On 24 October 2019, Minister for Child Protection Luke Donnellan launched the landmark Strong carers, stronger children strategy.
The strategy sets out six goals to improve the experience of Victoria’s dedicated carers, while also benefitting the lives and futures of the children and young people they care for.
In Victoria, there are about 6,500 carers who open their homes to care for kids in need of a safe and nurturing home. Every day, there more than 9,800 children living with a kinship, foster and permanent carer.
Developed by carers, for carers, the strategy acknowledges the complex challenges carers face every day. We know more work needs to be done to give them the support they need.
The Strong carers, stronger children strategy will guide and inform the future direction of home-based care in Victoria, giving carers better support to provide a safe and nurturing home for Victoria’s most vulnerable children and young people.
Building on the Roadmap for Reform
The strategy builds on the work of the Victorian Government’s Roadmap for Reform policy that is transforming the child and family system from a crisis response to one of early intervention and prevention.
Key achievements so far include implementing a new model for kinship care and our Home Stretch program that gives young people the option of remaining with their carer until the age of 21.
We have also set up Carer KaFE to provide training opportunities, delivered new financial supports and resources such as a dedicated help line for permanent carers, and established carer advisory groups to respond to local issues.
Strong carers, stronger children will be implemented over the next five years through a series of action plans to be developed in close consultation with key stakeholders. The first action plan will be implemented from 2020.
