Youth Consult for Change

The DCJ Youth Consult for Change program, also known as UC Change, is a lived experience consultative group coordinated by the Office of the Senior Practitioner.

Each member of the group has their own experience of being in out-of-home care (OOHC). They are aged between 16 and 21 years old and live across NSW. Youth Consultants are appointed for 24 months and are trained, supported and paid for their participation.

The purpose of UC Change is to provide consultation that supports improved practice with children and families across NSW.  Consultants use their experiences and knowledge to provide advice and critique to DCJ. Their expert advice is used to improve the services and support offered to children and young people in OOHC by making sure practice is responsive to their needs and actively promotes their wellbeing.

What does UC Change consult on?

UC Change is an influential force for building the ability and responsiveness of DCJ in our work with young people. While the primary purpose of the group is to provide consultation to units across DCJ, UC Change also does receive requests for external consultations. Acceptance of these requests is determined on a case-by-case basis.

Consultations can be held with the group on a variety of subjects, including but not limited to:

• programs, tools or communication strategies for young people in OOHC
• policy and strategy designed to improve outcomes for children and young people we are working with
• advice and consultation about a particular project or program that will impact the lives of young people, or will benefit from their input and insight.

How to request a consult

You can request a consultation with UC Change by contacting the program coordinator via the Youth Consult for Change mailbox [email protected].

UC Change advice, videos and resources

Every two years, UC Change members are responsible to develop a project of their choice that will directly support best practice with children and young people.  Some projects they have developed include:

• Carer Resource Pack

Carer Resource Pack

In 2023, Youth Consult for Change developed a Carer Resource Pack that provides tips for carers and practitioners to help build and nurture relationships for young people when they are first placed with a carer.

The Carer Resource Pack provides an opportunity to consider the child or young person’s experience and what is important to them when moving to a new home – their connections, their experience of safety, their sense of belonging, and their cultural identity.

An important part of the project was developing the artwork to represent inclusion and hope. Mumbulla Creative met with Youth Consult for Change to work in partnership in developing this project. Some key themes the artwork represents include:

• The rainbow serpent, a dreamtime figure with deep cultural significance to many Aboriginal people and communities.  It spans the length of the canvas and pays respect to Aboriginal Cultures and Countries within NSW.
• The artwork features young people of various ages, genders, cultures and abilities. It represents the diversity of young people who have interactions with the child protection system.
• Rainbows are a symbol of joy and, like the Pride flag, convey a message of inclusivity, love and acceptance to the LGBTQIA+ community.
• Distinctive Australian markers such as street signs, gum trees, airplanes, and kangaroo road signs represent urban and regional areas within New South Wales.
• Australian birds - magpie, galah, pelican, cockatoo, ibis and seagulls - are a symbol of freedom and individuality. The birds hover close to the young people in the artwork, who also seek freedom of self-expression as they develop into young adults.
• Banksias appear throughout the artwork as a symbol of strength in adversity. These native Australian plants release seeds in response to fire, as an adaptation to their harsh environment. Just as banksias survive in the presence of fire, they inspire us to discover strength, resilience and growth when facing life’s challenges.\

UC Change 2024–2026 are excited to launch their project, Placement change toolkit: Mapping new beginnings (the toolkit).

Placement change toolkit: Mapping new beginnings.

The toolkit has been created for children and young people in OOHC who are experiencing a placement change.

Its purpose is to support children and young people through each stage of the transition. It provides practical tips to help them prepare, prompts for self‑reflection, and opportunities for children to express their views and advocate for themselves.

Developed for children of all ages, the toolkit acknowledges that change can be daunting - but aims to give children hope, reassurance and a sense of agency as they navigate a significant moment in their lives.

How to access the toolkit?

To receive a copy of this toolkit, please contact your local Community Services Centre or download the Placement for Change Toolkit here (PDF, 4.9 MB). You can also download the Placement change toolkit presentation folder here (PDF, 663.7 KB),