SAP103 Tutorial activity Week 4: Decision making and disclosureSample Page
Case study – Cara
The client was an 18 year old girl born in Ethiopia and now studying Year 11 in Australia. She and her
twin sister were thrown out of the family home of her adopted father and stepmother on Christmas
Day and told not to come back.
The client lodged a claim for Youth Allowance at the Unreasonable to Live at Home (UTLAH) rate on
line with Centrelink on 30 December 2013 as she had no means of support. She had approached her
adopted father about returning home, however her step mother said that she was not permitted to.
She also approached community members to intervene and make approaches to her parents but
there was refusal on their part.
She was referred to the Welfare Rights and Advocacy Service by the Department of Human Services
(DHS) when her application for payment at the UTLAH rate had been unsuccessful. Her request for
review of the decision by a DHS Authorised Review Officer had also been unsuccessful and there had
been a refusal to consider third party verification.
Questions
1. What might be the next stage in appealing the decision not to grant Cara the Youth
Allowance at the UTLAH rate – that is where might an appeal be lodged?
2. What information might be submitted to the panel?
3. What might a likely outcome be for Miss Cara if she was without support or unable to
access the appeals system?
4. If you were concerned about Miss Cara’s safety in the house where she is couch surfing,
under what circumstances would you break Cara’s confidence and report your concerns to
the police?
5. How would your actions be different if Cara was 16 years old?