Children’s Journeys
Approximately 60,000 children in Australia are currently on care and protection orders, with over 45,000 living in out-of-home care. Existing research has rarely followed children longitudinally, incorporated children’s and parents’ voices in depth, or examined how cultural identity and connection can be supported over time. Researchers at The University of Queensland and the Life Course Centre, in partnership with service organisations, conducted a three-part study of children’s experiences in out-of-home care and their wellbeing outcomes.
About the research
The project collected data through semi-structured interviews with children, parents and carers at each round of data collection, using a trauma-informed, culturally safe and child-centred approach. It examined the experiences of 160 children and young people in home-based out-of-home care, along with the experiences of their birth families, foster carers and kinship carers over time. The research also investigated factors affecting the availability and sustainability of kinship care placements, particularly for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children. Overall, the project analysed how out-of-home care experiences and relationships influenced children’s social, emotional and cultural wellbeing and explored ways to better support children, families and carers.
Published papers
Navigating the Australian child protection system: The importance of formal and informal support for carers to effectively provide care to children in out-of-home care
Children in out-of-home care’s right to family and cultural connection: Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous Australian children’s perspectives
The emotional terrain of foster and kinship carers’ relationships with parents of children in care: Carers’ perspectives
The Podcast
Hosted by research team member, Dr Laura Simpson Reeves, this podcast series breaks down the findings in the “Enhancing children’s journeys through out-of-home care” report. Listen here or on your preferred podcast app.
| Project overview |
| Understanding the social and emotional wellbeing of children in out-of-home care with Dr Iryna Kolesnikova and Professor Janeen Baxter |
| Hearing the voices of children in out-of-home care with Associate Professor Jemma Venables and Associate Professor Jenny Povey |
| Hearing the voices of parents who have been involved in out-of-home care Professor Karen Healy and Dr Madonna Boman |
| Hearing the voices of those caring for children in out-of-home care with Associate Professor Jenny Povey and Associate Professor Jemma Venables |
| Fostering cultural identity and connection in out-of-home care with Dr Kate Thompson and Candice Butler, Guest hosted by Mackenzie Rhodes |
| Informing policy and practice in out-of-home care Dr Chez Leggatt-Cook from UnitingCare and James Kahotea from Life Without Barriers |
The Team
Project lead
Our Partners
This research was funded through Australian Research Council Linkage Grant in partnership with the following organisations:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service
Anglicare
Southern Queensland
Churches of Christ
Queensland
Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs
Life Without Barriers
Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak
The Benevolent Society
UnitingCare
