CREATE wants your opinion on what we do. This survey gives you the chance to have your say. We will use your feedback to look at the activities we offer and improve our services for children and young people.

Cool prizes to be won

There will be a cool prize draw in every state and territory. Make sure you fill out your contact details because if your name is drawn, CREATE will use them to send the prize to you.

Doing the survey

Doing the survey is up to you. If you don’t feel comfortable doing it online then  you can also phone the CREATE office and take the survey with a CREATE worker over the phone; or by taking the survey on paper and returning it to CREATE using the Reply Paid envelope. If you didn’t receive a survey in the mail then contact CREATE on 1800 655 105 and we’ll get one out to you asap.

Make sure you take the right survey according to your age! There are two here online. One for everyone aged 9 to 13 and the other for everyone aged 14 to 25.

The closing date for the survey is Friday 10 September 2010 so get cracking!

If you are aged 9 to 13 – take this survey
If you are aged 14 to 25  – take this survey

Thank you for taking the time to let CREATE know what you think!

The national premiere of Polly and Me will be launched during Child Protection Week on 9 September at 9.30pm on ABC 1 and is supported by CREATE. The program will be hosted by Geraldine Doogue and followed by a panel discussion with child abuse prevention experts, carers and child abuse survivors. For more information on Polly and Me please visit www.pollyandme.com.au.

Should you be interested in a copy of the DVD before the launch or arranging your own screening of the film to create awareness within your community,  please contact Carly Peterson on 02 9267 1999.

Moving out of home and becoming independent sounds exciting and most teenagers do it relatively seamlessly with the help of parents to support and guide them on the art of independent living.

This positive influence helps kids prepare for living out of home by teaching them about managing money, paying rent, cooking and caring for themselves and some street sense to help stay out of trouble. But imagine being jettisoned out of home when you turn 18 without knowing these basic survival tactics?

For teenagers growing up in foster care, turning 18 can be a time of mixed emotions. On the one hand they are considered an adult and able to make their own decisions, and on the other many enter adulthood with limited support and are faced with the demands of fending for themselves. They often find themselves without stable housing, sufficient income or emotional support when the Department ceases their care orders and assistance.

CREATE Foundation is concerned about the lack of formal planning that occurs with these vulnerable young people before they leave care and how well they are resourced to successfully transition into adulthood.

 “I knew nothing about leaving care” says 18 year old Kate* who told CREATE Foundation about her experience leaving care. “I only received a letter from my legal aid lawyer saying that my [care] orders had been removed. No planning or supports were organised or discussed” she explains.

Under legislation and government policy, all foster children ‘aging-out’ of care have the right to a Leaving Care Plan. This plan is meant to prepare young people for leaving care and becoming independent.

However in a recent survey by CREATE Foundation, over 63%¹ of young people surveyed do not have a leaving care plan. Without any preparation for leaving care, young people may not know about their basic entitlements and are at higher risk of experiencing homelessness and unemployment.

CREATE believes that a fresh approach is needed if we are to see a difference. They have implemented the ‘What’s the Plan?’ campaign to inform foster carers, case workers and young people about the importance of this plan.

“Our aim is to empower young people by informing them of the benefits of a leaving care plan; how to get one; what makes a good plan; and who to contact should they have difficulty accessing one,” states Jacqui Reed, Chief Executive Officer, CREATE Foundation.

She said “Without some sort of roadmap to navigate life’s choices, when there’s nobody to turn to and nowhere to go, many kids end up homeless within one year of leaving, are jobless and get onto the wrong side of the tracks”. 

*names have been changed to protect the identity of the young person

Background information

CREATE Foundation is a national charity and the peak voice for children and young people in out-of-home care. The Foundation is creating a better life for children and young people in care.

Through clubCREATE they provide CONNECTING and EMPOWERMENT programs to develop skills and self-esteem. After consultation with young people, they advocate to CHANGE the care system to make a better future for all children and young people in care.

Why are kids place in out-of-home care?

Over 34,000 kids grow up in care as a result of abuse or neglect. Not all kids growing up care live in a stable foster care home. Growing up in care can mean you don’t have the positive influence of a group of adult friends or relatives because you are continually moved from place to place.

