CREATE is busy surveying 15–17 year-olds with a care experience about their journey leaving care. These crucial  findings will be collated into CREATE’s 2011 Report Card which will  direct state and federal governments to better improve the lives for young people leaving care around Australia.

The survey explores whether a young person has a Leaving Care Plan, who assists them with leaving care issues, their thoughts on the usefulness of their plans, and their awareness of CREATE’s 2010 What’s the Plan? campaign.

CREATE needs your help! 

The survey closes on 31 March and time is ticking! If you are a foster carer, caseworker, leaving care support staff member or if you know someone between 15 -17 years old with a care experience please encourage them to participate in this pivotal survey today. Young people can win an iPhone 4 or iTunes vouchers for filling in the survey! To win, they need to include their details when they fill out the survey. All details are confidential and anonymous.

Some findings from CREATE’s 2009 Report Card:

• 64% of young people aged 15 – 17 years didn’t have a leaving care a plan
• 35% of young people are homeless in the first year of leaving care
• 46% of boys with a care experience are involved in the juvenile justice system
• Only 35% complete school (national average 53.7%)
• 29%  are unemployed (national average 9.7%)
• 28% were already parents themselves

The survey can be downloaded here and posted to CREATE or completed over the phone by calling 1800 655 105.

For further information contact Dr Suzanne Lunn, Senior Policy Officer at CREATE on 07 3255 3145 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .