Introduction to Better Futures
What to expect
How the service model works
Early referral (15 years, 9 months)
All young people eligible for Better Futures should be referred by their case manager at 15 years and 9 months so that connection and planning can begin early.
Allocation to provider (by 16)
Once a referral is received, the Better Futures provider completes and initial screening, confirms eligibility and contacts the referrer within five working days. Additional information (such as the 15+ plan or cultural plan) may be requested to support effective planning.
Development Coaches may not engage directly yet but may begin attending care team meetings and advocating for the young person’s voice and vision for the future.
In care awareness and early relationship building 16-17.5 (or ~6 months before leaving care)
Development Coaches can provide secondary consultation to Child Protection, care services and care teams on practices that support preparation for transition, depending on capacity and the circumstances of the young person.
Development Coaches can offer secondary consultation in various ways, including:
- Attending a care team meeting and identifying opportunities across housing and living skills, education, employment, health and wellbeing and connections. These discussions will align to the young person’s 15+ care and transition plan, and their support needs, goals and aspirations.
- introducing the Advantaged Thinking resources like The Deal and My Vision to assist planning and encourage the involvement of the young person in voicing their goals and aspirations.
- With the young person’s consent, this can be shared with Better Futures so that Community Connectors can provide advice about specific opportunities in the broader community that the young person may be interested in.
- Providing information and advice about Home Stretch.
- Providing advice about opportunities to connect Aboriginal young people to their culture and community and advocating for cultural plans to be central to transition planning.
Many young people in this phase are supported through an active hold level of support, with Development Coaches completing at least quarterly check-ins while providing secondary consultation to the care team.
Development Coaches may also facilitate access to Better Futures flexible funding to support actions in the young person’s 15+ Care and Transition Plan, even while they remain in care. NB.
Transition to emerging adulthood (17.5-18)
Development Coaches will gradually increase support as the young person nears leaving care age. Some young people may not need this if sustainable support post care has been secured.
Post care support (18-21)
Development Coaches and Community Connectors offer flexible post care support based on the young person’s motivations, needs and wants.
Common misconceptions (reality check)
- Better Futures isn’t a housing* service — it supports planning and pathways.
- Better Futures doesn’t “fix everything” — it’s coaching and partnership, not crisis or specialist response.
- Better Futures isn’t case management — it’s voluntary and young-person-led.
- Development Coaches don’t “do for” — they “do with” to build capability and agency.
- Development Coaches are not responsible for leading transition planning – they may support identification of goals and actions for 15+ care and transition plans.
- Community Connectors don’t work 1:1 with every young person — they build community opportunities and pathways.
- Home Stretch is a young person’s allocation — it can support goals across the 5 Offers, not only housing.