Push to keep foster children in system until they turn 21

The Palaszczuk government has been accused of ‘almost guaranteeing homelessness’ for foster children and failing to deal with its youth crime problems as it refuses to follow other states in raising the foster care age.

The Palaszczuk government is “almost guaranteeing homelessness” for foster kids and failing to deal with its youth crime problems as it refuses to follow other states in raising the foster care age to 21, a national coalition says.

The Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) says it’s “simply not good enough” how many kids end up on the streets as it lends its support to the years-long push to raise the age.

Five hundred young Queenslanders are leaving ­residential care at 18 or home care at 19 each year, and half are in prison, homeless or are new parents themselves within 12 months, according to a ­coalition of more than 200 child welfare organisations called Home Stretch.

More than a third pinball between five or more addresses as they try to find somewhere to live.

Home Stretch chair Paul McDonald said keeping them in the system until they were 21 would

cost $10m a year in “small change”, but would curb youth crime, homelessness, suicide and mental health problems and save hundreds of millions of dollars more.

Advocates say raising the foster care age could reduce juvenile arrest rates.

Mr McDonald said it could reduce conviction and arrest rates by 40 per cent as the ­government struggles with juvenile crime issues. “The fact is, we have young people being forced into homeless shelters … with significant mental health problems, with crime and we have a Queensland government saying there’s nothing to see here,” he said.

“Well, sorry, there is plenty to see if you listen.

“Don’t they want to reduce homeless, youth suicide, mental illness, crime?”

Every other state and territory, except for NSW, has raised the age to 21 in response to the campaign.

Mr McDonald said not acting was not saving money because the government was already “writing cheques when they arrive in emergency departments, when they enter a homeless refuge, when they are taken in by the police”.

QFCC principal commissioner Luke Twyford said youths needed support well ­beyond 18, as he revealed the government did not track what happened to former foster children, including whether they had safe accommodation, or a job.

“We know, anecdotally, and in fact national data suggests that almost half of all young people that leave care become homeless for at least a period of time within three years of leaving care,” he said.

Children’s Minister Leanne Linard said that the government was committed to more support.

Originally published as Push to keep foster children in system until they turn 21