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.
Dimensions Badge
Altmetric Badge
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 |
Download/View statistics | View download statistics for this item |