Three-quarters of homeless Australian kids who seek help without a parent or guardian remain homeless after their crisis support ends, new research shows. Source: News.com.au.
The data shows more than 13,000 12- to 17-year-olds tried to get help unaccompanied by an adult last year.
“It’s unthinkable that children are homeless and alone, and services don’t have the resources to meet their needs. This has to be a wake-up call for our nation’s leaders,” Homelessness Australia chief executive Kate Colvin said.
New analysis by Australian Institute of Health and Welfare details the number of young people trying to get help without the support of any adults.
Across the 2023/24 financial year, 13,300 unaccompanied Australians aged 12-17 sought out homelessness services.
Of these young people, 2443 were aged 12-14, 6 per cent were in a group of children, and 63 per cent were female.
More than three-quarters (77 per cent) of unaccompanied children who were homeless when support started were still homeless when the supports ended.
The research also found more than 500 young people have died after making contact with specialist homelessness services in the past decade.
“Children who are homeless and alone have for too long been invisible in homelessness systems designed for older young people or adults,” University of Tasmania social justice expert Catherine Robinson said.
“This new data makes visible the brutal reality of child homelessness in Australia,” Ms Robinson said.
“This needs to be a line in the sand for all jurisdictions to respond to the extreme vulnerability of unaccompanied children.
“We desperately need a national action plan to support good, child-focused practices and policies across jurisdictions.”
Peak body Home Time, and Homelessness Australia, say age-appropriate care for fleeing children is needed.
Dedicated tenancies for older children who cannot return home are also needed, as are intensive supports and further investment in early intervention.
FULL STORY
Data exposes crisis facing Australia’s young homeless (News.com.au)