The facts about kids in out-of-home care

• In the last decade the number of children & young people in out-of-home care has increased from 15,000 to over 34,000
• In 2009 there were 34,000 children & young people in out-of-home care, of which over 15,000 were recorded in NSW
• In 2009 over 8,000 young people were released from care & protection orders (predominantly due to the age cut off for government support)

Data source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – Child Protection Australia 2008-09 (January 2010)

Life outcomes of kids in out-of-home care

They are at higher risk of developing recognised characteristics of youth who have left care, such as being more likely to be undereducated, unemployed, to earn less, become a parent at a younger age, be involved in the juvenile justice system, become homeless, be dependent on social assistance, have mental health issues, attempt suicide, and be at a higher risk of substance abuse².

• 64% do not have a leaving care plan (strategy for life after being in the care system)
• 35% are homeless in the first year of leaving care
• 46% of boys are involved in the juvenile justice system
• 35% completed Year 12 (compared to that of the general population)
• 29% are unemployed (compared to the national average which is 9.7%)
• 28% were already parents themselves

Data source: McDowall, J.J. (2009). CREATE Report Card 2009 – Transition from Care: Tracking Progress. Sydney: CREATE Foundation

References

¹ CREATE Report Card 2009: Transitioning from care – tracking progress, Dr Joseph J. McDowall, 2009. CREATE Foundation.

Rachel has been involved with CREATE for some time now and she’s really passionate about helping other children and young people. She says she’s really excited about the story:

“Girlfriend was one of my favourite magazines when I was a bit younger so  I’m wrapt with how  my story has turned out! Hopefully it will reach other children and young people in care and let them know they aren’t alone. CREATE is there to help!”

Click here to visit the website – www.createyourfuture.org.au

Did you know – over 1 million eligible Australians aren’t enrolled to vote? And one third of those are aged 18-24? Are you one of them?

Being enrolled to vote gives you the opportunity to have a say about the direction of Australia and issues that matter to you.

Once an election is called, you won’t have much time to enrol. Once election roll is closed, if you’re not on it, you can’t vote.

So don’t wait! Enrol now at www.aec.gov.au/enrol

Even if you have already enrolled – are you sure your details are correct? Check your enrolment now at www.aec.gov.au/check

UNYA Electoral Ambassadors will be out and about this weekend, encouraging young people to enrol to vote – find out where they will be at “Count Me In!”

This is your opportunity to recognise an inspirational young person, who through their own commitment and passion has achieved extraordinary things.

Nominees for Young Australian of the Year need to be Australian citizens aged between 16 to 30.

Visit the Australian of the Year website to submit a nomination for the Young Australian of the Year.

And the lucky Delegate is…….Bree from the NT! Bree has been involved with CREATE for over 7 years, and was absolutely rapt to hear the good news.

Bree will be representing children and young people from Australia, as well as the Pacific region. He will be sitting on a youth panel, as well as conducting a 5 minute presentation by himself.

Congratulations to Bree for such a fantastic opportunity to represent children and young people in an International forum!

$5500 total prize money and publication in Voiceworks and on the Express Media website.

Two age categories:
- under 18
- 18-24

Two submission categories:
- poetry
- short story or first chapter of a novel.

Entries close 5pm Friday 20th August 2010.

Click here to find out more.

CREATE Champion awards

Here at CREATE Foundation we understand that there are heaps of special people who play an important role in your life and the lives of other young people in care. And right now the important part we are wondering is who helped you get your Leaving Care Plan?

That’s why we have come up with the ‘CREATE Champion’ award!  As a young person in care, we want YOU to write and tell us about someone who has helped you with your Leaving Care Plan. Send us a photo if you can too!

This special person might a case worker, someone in your foster family or even a helpful worker from the Department. CREATE will be will be publishing a list of CREATE Champions in the clubCREATE magazine. We’ll also be promoting it with the local agencies to ensure due recognition is given to the person that helped you!

‘What’s in it for me?’ I hear you say. Well, for every story we receive, we will provide you and your CREATE Champion with a certificate of appreciation plus a little unhealthy reward for you to snack on!

Why do we want to reward your CREATE Champion?

Because they are such a champion! They have helped you to create a better future for yourself. Isn’t that worth rewarding?

The CREATE Champion award develops and rewards best practice. It encourages other carers and workers to assist young people put together a Leaving Care Plan. This means that more young people will have the same opportunity as you – which is a better start to independent life.

Click here to nominte your CREATE Champion now!

Send back your completed form to:
Reply paid 83194
SYDNEY  NSW  2000
(you don’t need a stamp)

or email us your completed form!