Care to Higher and Further Education

Abstract

This thesis is about access to higher and further education for children and young people in out-of-home care. There are almost 40,000 children and young people living in out-of-home care in Australia. They are consistently identified as one of the most vulnerable population groups in society. The low educational attainment of children and young people in out-of-home care compared to their peers has been noted, including low levels of participation in higher and further education. In Australia, there is a lack of data about higher and further education attainment of young people in out-of-home care with no current mechanisms to identify care leaver outcomes after exiting the care system. The few Australian studies which have been conducted show higher and further education attainment mirrors international trends, which show the low education attainment for this group. Post-secondary education, such as TAFE and university, is an important gateway to health and emotional wellbeing, job satisfaction and financial security in adult life. This is one factor that contributes to children and young people who have been in out-of home care persisting as a highly vulnerable population group in society.