CREATE Foundation
CREATE is a national organisation run for and by children and young people who are in, or have been in care. The Tasmanian facilitator for CREATE is based in Hobart and can be contacted on Phone 1800 655 105 Website www.create.org.au
Children and young people at risk of abuse or neglect may need to be placed in out of home care by the child protection service. The range of out-of-home care options may vary by type, focus and length of time that children or young people remain in the placement. Services may be provided through the statutory service or through community sector agencies.
In Tasmania placements options for children and young people include:
- Kinship Care (extended family/friends or community network)
- Family Group Home (short term placements in a home provided by the Department)
- Foster Care (emergency, short and longer term placements in the home of the carer/s)
- Sibling Group Care (longer term placements for sibling groups in a home provided by the Department)
- Cottage Care (provided through community organisations)
Adoptions and Adoptions Information Service
- Adolescent Community Placement (provided through community organisations)
- Rostered Care (agency run placement with trained and skilled carers for high needs adolescents)
In the first instance, placement options for the child or young person within the extended family unit and their immediate family network are explored. The practice of placing children with people that they know and trust is generally preferable to a placement with people unfamiliar to them. Placing children with their siblings is also preferred and where the kinship or community network does not have the capacity to provide this, the department endeavours to create stability and continuity for the sibling group by setting up a specific care placement.
Rostered care is used in situations where an adolescent with complex needs requires extra personal support and supervision to ensure their safety. The target group of rostered care includes young people who may:
- exhibit aggressive/violent behaviour
- have mental health problems and/or a disability
- be involved with juvenile justice
- have a history of placement breakdowns
- have a history of exclusion from education
All placement decisions regarding Aboriginal children and young people should be made in reference to the Aboriginal Child Placement Principle. In summary, the Principle determines that, after consultation with the relevant Aboriginal service, the child may be placed, in order of priority, with:
- Extended family or relatives
- An Aboriginal family from the local community
- A non-related non-Aboriginal family living in close proximity to the child’s family
The Department always welcomes the interest of people who are interested in becoming carers. For more information about becoming a Departmental carer please contact the Child and Family Services office in your region.
- South
Woodhouse
St Johns Park
New Town
- North
115-119 Cameron Street
Launceston
-North West
Reece House
46 Mount Street
Burnie