44MB) is a guide made specifically for carers to help them through the arrangements and discussions that will prepare their child for independence.

Saying goodbye

There’s no easy way to say goodbye to a child or young person you have welcomed into your home, loved and cared for.

Saying goodbye properly is an important part of the grieving and healing process. There’s no single right way to do it and each carer and young person and circumstances is different. Everyone needs to say goodbye (or goodbye for now) 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.