What else?
This page is filled with different information that you may want to know about while you’re in care! If you think something is missing, please let us know and we’ll try our best to fix it.
Transitioning Out of Care
If you are leaving care and transitioning into adulthood, Oranga Tamariki run The Transition Support Service. They can help with things like:
- Finding somewhere to live
- Getting your drivers licence
- Finding a job
- Getting legal advice
- Getting counselling
- Finding and enrolling in a training course
- Getting food.
To see if you’re eligible for Transition Support, call them for free on 0800 55 89 89
If you’re 18 and you don’t want to leave your current home, it is possible for you to stay with your caregiver up to the age of 21. If your caregiver is also keen, that is something that the Transition Support team can also help with. Call them on 0800 55 89 89 and they’ll help you stay where you want to be.
Accessing Tertiary Support
We’re currently working on a hub of information for care experienced young people who want to access tertiary/after high school education.
For now, we’re working with Amanaki on their mahi to improve access to tertiary education for care leavers in Aotearoa. Created by care experienced tertiary students, they are hoping to steer Aotearoa towards more equitable access to education.
External Scholarships and Awards
Need Housing Support?
If you’re a young person and you don’t have a safe or stable place to live, there are lots of people and organisation’s who want to support you. Below are some of the services that we recommend:
Whakarongo – The Podcast
You’re not alone – there is a whole community of young people who are in care, or who have been in care. Here at VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai, we even have kaimahi (staff) who have been in care themselves.
In 2024, VOYCE created a podcast with a care experienced host, and care experienced guests. The podcast is called ‘Whakarongo’, which means ‘Listen’ in te reo Māori. You can find Whakarongo on VOYCE’s YouTube Channel here, or on Spotify here, or Apple Podcasts here.
We hope that those who are care experienced listen, and know that they are not alone in their attempts to improve the system. For those who are not care experienced, we encourage you to listen, and to learn from our rangatira atawhai (care experienced young people).
