An idea that started in the office of Anglicare Victoria CEO Paul McDonald has now been embraced by every state and territory after seven years of campaigning. More importantly, it’s an idea that benefit generations of vulnerable young people, substantially reducing youth homelessness, more than double the chances of care leavers getting a job and massively reduce hospitalisations and involvement with the justice system.
The idea was to extend foster care (state care) to the age of 21. Previously support for those in state care was terminated at 18, an age when most young people are still living at home with their parents.
Paul said Anglicare Victoria staff saw firsthand the catastrophic outcomes of the young people we cared for when their care was terminated by the state at the age of 18. Under the banner of the Home Stretch campaign, efforts began in earnest to reach out to governments, commission research and make the case for change around the country. The campaign attracted the support of hundreds of organisations and thousands of individuals around Australia, many of them child welfare experts and advocates.
“We knew the status quo wasn’t right and we knew something needed to change,” Paul said.
“Through reports we commissioned from Deloitte Access Economics, we found that governments would save money in the long term if they extended care to 21. But more importantly, we knew that it was the right thing to do,” Paul said.
In November the NSW Government provided the final piece of the puzzle, extending care to the age of 21 for all children and young people in state care. Extended care is a life-changing and life-saving reform, which provides additional support for vulnerable young people to an age where they are more prepared for the challenges that life can throw at them.
“One by one we convinced eight governments to change their thinking about ending care at 18, and bring certainty and support to young people lives by extending the formal relationship to the young person by the state to 21 years. And now across the country, in every state and territory an extended care to 21 years policy exists, for generations to come.”
Thanks to everyone who supported the Home Stretch campaign. It’s something we can all be proud of.
