More Support For Vulnerable Children In Victoria’s South

The Andrews Labor Government is transforming support provided to some of the most vulnerable children and young people in Victoria’s south with more than $20 million for new models of care.

We are getting on with making residential care a short-term intervention rather than long-term placement.

Nine activities in Victoria’s south will include:

• $2.8 million to reduce the need for out-of-home care
• $12.6 million to improve the experience of out-of-home care
• $5.8 million to support young people to transition from out-of-home care.

The activities – many of which will be co-designed with community services organisations – will include:

• Testing internationally proven models of foster care for children and young people with more complex support needs, including the evidence-based Treatment Foster Care Oregon model
• Designing an intensive support response that will transform residential care into a trauma-informed model for children and young people with complex needs
• A program that provides intensive interventions including brokerage funding, to help families prevent their children from entering out of home care
• Funding for Aboriginal and mainstream organisations to work with children and young people in kinship care who may be able to return to their families or primary carers – targeting an initial 32 children and young people – as well as their families
• Keeping Aboriginal children and young people connected to culture with a Return to Country program that is co-designed with Aboriginal organisations
• A Mentoring, Learning and Support program for young people in out-of-home care, with flexible support for young people from 16 or 17 years of age to develop life skills

Earlier this year, the Government’s $168 million Roadmap for Reform was introduced to shift the children and family services system from crisis response to prevention and early intervention.

It includes major investments in support services for vulnerable families, extra child protection workers, culturally sensitive support for Aboriginal children, and more foster and kinship carers, including Aboriginal carers.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos

“We are testing new ways of working with families and home-based care that ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.”

“Our ambitious $168 million Roadmap for Reform policy includes $16.5 million in specific initiatives targeting Aboriginal children and young people to ensure they maintain links with their community and culture.”