- The policy identifies the need for improved collaboration and integration between services and communities. With a focus on improving outcomes for children, young people and families.
- The wellbeing of children and young people under the age of 16 who are alone and face homelessness is our shared responsibility.
- The Framework is supported by Practice Guidelines for Specialist Homelessness Services to clarify roles and responsibilities of the service system.
The Under 16 Homelessness: Children and young people under 16 who are alone and at risk of or experiencing homelessness: A Policy Framework for Tasmania (the Framework) provides an overarching policy setting to guide our response to unaccompanied children and young people under the age of 16 who face homelessness.
The purpose of the Policy Framework is to:
- improve collaboration and integration between services and communities to improve outcomes;
- outline key policy principles for a shared response; and
- identify commitments that place the safety and wellbeing of children and young people at the centre of the service response.
The Policy Framework supports the idea that Government, families, community services and the community share responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
To support this, are Practice Guidelines for Specialist Homelessness Services. These guidelines describe key roles and responsibilities to assist in the response to unaccompanied young people under the age of 16 who present or are referred to Specialist Homelessness Services.
This is just the beginning of the ongoing discussions about child and youth homelessness in Tasmania. We know that as we learn more about this issue, the policy will evolve and improve to support the service system responses.
Supporting documentation
- Under 16 Homelessness: Children and young people under 16 who are alone and at risk of or experiencing homelessness: A Policy Framework for Tasmania (PDF,1.0MB)
- Under 16 Homelessness: Children and young people under 16 who are alone or at risk of homelessness Practice Guidelines for Specialist Homelessness Services (PDF, 901KB)
Protecting our most vulnerable children from experiencing homelessness
We understand that young people who are under 16 and are at risk of or experiencing homelessness alone, are vulnerable. These young people need ‘care’, not just accommodation. They need to be supported, safe and well to reunite with their family.