1.  Quality care for children and young people in the care system

Children and young people come into the care of the State for different reasons, for respite because parents are needing additional support, for protection because of abuse or because a child has been placed for adoption.
Children or young people placed in out-of-home care should be provided with quality care. To ensure the consistent provision of quality care to meet the needs of the child, the Department for Community Development’s (DCD) out-of-home care services and the care system it supports is being strengthened through:

• 10 funded placement services, which provides for a range of care arrangements that cater to the needs of children and young people in care.
• 5 funded family preservation services, including one targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, that work intensively with children, young people and their families to ensure children can be cared for by their families safely in the home and to prevent them coming into care.
• 4 funded leaving care services which support young people leaving care.
• 50 additional workers in DCD to work with children, young people and their families, improve the Department’s after hours response and train foster carers.
• A Central Foster Care Register for foster carers registered with DCD and its funded placement agencies, to safeguard the quality of approved foster carers.
• Specialised foster care services for children displaying high risk behaviours.
• Ensuring compliance with the National Plan for Children and Young People in Care and their Carers.
• Increased support to assist foster carers.
• Introduction of mandatory training for foster carers.
• Increased foster carer subsidy payments.
• Funding of the CREATE Foundation to support children and young people who are or have been in care.
• A Duty of Care Unit to ensure allegations of abuse in care are followed-up appropriately.
• Implementation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle.
• Implementation of the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Child Placement Principle.
• Support to foster carers through the funding of the Foster Carer Association.

2. Seeking the views  of and listening to children and young people in care

An integral part of a responsive child protection and care system is seeking the views of children and young people about issues that affect their lives. Opportunities for children and young people to participate in decision-making have been strengthened through the following:

• The establishment of the Office for Children and Youth.
• Consultation with young people in care through the CREATE Foundation to inform the development of the Children and Community Services Act 2004.
• Consultation with children and young people in developing the model for a Children’s Commission in WA.
• Development of a sustainable engagement strategy for children and young people’s participation in decision making and publications to guide agencies on how to engage and consult with children and young people.

3. After care support

Children and young people in care need to be prepared to leave care and may need ongoing support after a period of care.  The Department for Community Development provides Preparation for Leaving and Aftercare Services funded through the State Homelessness Strategy and a Transitional Support Service funded under the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program.

The Children and Community Services Act 2004 includes provision for leaving care services for young people aged between 15 and 25.