Thanks for letting us know you’re
In Care
Here are some things
you might find useful.
Your Rights in Care
We stand up for your rights when you’re in kinship care, foster care and residential care.
These are special protections to keep you safe, happy and healthy. You can find a list of some of these rights for kids in care below.
If you’re rights aren’t being met while you’re in care and no one is listening, our Advocates can help.
You can find out more about them below.
Tap the squares below to learn about your rights in care
I have the right to be safe and well cared for.
- knowing that people care about me
- not being hurt or made to feel bad
- not being scared of people or carers I live with
- not being moved around a lot
- having adults check in with me to make sure I am safe and happy
- being well cared for and protected from harm by the adults who look after me
I have the right to be safe and well cared for.
- knowing that people care about me
- not being hurt or made to feel bad
- not being scared of people or carers I live with
- not being moved around a lot
- having adults check in with me to make sure I am safe and happy
- being well cared for and protected from harm by the adults who look after me
I have the right to be myself and to be treated with respect.
- being able to feel good about myself and who I am, no matter what my sexuality, gender identity, race, culture, religion or passions are
- being included, treated fairly and feeling valued
- not being bullied, discriminated against or judged for who I am or what I believe in
- being able to access information about me while I am in care and for the whole of my life
I have the right to be myself and to be treated with respect.
- being able to feel good about myself and who I am, no matter what my sexuality, gender identity, race, culture, religion or passions are
- being included, treated fairly and feeling valued
- not being bullied, discriminated against or judged for who I am or what I believe in
- being able to access information about me while I am in care and for the whole of my life
I have the right to be listened to and have a say in decisions that affect me
- having a say about the things that affect me like where I go to school, what clothes I wear, the sorts of food I eat, who I hang out with and how I spend my time – if it is safe)
- having my opinion asked for and listened when decisions affect me
- knowing who to go to if I have a problem or want to complain about something
- having someone I can talk to who can help me have my say in whatever way I choose (such as a friend, Elder or professional to help me speak up)
- being included and having a say about plans for my future
I have the right to be listened to and have a say in decisions that affect me
- having a say about the things that affect me like where I go to school, what clothes I wear, the sorts of food I eat, who I hang out with and how I spend my time – if it is safe)
- having my opinion asked for and listened when decisions affect me
- knowing who to go to if I have a problem or want to complain about something
- having someone I can talk to who can help me have my say in whatever way I choose (such as a friend, Elder or professional to help me speak up)
- being included and having a say about plans for my future
I have the right to connect with my culture.
- knowing what my cultural heritage is and who my family connections are
- connecting with my Country, community and cultural services
- learning my language, stories, songs, dances, traditions and participating in cultural activities
- having a cultural identity and feeling proud and strong about my culture
I have the right to connect with my culture.
- knowing what my cultural heritage is and who my family connections are
- connecting with my Country, community and cultural services
- learning my language, stories, songs, dances, traditions and participating in cultural activities
- having a cultural identity and feeling proud and strong about my culture
I have the right to have contact with people who matter to me
- knowing about my family and why I am in care
- seeing and keeping in regular contact with my brothers and sisters, family, friends and other people who are important to me – if it is safe
- having regular contact and support from my worker (and in private if I want that)
- joining groups or sports teams where I can be with my friends or make new friends
I have the right to have contact with people who matter to me
- knowing about my family and why I am in care
- seeing and keeping in regular contact with my brothers and sisters, family, friends and other people who are important to me – if it is safe
- having regular contact and support from my worker (and in private if I want that)
- joining groups or sports teams where I can be with my friends or make new friends
I have the right to good health, fun and play
- getting a health check when I first go into care
- seeing a doctor, dentist or other health care worker when I feel I need to
- being supported to see a counsellor or getting help with my mental health
- getting specialist care if I have a disability
- getting healthy food and time to exercise and play every day
- relaxing, having fun and joining in activities that interest me
I have the right to good health, fun and play
- getting a health check when I first go into care
- seeing a doctor, dentist or other health care worker when I feel I need to
- being supported to see a counsellor or getting help with my mental health
- getting specialist care if I have a disability
- getting healthy food and time to exercise and play every day
- relaxing, having fun and joining in activities that interest me
I have the right to a good education.
- going to a school or training that is right for me
- having the tools that help my learning (like a laptop, the internet and textbooks)
- getting extra support if I need it, especially if I have a disability or learning difficulties
- having my potential recognised, with opportunities to develop my talents and interests
- learning life skills, like cooking and budgeting
- getting the foundation, support and guidance I need to get the job I want to do in the future
I have the right to a good education.
