CEI is engaged in a partnership with the State Government of New South Wales (NSW, Australia) to assess the difference made by a fortnightly financial allowance paid to 18- to 21-year-olds transitioning from statutory out-of-home care, part of the Your Choice Your Future initiative.
This comprehensive evaluation will build understanding of whether a universal allowance provided directly to care leavers (alongside other financial help) can better support independence and improve outcomes for a vulnerable group of young people.
“Young care-leavers must navigate life barriers common to all young adults, such as insecure employment and limited housing availability. However, young people leaving care have substantially less social and human capital than many, if not most, of their same-age peers,” says CEI Director Dr Vanessa Rose.
“Not only are care-leavers living with the effects of early life disruption and trauma, but they are also expected to be fully independent at 18 years of age (when care placements usually end). Previous research by CEI and our partners has found that policies and interventions for care leavers are insufficient to meet their needs.”
Introduced in 2023 as a first for NSW, the Independent Living Allowance is intended to help bridge this gap. It is paid to care-leavers regardless of whether they leave or stay with their care family, and the young person can opt instead for their care family to receive a Staying on Allowance once they turn 18.
CEI and our partner Curijo are evaluating implementation of these allowances (process evaluation), in close collaboration with the Family and Community Services Insights, Analysis and Research branch of the NSW Department of Communities and Justice, which is assessing the allowances’ effectiveness and the economic value of this investment by government.
“We'll integrate analysis from both research teams to collectively build a narrative that can better translate into policy and practice recommendations,” Vanessa explains.
Grounded in both implementation science and person-centred approaches, the process evaluation will assess whether the allowances have been designed and implemented in ways that meet care-leavers’ needs, including cultural safety and responsiveness for Aboriginal young people. Lived experience insights are being integrated through continuing consultation with Youth Advisory and Aboriginal Reference groups.
“We’ll be looking at factors like who is the allowance reaching and not reaching and why, what do care-leavers think about it, does it operate equitably, and does it actually help support the path to independence? How does the system operate, for young people, for their caseworkers? Does it work as intended, are the right elements in place to ensure effectiveness?”
“Good implementation is a precursor to positive intervention effects,” Vanessa notes. “Our evaluation will identify the ‘levers’ that enhance implementation quality: what is helping and what is hindering success? With the right levers in place, government can deliver more effective and equitable outcomes for young people that improve their lives now and over the longer term.”
The evaluation report, alongside evaluation of a specialist aftercare program aimed at those with more complex needs, is due to be completed in 2028.
