Birrang Specialist Aftercare Program
At Birrang Enterprise Development Company Ltd, we are committed to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people as they transition from out-of-home care (OOHC) to independent living. Our Specialist Aftercare Program provides culturally responsive, individualized support to care leavers aged 17–24 across New South Wales.
What is the Specialist Aftercare Program?
- A flexible support program for young people leaving statutory care
- Helps young people work toward their goals with tailored, one-on-one support
- Connects them to the services and support they need
- Offers practical support like accessing Centrelink or reviewing aftercare plans
- Can include mentoring, group activities, outreach, and cultural support
- Support is individually tailored based on what each young person needs!
What We Offer
We understand that leaving care is a significant life change. Our program offers tailored support to help young people achieve their goals, including:
- Personalized Case Management: Developing and implementing individualized aftercare plans that reflect each young person's aspirations and needs.
- Mentoring and Group Activities: Providing opportunities for skill development, social connection, and cultural engagement.
- Remote Outreach Support: Ensuring access to services for young people in regional and remote areas.
- Aboriginal Cultural Consultation: Incorporating cultural identity and practices into aftercare planning.
How We Help
We help young people connect to the right services and supports—based on what they need most. This might include:
- Financial support and entitlements (e.g. Centrelink and TILA).
- Housing and accommodation support.
- Education and training support.
- Employment and job readiness support.
- Health and mental wellbeing support.
- Social and life skills support (e.g. help with getting a driver’s license).
- Family, cultural and community connections support.
Eligibility
To be eligible for our Specialist Aftercare Program, young people must:
- Be aged 17–24 years.
- Have been in statutory OOHC under the parental responsibility of the Minister until the age of 18.
- Have moderate to high support needs or have moved and are no longer able to be supported by their previous Permanency Support Program (PSP) provider.
- Live in Far West and Western areas of NSW
- Could use a bit of extra support as they leave care.
- Require specialist assistance with cultural elements of their aftercare plan.
How to Access Support
Young people can be referred to our program through their caseworker by completing the Specialist Aftercare Program Referral Form and sending it to us at sap@birrang.com.au. To request a referral form please email us at sap@birrang.com.au.
If you are a young person seeking support, you can also contact us directly at sap@birrang.com.au or call us at (02) 6361 9511.
Additional Resources
We encourage young people leaving care to explore the following resources:
- What can TILA be used for: A guide for young people provideing information on what TILA can and cannot be used for.
- Your Next Step: A guide for young people preparing to leave care, outlining the process and available supports.
- Transition to Independent Living Allowance (TILA): A one-off payment of up to $1,500 to assist with the costs of leaving care.
- After Care Allowance Guidelines: Information on financial assistance available to care leavers aged 18–24.
- Transition to Independent Living Allowance: Information on The Transition to Independent Living Allowance.
