The report is based on the voices of 17 individual children and young people, who were open and thoughtful in sharing their experiences with the Commission. Their contributions provide important insights into the experiences of children and young people living in residential care across the state, and how services support them with engagement in education.
Overall, children and young people described more positive experiences of primary school and transition to secondary school than of secondary school itself. The report highlighted that for some young people, their reported experiences of school while living in residential care were positive. They described support, encouragement and practical assistance from residential care workers and school staff. Not all young people described such positive engagement.
The Commission’s report recommended that the department monitor the educational support provided by residential care providers. This should include:
- for children and young people attending school, examining how residential care providers support their attendance and engagement, including participation in excursions, camps and extracurricular activities; helping them get ready for school; and assisting with homework and other learning activities in the home
- for children and young people who are not attending school, examining how residential care providers support them to re-engage in learning.
A redacted copy of the Commission’s report was shared with all residential care providers to encourage and continue to improve practice in relation to supporting young people to better engage with education.