Premier

Safe And Stable Homes For More Than 100 Young People

24 March 2016

More than 100 vulnerable children and young people have been moved out of residential care and into stable, secure homes thanks to Targeted Care Packages.

Minister for Families and Children, Jenny Mikakos welcomed the milestone less than one year after the Andrews Labor Government pledged $43 million in funding for Targeted Care Packages to move young people out of residential care.

At the end of February, 109 young people including 14 Aboriginal children and young people had received carefully tailored support packages to help them move out of residential care, to return home, move into kinship or foster care or independent living.

In October last year an additional $19 million was provided to support children and young people and their families or carers to prevent them from needing to enter residential care.

The funding was part of the Government’s response to the “…as a good parent would” report by the Commission for Children and Young People.

The Labor Government is reducing the number of children and young people in residential care at a time in which the number of notifications to child protection is at an all-time high, often due to family violence concerns.

Targeted Care Packages provide children and their carers with tailored services and support to address the needs of individual children and the family or carers who look after them.

With the help of a Targeted Care Package, a 16-year-old Aboriginal girl has been able to move in with her grandmother. The package has provided the girl’s grandmother with respite care, more psychological support for the girl as well as money for school books and supplies and to assist her to participate in community activities.

The Government is working closely with sector partners to deliver out-of-home-care services and to reduce the reliance on residential care.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos

“Helping more than 100 children and young people to move into secure, stable homes is a fantastic result and is evidence of our commitment to ensure vulnerable children receive the best care possible.”

“Targeted Care Packages not only help children move out of residential care, but provide them with the ongoing support they need to achieve their potential.”

Quotes attributable to CEO of Mackillop Family Services Micaela Cronin

“Every child has unique needs, and residential care is an important option for some of the most traumatised young people in our community.”

“Many young people require tailored solutions to support them to live in home-based care, and we have welcomed the additional funding available through Targeted Care Packages to facilitate these options.

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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