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### Section 4.1: Care-experienced/Tusla applicants

This section is for applicants who are or have been care-experienced and are under 23 when they apply to HEAR. For the purpose of applying to HEAR, care-experienced refers to anyone who was or is cared for by a Tusla (Child and Family Agency) appointed caregiver, rather than a parent(s) or guardian(s) for any period of time between birth and 18 years.

By applying to HEAR, you may be eligible to compete for HEAR reduced points places and access to additional and targeted supports in college.

## Completing the online application form

You answer 'Yes' to the question in 4.1 to confirm you are care-experienced.

If you are not care-experienced, click 'No' on this section of the form and complete sections 5 and 6.

Applicants who are or have been care-experienced will meet the HEAR Priority Group criterion and receive a score of 7. This means once you provide the required consent and information confirming your care experience on the form, you will be considered an eligible HEAR Priority Applicant and you do not need to complete the rest of the online HEAR application.

## What do I need to provide?

HEAR needs your consent so we can share necessary information between Tusla and the HEAR scheme to confirm your care-experienced status. HEAR can only assess your application if you provide the information below on your online HEAR application form.

In the application, HEAR will ask you to provide some basic information. This includes your:

name (as it appears on your birth certificate)

date of birth

PPS number

• county or area or areas where you experienced care.

If Tusla are unable to confirm that you are or were care-experienced, HEAR may contact you and ask you to provide further documentation.