Media Release
Care Leavers Australasia Network – CLAN NZ
14 April 2016

Is the CYF overhaul enough?

While the NZ branch of Care Leavers Australasia (CLAN NZ) realises that an overhaul of CYF is well overdue, spokesperson Netta Christian cautiously welcomes the report released on 7th April but still considers it is not enough.

“For the first time in NZ history there is some hope that some much needed changes for children in state care will actually happen. But I have great concerns about the continuing lack of accountability. There is a very obvious gap in the new plans and without the implementation of an independent complaints body – CYF can still basically do whatever it pleases.”

“Who do children and families turn to when they believe CYF isn’t performing? CYF’s internal complaints process? We obviously need a fully independent CYF Complaints Authority as a watchdog. There must be external accountability for their actions, the same as the IPCA is for the police.”

Major changes include raising the age of state care from 17 to 18, with the option for some children to remain in care up to 21, and the possibility of some support up to the age of 25.

“This is a positive step in the right direction,” says Netta, “But 18 is still not old enough. It should be up to 21 for every child, not just on a case-by-case basis. Most other countries have had it set at 18 for years but have now sensibly moved it to 21 (e.g. Scotland). So NZ is still well behind international best practice here and unfortunately increasing it by only an extra 12 months will do little to help the most vulnerable of our care leavers.”

“Further support will not be forthcoming from CYF unless they are moving on to something like tertiary education, which will not happen for many, in reality. So a great number of our 18 year olds will still have a bleak future ahead of them as care leavers, trying to survive on their own in a world that has already failed to provide them with the nurturing and support they are entitled to. What families these days kick their children out at 18 with no support whatsoever and expect them to be able to fend for themselves?”

A new independent youth advocacy service will also be established as part of the restructuring. “In theory this is to ensure that children and young people are listened to,” says Netta. “But in practice this will remain an organisational advisory service, perhaps helping policy reform but still not providing what is most urgently needed. One of the biggest and most basic needs that has historically always been lacking day-to-day in every state-care child’s life – is the friendly trusted ear of an easily contacted social worker who visits often, asks the right questions, encourages the child to open up and truly listens to what the child is telling them. Someone to turn to who has made it their business to see things through the eyes of the child and to know exactly what it is like to be a child in foster care. Someone who understands their innermost thoughts and fears, and who understands what it is really like for the child to enter a new home, a new school, a new family, a new environment.”

CLAN NZ is also concerned that the proposed changes will not be fully implemented for another 5 years. That means many NZ children will continue to suffer neglect, pain and trauma under the present broken system of state care for another five whole years! How many more young lives will be unnecessarily scarred while we patiently wait for the wheels of the establishment to crank into action?

CLAN New Zealand works for justice and redress for all New Zealanders who grew up in orphanages, institutions or children’s homes, as a State ward, home child or in foster care. Emailclan.nz@actrix.co.nz

ENDS

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