Under 16 Homelessness Taskforce Ministerial Advice

Under 16 Homelessness Taskforce Ministerial Advice December 2019 Preface/ Acknowledgements Members of the Taskforce would like to thank all the children, young people, parents, carers, service providers and members of the State Service who participated in this process. Without your honest and open feedback and support this advice could not have been created. Table of Contents Preface/ Acknowledgements 2 Executive Summary 5 Background 7 Taskforce Role and Terms of Reference ................................................................................................................................................................ 8 The Presenting Issue 9 What is the actual problem? 9 What does the data say? .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Australian Data 10 Tasmanian Data 11 The Problem is Solvable ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 16 Tasmanian Research ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Consultation Findings ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 18 Redefining the Problem ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 19 Why do we need to Act? 21 Life Course Costs ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 21 Intergenerational Disadvantage ........................................................................................................................................................................... 22 International Obligations ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 22 National Obligations ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 22 State Obligations .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 22 Current Responses are Inadequate 24 Legislation and Policy ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 24 System Level Responses ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 25 Service Models and Practice ................................................................................................................................................................................... 29 What is Happening Elsewhere? ............................................................................................................................................................................. 31 Critical Service System Elements 32 .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 32 Authority and Accountability ..................................................................................................................................................................... 33 Information Collection, Sharing and Collaboration ...................................................................................................................................... 36 UNDER 16 HOMELESSNESS TASKFORCE – MINISTERIAL ADVICE | PAGE 3 of 115 Place Based Flexible Service Provision ................................................................................................................................................................ 38 Improved Wellbeing and Outcome Measurements ..................................................................................................................................... 39 Early Intervention and Support .............................................................................................................................................................................. 40 Assessment, Referral and Triage........................................................................................................................................................................... 43 Safe and Stable Care Environment ....................................................................................................................................................................... 44 Governance ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 47 Next Steps 48 Proposed Immediate Initiatives (Next 12 Months).............................................................................................................................................. 48 Action for known Children 48 Building a Solid Foundation 48 Service System Redesign 48 Proposed Long-Term Initiatives ............................................................................................................................................................................. 49 Action for known Children 49 Building a Solid Foundation 49 Service System Redesign 50 Appendices 51 Appendix 1: Grouped recommendations from previous reviews ........................................................................................................... 51 Appendix 2: Terms of Reference ............................................................................................................................................................................ 64 Appendix 3: United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child ..................................................................................................... 69 Appendix 4: UN Sustainable Development Goals .......................................................................................................................................... 70 Appendix 5: De-identified Tasmanian Case Study......................................................................................................................................... 71 Appendix 6: Consultation Case Studies .............................................................................................................................................................. 72 Appendix 7: Jurisdictional Program Responses .............................................................................................................................................. 82 Appendix 8: Draft Guiding Principles .................................................................................................................................................................. 87 Appendix 9: Consultation Questions ................................................................................................................................................................... 88 Appendix 10: Summary of Consultation Feedback ....................................................................................................................................... 99 Appendix 11: Taskforce Process .......................................................................................................................................................................... 113 Appendix 12: Consultation Poster ...................................................................................................................................................................... 114 PAGE 4 of 115 | UNDER 16 HOMELESSNESS TASKFORCE – MINISTERIAL ADVICE Executive Summary The number of unaccompanied children, under the age of 16, who are presenting to homeless services is increasing. Available data suggests that 98 children aged between 12-15 years presented alone (without an accompanying adult) to homeless shelters in Tasmania, which has increased by 39 per cent over the last two years. It is clearly arguable that these children are the most vulnerable in our society, they have no care and no financial means, making them highly exposed to predation, physical and sexual abuse, substance abuse and detention. No service sector or agency has explicit accountability to address the care and wellbeing needs of these children. As a result, these children often fall through the gaps of service provision, and the problem is hidden. Service providers have indicated that the age these

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