Sibling placement in out-of-home care – Research brief
Download PDFJun 2022
Written by Lynne McPherson Kathomi Gatwiri Janise Mitchell Noel Macnamara
The significance of sibling relationships for children and young people in out-of-home care is well documented by national and international scholars (Luu, Conley Wright, & Cashmore, 2020). These relationships offer an opportunity for children to experience relational permanence (Mitchell, Tucci, & Macnamara, 2020) when they cannot live at home. The sibling relationship may be one of the only lasting connections that children and young people in out-of-home care have access to, in light of what is known about instability and disruption in placements (McPherson, Gatwiri, Macnamara, Mitchell, & Tucci, 2018).
This research brief will:
- examine what we know about sibling placement in Australia
- present highlights from the international research on siblings
- explore findings about ways to support siblings in out-of-home care
- apply a trauma lens to placement decision making
- consider research and practice implications.
