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Enhancing children's journeys through out of home care

The experiences of children in out-of-home care can have life-long effects on their emotional, social and cultural wellbeing. This is particularly the case for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, who are 11 times more likely to be in out-of-home care than non-Indigenous children, and are often at risk of losing family and cultural connections.

This project provides evidence to improve our understanding of children’s experiences in out-of-home care and identifies how we, and other agencies, can best support families, carers and communities to enhance children’s wellbeing.

This 3-year study, a University of Queensland (Life Course Centre) collaboration with Anglicare and other care providers, provides evidence to improve our understanding of children’s experiences in out of home care, and identifies how we and other agencies can best support families, carers and communities to enhance the well-being of all children in care.

The findings were drawn from three rounds of interviews conducted with birth families, carers and children, using a trauma-informed, culturally safe and child-centred approach.

 

This is important research for Anglicare and other providers. In 2022-23, Anglicare supported 1,695 foster and kinship carers to provide 383,863 nights of care for children and young people. It is critical that we provide the best possible care for the children and carers we support. .