Care leavers is one term commonly used in Australia to describe people who experienced out-of-Home 'care' as children. The term generally refers to non-indigenous people.
The Commonwealth Aged Care Act 1997 was amended in 2009 to include care leavers as a 'special needs group' under the legislation. This Act defined care-leaver as:
a person who was in institutional care or other form of out-of-home care, including foster care, as a child or youth (or both) at some time during the 20th century.
Sources used to compile this entry: 'Aged Care Act 1997', in ComLaw, Commonwealth of Australia, http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Series/C2004A05206.
Prepared by: Rachel Tropea
Created: 30 March 2009, Last modified: 13 February 2018