This paper considers what is required to improve education outcomes for children and young people in out-of-home care (OOHC). Children and young people in OOHC have often experienced traumatic events and require additional support to access safe environments and quality education so they can thrive in life.

The paper starts with a definition of the cohort, considers the scale of the challenge, outlines the current ecosystem of support and summarises stories from those with lived experience. It documents Social Venture Australia's (SVA) exploration of the SVA Education Driver Tree through the experience of children in OOHC. It then identifies the key drivers of better educational outcomes across home/community, the system and formal education environments for these children and young people. The paper provides examples of these drivers in action to highlight activities in the sector that are creating promising outcomes for children in OOHC.