Foster care

Better education support needed for children in care

Education has the power to transform lives but a recent report by Anglicare Victoria and Wesley Mission Victoria show vulnerable children in out-of-home care are struggling at school and many are falling behind their peers.

The report found that children living in out-of-home care can be broadly categorised into three groups in terms of their education - 'damaged', 'disengaging' and 'doing well'.

While it is heartening to find there are a group of children doing well at school, despite the stress of family breakdown, it is concerning to find such concentrated disadvantage in the other two groups - especially the 'damaged' group.

The children in the damaged group are, on average, about 12 years old and have been in care for more than seven years.

Almost nine in 10 children in this group have a long-term health condition, more than half have learning difficulties, a third have repeated a grade and one quarter have been suspended from school.

While many of these children are receiving some form of support from the education system, health system and/or the welfare system they are not getting a coordinated response sufficient to keep them engaged and doing well at school.

Anglicare Victoria and Wesley Mission Victoria are calling on the Brumby Government to develop a fully resourced 'education first approach' to prioritise education needs and meet the aspirations of children in care.

Other recommendations in the report include the expansion of therapeutic care placements, increased alternative education programs and improved integration across the out-of-home care, education and mental health systems to support children and young people in care.

Download and read the full report here

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