Transition planning is a critical process for young people in out-of-home care (OOHC) as they prepare to move into independence. Research has established what young people need, such as early planning, secure housing, and engagement in education, but there has been little investigation into how these supports can be implemented from the perspective of young people themselves. There remains limited understanding of how young people are engaged in their planning, the barriers they face, and how they would like the process to occur. Embedding their voices in research is essential to ensure transition processes are meaningful, responsive, and uphold children’s rights to participate in decisions about their lives.
This study sought to address these gaps by exploring the perspectives of young people currently living in OOHC, as well as those who have recently left care. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 18 young people in residential care (n=12), kinship care (n=4), and foster care (n=2), alongside a workshop with youth expert advisory group members from the CREATE Foundation. Two researchers with lived experience of care contributed to the development of the interview guide and coded the transcripts. One coded interview data across placement types, and the other identified participant-generated recommendations for improving the implementation of transition planning.
The study had three objectives: (1) to explore how care-experienced young people understand and experience the transition planning process, including their engagement and involvement in its delivery; (2) to identify perceived gaps in implementation fidelity by comparing young people’s accounts with the intended transition planning processes; and (3) to determine what changes are needed to ensure planning is successful implemented. The findings identified what young people need, the barriers and enablers they experienced and recommendations for change. This work demonstrates the value of partnering with young people in the design, conduct, and interpretation of research, ensuring their insights directly inform reforms to transition planning policy and practice.
Hayley Wainwright
PhD Candidate / Research Fellow, Monash University
Hayley is an implementation researcher focused on strengthening service systems for children and young people. Her work examines how transition planning can be more effectively delivered in residential out-of-home care, drawing on experience across research, policy, and frontline roles in youth homelessness and family violence.
Sofia Grage-Moore
PhD Student / Research Assistant, Monash University
Sofia is a PhD student in the Health and Social Care Unit (HSCU) at Monash University. Her PhDfocuses on bridging the research practice gap in the social care sector through embedded research. Sofia also works as a research assistant at Monash University where she supports a broad range of projects concerning the evaluation and implementation of health and social care interventions.
Ruby Sait
Lived Experience Consultant, Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare
Ruby Sait (she/they) is a passionate public speaker, MC, volunteer, and advocate for disadvantaged youth, focusing on out-of-home care, mental health, homelessness, and disability. With a Bachelor of Communications, Ruby is dedicated to amplifying the voices of young people and believes every story matters. They use their skills to highlight the challenges faced by disadvantaged youth, challenge misconceptions, and promote understanding.
