Information for youths

The Government's Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs determines if it's too unsafe for a young person to stay living at home. We'll always try to provide a placement that best meets your needs. That could be foster care, kinship care or SILS. The department has asked that we support you in one of our residential homes at this time.

This is a question you'll ask the Department. We can support you to approach the Department and ask these questions, and can also help you get in touch with groups like the CREATE Foundation, who can also provide support to you. Our goal is that every young person is able to return to their family home, if that's possible.

This is a question you'll ask the Department. We can support you to approach the Department and ask these questions, and can also help you get in touch with groups like the CREATE Foundation, who can also provide support to you as you transition into adulthood.

Your residential care home will provide you with its rules around coming and going - and these change depending on your age and individual situation.

Talk with your youth worker about any issues you're having. They're trained in conflict management and negotiation and will work with you to find a solution. 

Always tell your case worker if you're unhappy at your current home. We need to hear about your situation and if there's anything we can do to improve it. Or we can talk about the possibility of moving you to another home, and then start that process for you, if that's an option.

Churches of Christ manages or owns the residential care house, trains and employs the staff and creates policies and procedures to ensure the program is providing you with the best chance to get ahead.

Staff are on-site 24/7 and create daily routines, plan and attend activities and appointments with you, take you food shopping, help you manage finances, your cooking, cleaning and help manage emotions and challenges.

We only employ qualified staff with a minimum Certificate IV in a relevant child welfare or child wellbeing course (or currently enrolled). We then provide our new youth workers with more training before they start working with you, and even more training as they continue.

All of our youth workers also have Blue Cards (working with children check card).

Always tell your case worker if you're unhappy at your current home. We need to hear about your situation and if there's anything we can do to improve it. Or we can talk about the possibility of moving you to another home, and then start that process for you, if that's an option.

You'll have a cultural strengths plan as part of your care plan, so talk to your case worker about needing to spend more time with your community - they'll do everything they can to make this happen. Don't think they're doing enough? Let us know

Our workers can often tell when you're angry or sad and can arrange the help you need. You can speak up and let them know, too. We can arrange appointments with counsellors and other experts who can help. You can also contact the Kids Help Line if you'd rather have a private chat.

Kids Help Line

We have a range of support services we can work with to assist in your transition towards independence, including housing services, and the department. We will hold regular discussions with you and the support services to assist in your transition.

Learn about transition programs