Media Release by The Hon Dr David Gillespie MP

SORTLI app helps young people gain independence

A new mobile app to help young people transition from out-of-home care into more independent living has now launched as part of the Towards Independent Adulthood trial.

Sortli is a free mobile app which provides information on important areas of a young person’s life. It includes finding a place to live, looking after their health, managing their budget, finding a job, undertaking training or education, understanding their legal rights and learning general life skills. Essentially, Sortli helps young people to ‘sort out their life’.

Sortli will engage trial participants aged 15 to 18 in metropolitan Perth and the Peel, Wheatbelt and South West regions of WA as they prepare for their transition to independence.

Federal Assistant Minister for Children and Families, Dr David Gillespie, said it was important that young people are equipped with the skills they need to live independent and successful lives.

“This app builds on the work already being done in the Towards Independent Adulthood trial, which aims to improve outcomes for young people as they move from out-of-home care into adulthood,” Minister Gillespie said. “This change can be daunting – but we know it can also be empowering and positive with the right support.”

The Towards Independent Adulthood Trial is part of the Third Action Plan of the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children, which continues the Federal Coalition Government’s commitment to supporting children and young people in the early years and at critical points in their lives. The trial is being delivered by the Department of Social Services in partnership with the West Australian Government and will run until mid-2020.