Children and young people with a disability are significantly over represented in Out of Home Care. A survey of 438 children in Anglicare Victoria’s care found 64% had a diagnosed or suspected disability.
This is compared to 10% of children aged between 5- 19 who have a disability in the general population (AIHW 2020).
Children and young people in care wait up to 18 months for a disability assessment to determine their eligibility for the NDIS. Once a plan is made young people face extended waits for a provider (up to 8 months). Further, plans often don’t match their needs. Children and young people in care are not able to readily access their plans or seek a review of their plans. Unlike their peers, they may not have family members able to advocate for them.
16–17-year-olds in care run out of time – some leave care without eligibility assessments, making them ineligible for the NDIS or supported housing options – effectively rendering them homeless.
The partnership began in February 2022. Yooralla provided staff from two areas of the organisation: NDIS Support Coordination and Specialist Behaviour Support/Psychology. Anglicare funded 1.2 FTE through their innovation funds to run the trial for 12 months, with a further 18-month contribution from DFFH. The program has supported 108 clients and provided more than 1400 consultations to AV and DFFH. 60% of clients have been in residential care, and 40% in home-based care.
Katrina Aabryn
Registered Psychologist and Behaviour Support Practitioner, Yooralla
Katrina Aabryn, early career psychologist who has worked in the disability space for 5+ years. Has developed a special interest in working with young people within the out of home care sector.
Anne Welfare
Statewide Principal Practitioner, Anglicare Victoria
Anne Welfare is a Clinical Psychologist and clinical family therapist.
She has worked for more than 30 years as a Lecturer and as a Family Therapist at the Bouverie Centre, a Victorian Mental Health Clinic, and developed clinical interventions for family sexual abuse. She has been a Principal Practitioner for Child Protection for 5 years and then moved to a Statewide Principal Practitioner with Anglicare Victoria for more than 8 years.