- going to a school or training that is right for me
- having the tools that help my learning (like a laptop, the internet and textbooks)
- getting extra support if I need it, especially if I have a disability or learning difficulties
- having my potential recognised, with opportunities to develop my talents and interests
- learning life skills, like cooking and budgeting
- getting the foundation, support and guidance I need to get the job I want to do in the future
I have the right to privacy.
- having my own space where I can be on my own if I want
- having my own bed
- having my own personal things kept safe
- having my privacy respected at school
- being able to speak to people like a carer or Advocate in private
- knowing what information is being shared about me, who it is shared with and why it is shared
I have the right to privacy.
- having my own space where I can be on my own if I want
- having my own bed
- having my own personal things kept safe
- having my privacy respected at school
- being able to speak to people like a carer or Advocate in private
- knowing what information is being shared about me, who it is shared with and why it is shared
I have the right get support so I feel good about my future out of care.
- being at the centre of planning for my move out of care
- having a safe place to live when I leave care
- being able to learn the skills I need to live as independently as I can (such as driving, budgeting, cooking, using public transport)
- being able to go on with study, training or work when I leave care
- knowing where I can go if I need help after I leave care
- being able to stay in contact with people who were important to me when I was in care
- having people in my life who ‘dream big’ with me, stand by me and help me to see what is possible
I have the right get support so I feel good about my future out of care.
- being at the centre of planning for my move out of care
- having a safe place to live when I leave care
- being able to learn the skills I need to live as independently as I can (such as driving, budgeting, cooking, using public transport)
- being able to go on with study, training or work when I leave care
- knowing where I can go if I need help after I leave care
- being able to stay in contact with people who were important to me when I was in care
- having people in my life who ‘dream big’ with me, stand by me and help me to see what is possible
Tap the images to Meet Our Visiting Advocates
Common questions about our Office
What is an Advocate?
An Advocate is someone who helps others by speaking up for them and supporting them. An Advocate can help if there is a problem that you or adults in your life haven’t been able to solve.
What are some of the reasons kids call you?
Kids call us for many different reasons. They might feel unsafe in the place they’re living or like they don’t belong. They may want to see their family, friends and loved ones more. They might not feel supported to follow their dreams. There might have been a decision that they didn’t agree with, or they might be worried about the future. These are all real worries that our Advocates can support you through.
Can Advocates visit my placement?
If you would like to talk with an Advocate face-to-face, they might be able to visit you at school, your placement, somewhere in the community, or at our office. An Advocate will talk to you about how you’d like to connect.
I’m going to attend a meeting with my social workers soon, but nervous about going on my own. Can an Advocate come with me?
Yes, they can. If you feel you need some help to meet with DCP, an Advocate can support you. Depending on where you live, an Advocate might be able to go to the meeting with you face-to-face, or attend by phone or video call.
Can I call you at any time of day?
Our Advocates take calls Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. If you leave us an email outside these hours, we will get back to you as soon as we’re back in the office. If it’s an emergency, contact 000. If you are in care and need urgent support when our Office and DCP offices are closed, call DCP After Hours on 13 16 11. If you need mental health support, call Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), Lifeline (13 11 14) or 13yarn (13 92 76).
How can an Advocate help and support me?
We listen to your worries and what you want to change. We can talk about the different possibilities to make things better. We plan with you how these changes could be achieved. We help your voice and wishes be heard by people like your social worker or others in charge. This might mean we attend a meeting with you and your social worker, we talk to staff at the department for child protection or contact places that might be able to help you.
Can I meet with an Advocate in person?
For sure. You’re welcome to visit our office or meet with an Advocate, but it’s best to call us first so we can make sure there’s someone available to talk to you.
Are you part of DCP?
No. Our office is separate from the Department for Child Protection and Minister for Child Protection. This means we can give them honest feedback on what needs to change in the child protection system.
Can I trust an Advocate with the information I share?
Definitely. We will follow your wishes when you tell us who you want to share your worries with. But if we’re worried about your safety or the safety of others, we might need to tell other people because your wellbeing is super important to us.
Can I talk to an Aboriginal Advocate?
Of course. We have Aboriginal Advocates who would be happy to speak to you. Ask to speak to an Aboriginal Advocate when you give us as call.
My name is Oog.
It’s nice to meet you!
I’m the safety symbol for children and young people in care.
My name is Nunga Oog.
It’s nice to meet you!
I’m the safety symbol for Aboriginal children and young people in care.
Read about how and why we were made
What kids say about us
How kids can get involved
Every child and young person with care or detention experience deserves a voice in shaping child protection and youth justice. That’s why we created the Advisory Youth Influence Network (AYIN).