Exploring strategies for re-engaging children and young people in learning while living in out-of-home care in the Northern Territory, Australia

Roche, Steven ORCID: 0000-0001-5648-0953, Dunk-West, Priscilla ORCID: 0000-0002-5086-8196, Otarra, Carmela, Taylor, Robert and Moss, Michelle (2023) Exploring strategies for re-engaging children and young people in learning while living in out-of-home care in the Northern Territory, Australia. Child and Family Social Work, 28 (4). pp. 1022-1034. ISSN 1356-7500

Abstract

The education of children living in out-of-home care (OOHC) has been a long-standing concern for children and their carers, policy-makers and researchers who have long highlighted the issue of low educational attainment and disengagement among children in care. This study investigates the strategies and practices used within a pilot programme based in the Northern Territory, Australia, that aims to re-engage children living in OOHC with education and training. Drawing on qualitative interviews with programme stakeholders, including educators, carers, child and family welfare workers, as well as an analysis of programme and client documentation, this study explores the programme's strategies to achieve re-engagement. The findings highlight the role of agile child-centred practice responding to the learning needs of participants, a focus on the ‘educational futures’ of students, as well as liaison and advocacy with schools and stakeholders on behalf of children in supporting re-engagement in education settings. Barriers to successful re-engagement include limited consideration of the cultural needs of children across education and OOHC systems, in particular the disruptive impact of OOHC placement changes, as well as programme discontinuity.

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Item type Article
URI https://vuir.vu.edu.au/id/eprint/49044
DOI 10.1111/cfs.13022
Official URL https://doi.org/10.1111/cfs.13022
Subjects Current > FOR (2020) Classification > 4409 Social work
Current > FOR (2020) Classification > 4502 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education
Current > Division/Research > College of Arts and Education
Keywords out-of-home care, child-centred practice, , residential care, care arrangements, Northern Territory Government
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