A new report has detailed the economic and social benefits of raising the age Tasmanians leave foster care from 18 to 21.
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Half of all state care leavers will be unemployed, in jail, homeless or a new parent within a year of leaving the system.
Anglicare Victoria has released research to back its push for people in state care to voluntarily stay in the system until their 21st birthday.
It has estimated the program would cost Tasmania $1.2 million to roll out with expected benefits of $3.6 million.
“We know from a lot of Australian research a lot of young people are struggling when they leave care at 16 or 17 when they’re required to,” Anglicare Victoria chief executive Paul McDonald said.
“We know adolescence doesn’t finish until they’re 25, we know the average leaving home age is 24.7, yet we don’t seem to be troubled by the appalling outcomes of young people leaving care.
“There would be a reduction in hospitalisations, homelessness and arrests, and an increase in educational attainment.”
Similar policies are in place in the United Kingdom, America and Canada.
There are about 1050 children in out of home care in Tasmania with 66 leaving last year.
Human Services Minister Jacquie Petrusma said people turning 18 received a case worker they could engage with until their 19th birthday.
The government also funds a number of programs aimed at care leavers transitioning to independence, including one for people aged 18 to 24.