First Nations children face "a cliff edge" after they transition out of care when they turn 18, according to a report from the South Australian Guardian for Children and Young People.
Released and tabled in the South Australian Parliament last month, the report into Supported Independent Living Services (SILS) found young people leaving state care need stronger support beyond the age of 18.
SILS plays an important role in South Australia's out-of-home care system, the report found, but there is significant scope to improve support for young people as they transition to adulthood.
Many young people entered the SILS program towards the end of their time in care, leaving them too little time to build the confidence, stability and practical skills they needed to transition successfully into adulthood.
While almost every other Australian jurisdiction sees care extended until at least age 21, South Australia's support ends at 18.
"The national OOHC standards don't want young people to have independent living at 16 but you know you're going to get kicked out at 18, and that's not cool," one child told the inquiry.
Acting Guardian for Children and Young People Sue Macdonald told National Indigenous Times her office had been receiving calls from young people in SILS approaching their 18th birthday who said they were unprepared for turning 18.
In an ironic turn of fate, she noted that children had experienced a life of departmental oversight — often from a young age, and from which some had tried to rebel — only for much of that support to be abruptly withdrawn when they turned 18.
"SILS obviously does offer some independent living skills for young people," Ms Macdonald said.
"But then there was also this big gap of mostly young people in residential care who, when they turned 18, there was just nothing for them. They felt like they fell off a cliff edge. They felt like there was nothing in terms of setting them up for the next phase of their life."
Aboriginal children and young people made up about 32 per cent of those using SILS, the report found, noting: "Aboriginal young people do not consistently experience culturally grounded, Aboriginal-led transition planning."
"Despite these challenges, the evidence about what works was remarkably consistent," the report said.
"Young people, practitioners, Aboriginal organisations, researchers and service providers identified the same foundations for successful transitions: preparation that begins early, stable and enduring relationships, individualised planning, secure housing, strong connections to family, culture and community, opportunities to develop practical independence, and support that continues beyond the eighteenth birthday."
Ms Macdonald said many of the First Nations children they spoke to felt disconnected from community and culture. Aboriginal-specific services should be considered, she said, rather than relying on mainstream services.
"Because these young people have been in care for a long time, what we found was that there was no attention paid to engaging family in post-care planning or even reconnecting young people with their families," she said.
"Coupled with that...[there is] the lack of therapeutic support...lack of practical support around housing, [lack of] financial scaffolding to set up a new place [and] skills around independent living."
The report recommended the establishment of a South Australian Transition to Adulthood Framework to create a more coordinated and consistent approach across government and the care system.
It also called for transition support to be extended until at least the age of 21, with planning for adulthood to begin no later than 15 and continue progressively throughout adolescence. It recommended changes to the way SILS is commissioned to improve continuity of relationships, support and services for young people.
