The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) is inviting organisations and individuals with expertise in out-of-home care and leaving care to submit a written response to discussion questions about the Transition to Independent Living Allowance (TILA).
In particular, we are seeking information and your professional opinions about how to increase the accessibility and use of TILA by young people as they leave care.
The responses to the written submissions will inform recommendations that AIFS makes to the Australian Government Department of Social Services (DSS) and the Safe and Supported governance bodies about how to improve TILA.
The call for written submissions will close COB Monday 14 April.
About the project
The Australian Government Department of Social Services (DSS) has commissioned AIFS to undertake a review of TILA. This project is an activity (5.b) under Action 5 of the Safe and Supported: First Action Plan 2023–2026. Safe and Supported: The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021–2031 and the Safe and Supported Action Plans were designed (and are being implemented) through a shared decision-making approach that includes Australian, state and territory governments, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and leaders and non-government organisations
The aim of the TILA Review is to:
- provide information for assessing possible different approaches for TILA funding, including ways to improve accessibility and use
- offer actionable recommendations to Australian governments that can be used to improve access to TILA and its utility in assisting young people to transition from care.
Research and consultation activities
This project includes a range of research and consultation activities. The first stage was a desktop review of existing research and evidence on TILA. This included a review of research and policy literature and analysis of data from DSS and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
This call for written submissions is the first part of our national consultations.
Consultations will also be conducted with:
- young people with a care experience
- foster, kinship and permanent carers
- caseworkers
- state and territory governments
- representatives from relevant peak bodies
- leaving care service providers and subject matter experts.
About the written submission process
We are seeking the views of organisations and experts who work with care leavers or have expertise in the leaving care sector. This includes:
- peak bodies
- out-of-home care and leaving care service providers
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Organisations
- key expert stakeholders (e.g. researchers working in this field).
You do not need to answer all the discussion questions.
We ask that no personal or identifying information is shared in responses to discussion questions.
You don't have to submit your written submission in one sitting - you can save your progress and return to it later to complete your response. To save your response, click the 'Resume later' button at the top right-hand corner of the screen and follow the prompts.
You can download a copy of the discussion paper and questions here.
If you have an experience of being in out-of-home care or are a carer, you are welcome to make a submission but you may prefer to share your views in an online workshop with other people with a care experience or carers. Please contact [email protected] for more information on workshops. If you choose to make a submission, we ask that you do not include any personal information about yourself, your carer or children in your care.
All information you provide will be securely stored, in accordance with the Privacy Act 1998 and AIFS Privacy Policy. We will retain the data for 7 years in accordance with AIFS Records Authority and, if you agree, we may reuse the information in other projects to do with out-of-home care.
At the end of the form, there are questions about your organisation, privacy and option to leave contact details. Some of these questions are required. They help us better understand your responses to the discussion questions and ensure we maintain your privacy in a way that you choose.
