On this page, you'll find the latest research, reports and related material relevant to those working in and around out-of-home care.
This Children and Youth Services Review meta-analysis explored pathways from care to education and employment, finding higher odds of employment for girls with high school diplomas and other influencing factors.
The Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP) 2023 systemic inquiry examined the educational experiences of children in out-of-home care, drawing on consultations with young people, stakeholders, and data from Victoria’s Education and Families departments.
This study examines the variation in OOHC education policies across Australia, emphasising the need for enhanced educational support and trauma-informed approaches for children in Out of Home Care.
This article in Adoption and Fostering explores foster parents’ dual roles as caregivers and professionals. It highlights the challenges and evolution of their self-perception, emphasising the need for understanding and support in foster care dynamics.
This Child Family Community Australia review examines factors influencing placement moves for children in out-of-home care. Higher risk is linked to younger age at entry and externalising behaviour, while kinship care reduces this risk.
This rapid review from the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare provides insights into the proven strategies for recruiting and retaining foster carers. This review is in response to the urgent need for high quality foster carers.
A systemic inquiry by the Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP) in 2019. The CCYP spoke to over 200 young people who have an experience of out-of-home care, providing an opportunity for them to share what works and what needs to change, based on their experiences in care.
This New South Wales Office of the Advocate of Children and Young People report investigates the experiences of children and young people in the out-of-home-care system, with OOHC system improvement recommendations grounded in the lived experience of OOHC children and young people.
This Evidence to Action Note provides an overview of the views of children and young people about whether they have contact with family members and their satisfaction with contact arrangements, with findings drawn from two surveys, the 2018 NSW OOHC Survey and the NSW Residential Care Survey.
In November 2020, Victoria’s Labour Government extended out-of-home care until age 21, starting January 2021. This policy reflects decades of advocacy by service providers and care-experienced youth.
This research article uses multiple government departments’ data in investigating the relationship between out-of-home care leavers and homelessness. This report recommends a multidisciplinary, holistic and collaborative approach to housing pathways for the care-leaving population.
This study on out-of-home care transitions highlights the importance of stable housing, recommending extended support to age 25 and better transition planning. It informs practitioners on addressing young people’s housing and support needs.
The CREATE Foundation has released a report on the transition from out-of-home care for young people, addressing the challenges and key issues they face, including education, health, accommodation, and family relationships. This valuable resource equips family service practitioners with insights to better support young individuals navigating the leaving care process.
This Monash University research article uses qualitative data from service practitioners to help identify factors that can lead out-of-home care leavers to become parents before age 21.
This journal article emphasises Indigenous-led out-of-home care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, offering ten directives for non-Indigenous stakeholders on trust, racism, and empowering Indigenous voices, promoting culturally sensitive child protection.
SNAICC’s annual report provides essential insights for practitioners working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. It highlights the over-representation of Indigenous children in child protection and the need for policy change.
This brief documents the findings from a scoping review that investigated the needs of Indigenous children and young people in care across the world. It highlights structural and system inequity in the out-of-home care system in Australia and presents recommendations from the research.
This Australian Social Work systematic review found limited evidence on interventions for improving health and psychosocial outcomes of youth in residential care globally. Promising approaches include Cognitive Behaviour Treatment and Healthy Eating Active Living, highlighting the need for rigorous evaluation to enhance effectiveness.
This paper explores the care trajectories of 5–11-year-olds in residential care, highlighting their trauma histories, emotional dysregulation, and the need for better mental health support and foster carer training.
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