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Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 2900 asked in the Legislative Council on 16 April 2020 by Hon Nick Goiran

Question Directed to the: Leader of the House representing the Minister for Child Protection
Parliament: 40 Session: 1


Question

I refer to part 3.4.17 of the Casework Practice Manual, where it states that children in care, or those who have left care and are eligible for leaving care services, are entitled to assistance in obtaining their driver’s licence, and that funding for the costs associated must be applied for through the Leaving Care Fund, and I ask, for 2019:
(a) how many applications were made to the Leaving Care Fund for obtaining driver’s licences;
(b) in relation to (a), how many applications were approved for the full funding requested;
(c) in relation to (a), how many applications were for all expenses related to obtaining a driver’s licence (including the minimum 50 supervised driving hours, permits and assessments); and
(d) in relation to (c), how many applications were approved for the full funding requested?

Answered on 10 June 2020

Young people are entitled to several supports as they prepare to or have left care. This planning begins at age 15 and continues up until the age of 25.

Leaving care supports are described in the Department of Communities’ Leaving Care Policy and implemented through practice guidance within the Casework Practice Manual. These supports include, but are not limited to:

  • obtaining a driver’s licence (including the supervised driving hours);
  • educational expenses (excluding university fees where HECS applies); 
  • obtaining and setting up accommodation;
  • accessing their personal records; and,
  • accessing social services including health, housing, education, employment, legal, financial management and counselling services.

At a practical level, these supports are funded centrally through Communities’ Leaving Care Fund and where a child is still under the age of 18, can be supplemented by case support costs that are held in individual regions.

The information requested on the number of motor driver’s licence applications and expenses associated with obtaining a licence is not readily available from Communities’ child protection information system. As this information is held on individual case files, it would impose a significant administrative burden to source this data.

Communities will explore how current business processes can allow more consolidated reporting of leaving care costs.

All decisions to fund are based on needs and are guided by the principles and objects set out in the Children and Community Services Act 2004. These decisions are made to promote the wellbeing of children in and leaving care, but also to encourage, support and reinforce the role of families and community in supporting children. These points are crucial to ensuring children are not institutionalised or inadvertently disadvantaged from their time spent in the Care of the CEO.