Transition and Post Care Support Program

Who are the Transition and Post Care Support team?

The Transition and Post Care Support (TPCS) program was established in response to the needs of young people with complex disability, mental health, and/or high risk behavioural needs who are at risk of homelessness as they transition from care.

Transition Officers provide direct support to young people in care, through transition and post care, to ensure they will live safely, well supported in and connected to their community, be involved in work or appropriate daytime activities, and build and maintain relationships.

TPCS is supported by funding from the Commonwealth Government National Housing and Homelessness Agreement until June 2023.

There are 12 Child Safety Transition Officers in Queensland and an additional two non-government TPCS programs running in the South East and Brisbane & Moreton Bay regions. A Transition Officer can start supporting a young person in care from 15 years of age, with support increasing in intensity through the ages of 16-17 years and through transition. Post care services are available up to 21 years. Services are prioritised for those young people who are most at risk of homelessness as they transition to adulthood or who are experiencing homelessness post care.

The work of Transition Officers aligns with the Child Safety Framework for Practice and the five core elements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle.

Who does the Transition and Post Care Support program work with?

A young person in care who will most benefit from ongoing services from Transition Officers will:

  • be between 15 and 21 years old; and

  • have a complex disability, mental health, and/or high risk behavioural needs; and

  • be at risk of experiencing homeless; or

  • living in an unstable placement that does not meet their high and complex support needs; or

  • homeless.

This can include young people on dual orders with Youth Justice.

How can the Transition and Post Care Support team help?

Transition Officers work with young people to plan their transition to adulthood and provide post care support so they can:

  • live in a safe and stable home

  • feel supported in and connected to their community including services

  • be involved in education, work or training

  • build and maintain relationships.

This is achieved by:

  • establishing a trusting relationship with a young person when they start transition to adulthood planning at 15

  • assisting the young person’s CSO to create and implement a transition to adulthood plan

  • ensuring the young person is involved in preparing for and planning their own transition

  • working directly with the young person to develop the skills they need for life post care

  • establishing and maintaining links to appropriate services and supports.

Other transition to adulthood and post-care support services:

Next Step Plus is a support system for young people (15-25 years) transitioning from care to adulthood in Queensland. Find your nearest provider and request support on the website.

https://nextstepplus.com.au/

Youth Housing and Reintegration Services (YHARS) helps young people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Eligibility includes both young people transitioning from care to adulthood as well as young people transitioning to the community following a custodial period in a Youth Detention Centre.

https://www.qld.gov.au/youth/life-skills/housing-accommodation/yhars-youth-housing

CREATE Foundation is the national peak body representing voices of children and young people with an out-of-home care experience. The Create Your Future website is a CREATE Foundation resource for young people, providing information on support services and transition to adulthood options for young people exiting care.

http://createyourfuture.org.au/ and https://create.org.au/