I have a responsibility to ensure that the voices of vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people are heard.
Children and young people in out-of-home care (OOHC) are a particularly vulnerable group and often have a range of complex and co-existing needs and challenges, regularly relating to experiences of trauma and distress. This can result in increased physical, mental, and social health needs, which are unfortunately often coupled with limited access to resources. As result, there is a need to continue to work to ensure that children and young people in OOHC have access to the holistic support and wraparound services that they need to thrive.
In 2021, the ACYP team embarked on a consultation project to listen to the voices of children and young people as they share their experiences of the OOHC system in NSW.
Today it is my immense pleasure to share with you The Voices of Children and Young People in Out-of- Home Care Report. I ask that you read this report and its recommendations and both reflect and act on how you and your organisation can improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable children and young people in NSW.
