Out-of-Home Care

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Out-of-Home Care

This web site is a practical resource for teachers, principals, student welfare coordinators and wellbeing staff. It should be used to support the teaching of children and young people in Out-of-Home Care (OOHC).

OOHC is a living arrangement for children and young people who cannot live in their family home. Up to 4000 Victorian children live in OOHC at any one time.

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) requires schools to develop an Individual Education Plan, supported by a Student Support Group, for every student in OOHC.

For information about OOHC, see the following sections:

  • What is Out-of-Home Care? - the different types of OOHC, how children come into care and the legal orders used.
  • Individual Education Plans - aims, who should attend, how it should operate and a sample meeting record to download.
  • Student Support Groups - aims, requirements, sample plan and guidelines to download.
  • Teacher's Role - teaching and learning strategies, mentoring, building relationships and the curriculum.
  • Effects on Children - inappropriate behaviour, performance at school, knowledge gaps and coping strategies.
  • Resources - Department support documents and links to health, care and wellbeing organisation websites.
  • Contacts - DEECD, regional wellbeing managers and regional Partnering Agreement contacts.

This website complements the DEECD and the Department of Human Services Partnering Agreement: School Attendance and Engagement of Children and Young People in Out of Home Care (PDF - 2.1Mb).