AUSTRIA
Difficulties in engaging the children in the project
In addition to some administrative barriers the project staff
initially had difficulty explaining the project’s model to the young
people and having them agree to placement in the student facility.
Volunteers and other organisations initially also had doubts about
the potential of such an accommodation arrangement for unaccom-
panied and separated children. These doubts were dispelled after
the positive experiences of the first two young people demonstrated
the merits of the approach.
Challenges in providing appropriate care for all children
regardless of asylum status
Although Austrian child protection law does not differentiate be-
tween Austrian and non-Austrian nationals, in practice the type of
accommodation and care depends on the asylum status of children.
Only some children move to accommodation provided by child and
youth services once they are granted asylum. One of the advocacy
priorities of SOS Children’s Villages is to ensure that all children
receive appropriate care and protection that meet their individual
needs, regardless of their asylum status.
LESSONS LEARNED
• Networks and partnerships are crucial
for better services.
Establishing regular communication chan-
nels and cooperation networks with a range of
actors including national authorities, mem-
bers of local communities and private actors
can contribute to service sustainability, help
to scale up project activities and enhance care
service quality.
• Equity of care for all unaccompanied and
separated children ensures protection
and integration.
Asylum-seeking children often have to wait
for a long time for the outcome of their
asylum application. During this time, they
need to be provided with quality care and
accommodation that support their well-
being and development. Accommodation
arrangements should enable quality
support aiming at long-term outcomes,
including the integration of asylum-seeking
unaccompanied and separated children,
who might eventually be granted asylum in
Austria.
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