The free CREATE Your Future Expo on Wednesday, 4 November at Woodville South’s St Clair Recreation Centre, features workshops, activities and service stalls.

The event is a partnership between the CREATE Foundation, which supports children and young people with a care experience to have their voices heard and influence the systems that affect their lives, and foster care support agency Key Assets.

Up to 100 young people are expected to attend, to gain skills in areas such as budgeting and seeking employment and to connect with housing, finance, health and education services. There will also be giveaways supporting the transition to independence, such as laptops and gift vouchers.

The expo recognises that reaching adulthood can be a challenging milestone for young people with a care experience, and aims to connect them with the information, services and relationships that can support them along the way.

The Department for Child Protection will host a stall with information about:

• the Dame Roma Mitchell Grants, which offer financial support for young people up to age 29;
• Family-Based Post Care programs supporting young people to remain with their kinship or foster carers after they turn 18;
• the process for care leavers to request information and documents about their time in care;
• employment and volunteering opportunities within the Department and
• how young people can contribute to child protection policy, practice and system improvement.

Since 2022, the State Government has invested an additional $11.2m in transitioning from care initiatives. During 2025-26, more than 1000 young people accessed support through Relationships Australia’s government-funded Post Care Services, which include help building skills in independent living, finances, relationships, study and employment. As of the end of July, almost 400 young people were receiving other post-care supports, through a range of DCP-run programs for those who spent time in family-based placements or residential care.

More information about the expo is available at create.org.au/get-involved/featured-events/

Quotes attributable to CREATE Foundation CEO Imogen Edeson

CREATE has worked alongside young people with lived experience to design a really engaging day for attendees.

Too often, young people tell us they feel underprepared for one of the biggest transitions of their lives.

While most young people can continue to rely on family well into adulthood, many young people leaving care are expected to navigate housing, education, employment and finances without those same support networks.

The CREATE Your Future Expo brings services, information and support together in one place, helping young people build their knowledge, confidence and connections as they prepare for independence.

Most importantly, it's an opportunity for young people to see that they don't have to navigate this transition on their own.