Groundbreaking investment in building stronger families and a safer future for kids

24th January 2018

Anglicare Victoria has welcomed Victorian Government funding for programs which are breaking new ground in supporting vulnerable families to better protect children and keep families together.

Chief Executive Officer Paul McDonald said the announcement by the Minister for Families and Children, Jenny Mikakos, of $6.1 million funding for five new evidence-based programs would benefit at-risk children and families across the state.

“This is an extremely important announcement which will transform the way we work with Victoria’s most vulnerable families,’’ he said.

“The programs Anglicare will be testing are leading international examples based on the best evidence about how we can stem the demand for out-of-home care.’’

Anglicare Victoria received funding to provide two new programs – Functional Family Therapy through Child Welfare, which will help families in Bendigo and Preston, and Safe Care, which will be rolled out in Gippsland.

Mr McDonald welcomed the government’s focus on funding programs for families which directly prevented children being placed in out-of-home care.

“This is a significant investment which will make a real difference to the futures of families at risk of involvement with child protection or being placed in out-of-home care.

“It signals a welcome shift in our family and child welfare system towards supporting and strengthening families and equipping parents with the skills they need to care for their children.’’

Anglicare Victoria received a total of $1.9million to run the Functional Family Therapy through Child Welfare and Safe Care programs.

Functional Family Therapy through Child Welfare, provided in partnership with Mind Australia and Windana, will help families struggling with drug and alcohol problems, family violence, mental health issues, a history of abuse and neglect, criminal justice involvement or other parenting issues. It will provide practical help for families, to help them change their behaviour and deal differently with stressful situations.

The Safe Care program, provided in partnership with Mind Australia and Moogji Aboriginal Council East Gippsland, will see trained family educators visit homes to boost parent skills in interacting with their children, caring for their health and home safety.

Read the Minister’s media release


Further enquiries contact:

E: media@anglicarevic.org.au P: (03) 9412 6173