Young people leaving care or who have left care are over-represented in the statistics on homelessness, early school leaving and contact with the criminal justice system. They are also more likely to have children at an early age and are at greater risk of having their own child taken into care.

Improving outcomes for young people who are leaving care requires a dual focus on improving the quality of care and providing better support to young people as they are transitioning from care.

UnitingCare Chidlren Young People and Famliies has conducted a review of Australian and international policy and program approaches relevant to improving outcomes for young people who are transitioning from OOHC to adulthood. This paper sets out the key learnings from this review. The paper focuses on the policy changes that are needed for young people who are transitioning from care across the leaving and aftercare phases. It includes a six-point plan to improve outcomes for young people who are transitioning from OOHC to adulthood. While the paper focuses particularly on the NSW policy context it will also have relevance to readers in other Australian states and territories.