Young people to drive residential care reform in Queensland

Menchie Khairuddin June 13, 2024

< 1 min read

Youth who have grown up in residential care will drive change through Queensland’s new Ministerial Youth Advisory Board (MYAB).

Led by the Minister for Child Safety, Charis Mullen in partnership with CREATE Foundation, MYAB will be an invaluable forum for young people to share their experiences of residential care directly with the Minister.

Nine young people aged 18-21 with experience in residential care will be appointed to Queensland’s first Ministerial Youth Advisory Board.

They will share their opinions, ideas, and perspectives with the Minister about what it’s like to live in residential care and what would make it better.

The MYAB will meet four times over a 12-month period.

CREATE Acting Deputy CEO Imogen Edeson highlighted that MYAB will ensure young people’s voices are at the heart of reforms to the out-of-home care system.

“From what young people have told us about their experiences in residential care, improvements need to be made to ensure a safe and stable environment for all children and young people.”

“The Ministerial Youth Advisory Board will be an incredible opportunity for care-experienced young people to directly shape changes to the care system,” added Edeson.

Edeson added that CREATE applauds the Queensland Government for taking this action as part of its Roadmap for Residential Care.

“We are delighted to partner with the Government on this project. We look forward to supporting young people to have their say and effect positive change over the coming years”, said Edeson.

Applications are currently open for Queensland’s Ministerial Youth Advisory Board (MYAB).

Young people aged 18-21 who have been in residential care in Queensland at some point in their lives are encouraged to apply before Monday, 17 June.

Menchie Khairuddin

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Menchie Khairuddin is a writer Deputy Content Manager at Akolade and content producer for Third Sector News. She is passionate about social affairs specifically in mixed, multicultural heritage and not-for-profit organisations.