Your rights as a child or young person in care
Find out what your rights are while you are in out-of-home care (OOHC).
Case planning meetings
A case plan records all the decisions that are necessary in order to achieve the best possible outcomes for your development and future. Case plans also list the people who will support you in reaching your goals, and how they will support you.
During meetings to develop your case plan some important decisions about your life will be made including where you're going to live and for how long, how you'll be spending time with your family and plans for your education amongst other things.
The law says you have the right to be kept informed, express your views and participate in decisions about what's happening in your life. It's really important that you consider speaking up in these meetings to ensure your views are heard.
How can you participate
Here are some ways in which you can participate in case planning:
- attending the meetings to develop your case plan
- meeting with your caseworker before the case plan meeting so he/she can explain the process and prepare you for the meeting
- writing down or recording your comments and views before a meeting
- bringing a support person with you
- doing some artwork or a picture to describe your feelings
- suggesting topics for meetings or suggesting a venue.
The caseworker will ensure you have the opportunity to have input by providing:
- information about decisions that need to be made
- an explanation of the decisions made but also the reasons for each decision.
Read more about how you can prepare for case planning meetings and have a chance to speak up on the YOU website.