A flawed system and inadequate supports are continuing to impact at-risk young Tasmanians, services say.
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A Launceston young women’s service is most frequently hosting 13, 14 and 17 year olds in need of crisis accommodation.
The Shelter Tasmania Annual Report 2016 said bed nights at Karinya Young Women’s Service continued to increase.
“The younger cohort continues to fall through the cracks because appropriate support for this age group is still an issue,” Karinya’s statement in the report said.
“These young women have very limited options for support and/or accommodation and place themselves in risky situations just to get by, particularly those in the 13-15 year age bracket.”
Karinya provides crisis accommodation for women aged 13 to 20 years old. Karinya wrote teenagers aged between 13 and 15 were “not seen as a priority for Child Protection but are also not eligible for support from other support services”.
Shelter Tasmania executive officer Pattie Chugg echoed Karinya’s concerns, and said there was “not enough emergency accommodation” for Tasmanians aged between 13 and 17.
Human Services Minister Jacquie Petrusma said helping at-risk youth could “be very challenging”, which was why the state government is developing a Youth at Risk Strategy.
Ms Petrusma said the strategy would look at youths who had been involved with youth justice and child protection services, as well as those struggling with homelessness, mental health and substance abuse.
In the report Karinya said for the medium to longer term, generic youth crisis accommodation was not appropriate for its younger clients.
“Unfortunately, another year has gone by without appropriate accommodation and support service alternatives making it to funding agendas,” Karinya said.
Ms Petrusma said the Youth at Risk Strategy would be completed in 2017.
“[It] will guide a greater emphasis in service delivery on education, health and safety,” Ms Petrusma said.
Ms Petrusma said the government’s Affordable Housing Strategy included initiatives targeted at young people, including a Private Rental Access Program and supported accommodation for people aged under 16.
The Shelter Tasmania annual report said 63 per cent of residents at Thyne House, a Launceston long-term accommodation service for young people, had experienced a relationship or family breakdown.
Ms Chugg said services lacking for at-risk young Tasmanians included specialist support and legal protections.
“Evidence backs what we already know which is that children who are experiencing homelessness have an increased risk of becoming homeless later in life,” she said.
Ms Chugg said Shelter Tasmania believed children aged between 13 and 17 were not “adequately protected” under the current child protection system design, and had raised the issue with the state government.
“We are calling on the Tasmanian Government to work with the sector to resolve these complex issues and protect children’s best interests,” Ms Chugg said.
