Alice has cared for her grandchildren since they were young and continues to provide a safe, stable, nurturing environment. The children are thriving, have won many swimming and karate awards, and recently started piano lessons.
AV is the largest kinship care provider in Victoria, and over the last year 319 kinship carers provided care to children and young people who are related to them. Kinship care placements provide safe and stable homes for children and young people who cannot live with their parents. With kinship placements, children and young people stay with relatives, family members, or existing community members for short and prolonged periods, with the goal of reunification with the child’s parents.
“Kinship care allows for children to remain connected to family, while their parents seek the support required to create a safe environment for the child to return to. We are always looking at what we can do to better support kinship carers as they take on these massive roles.” – Kate Badham, Project Manager, Client Services
AV is a passionate provider of care, refining and improving existing models of care to ensure the best possible start to life for every child and young person. AV will continue to advocate strongly for Victoria’s most vulnerable young people to ensure they receive regular therapeutic support as part of their living arrangements. This year AV contributed recommendations to the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office audit of the kinship care system. AV has advocated for more support to be provided to kinship carers in alignment with the current support provided to foster carers.
“AV provided what I needed for me to be able to care for my grandchildren – counselling, kinship activities and events, support groups, monthly visits with the family; just being there when we needed a boost in morale. If I have problems as a carer, I can contact AV for financial or emotional help to resolve them. I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I love it, but it’s a good thing that AV assists people who need support; it’s very important. If I ask for assistance, it’s there when I need it. They made my life easier.” – Alice*, grandmother and kinship carer
The 2022 Annual report can be found on our website.
To request a hard copy of this report, call us on 1800 809 722.
