Bringing the out-of-home care charter to life for young people
A range of resources to help young people in out-of-home care understand their rights was launched in September.
The Charter for children in out-of-home care was originally introduced in 2007. It provides a set of statements of the rights that young people can expect to be upheld throughout their time in care.
The new resources were formally launched by the Minister for Community Services Mary Wooldridge in September 2011 and include:
- a DVD and storybook for children under 12 years and DVD and activity book for young people over 12 years
- culturally appropriate products designed specifically for Aboriginal children and young people
- booklets and playing cards for out-of-home care providers.
An easy-to-read version of the charter for children and young people with a disability is also available.
The materials will help to bring the charter to life and make it much more accessible to children and young people. The new resources for staff will assist them to effectively engage with children about their rights and embed the charter in out-of-home care services across Victoria.
The resources were developed through the work of young people, the CREATE Foundation, Berry Street, the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency, the Foster Care Association of Victoria, representatives of community service organisations, the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, the Office of the Child Safety Commissioner and the Department of Human Services.
More information about the Charter for children in out-of-home-care is available on this site.
Image caption: Left to right: in the front row: Pip and Rhan; in the back row: Rachel; Soyla; Minister for Community Services Mary Wooldridge; Bernie Geary, Child Safety Commissioner; Julian Pocock, Berry Street Victoria; Bev Murray, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency; Cazz Wingrave, CREATE Foundation; Ms Cathy Carnovale, Victorian State Co-ordinator CREATE Foundation; and Sheralee and Matthew.
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