For young adults

For detailed information about the study and to find out more about what is involved:

• watch the Study video
• read the invitation to an interview for 18-25 year olds (PDF, 404.8 KB)
• read the Information for Young Adults brochure (PDF, 714.1 KB)
• read the letter of support from AbSec for Aboriginal participants (PDF, 539.1 KB)
• read the letter of support from CREATE (PDF, 146.9 KB)
• read the POCLS 2023 newsletter (PDF, 1.3 MB).

If you turn 18 years of age during the Study, you may be invited to stay in the Study and complete a questionnaire about how you are going.

During 2024, we are preparing to undertake the first POCLS interview with young adults aged 18 – 25 years. The interview seeks to:

• Reflect on your experience of out-of-home care
• Explore your experience of support after turning 18 years old 
• Continue to collect information about your outcomes across health, education, work and family/relationships. 

If you agree to a voluntary interview, the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions about the Study before you start. You will then be asked to sign the Information Statement and Consent Form. The face-to-face or online interview will take about 90 minutes. To thank you for your contribution you will receive a $100 gift voucher. 

You can withdraw your participation at any time and you don’t have to answer any question you do not want to. All your answers remain confidential.

Helpful resources

Resources for young adults on rights, leaving care and independence:

• Charter of rights for care leavers: Find out what your rights are when you leave out-of-home care (OOHC).
• YOU booklet and website: A new resource for young people in care planning for their future
• Go your own way workbook: CREATE kit for young people 15-25 years transitioning to independence
• POCLS useful contacts (PDF, 421.3 KB): List of useful community and government organisations
• Your next step: Information for young people leaving care

Where you can get support

For more information on support visit:

• Your caregiver or aftercare caseworker
• Aftercare support: phone 1800 994 686
• CREATE Foundation: for children and young people in care, phone: 1800 655 105 or 02 9267 0977
• Aboriginal help line: phone 13YARN (13 92 76)
• Kids Helpline: for young people aged 5-25 years, phone: 1800 551 800
• Headspace: for young people aged 12-25 years, phone: 1800 650 890
• Lifeline: crisis support for all ages, phone: 13 11 14 
• Beyond Blue: support for all ages about mental health, phone: 1300 224 636.