23 April 2020
A $77.5 million initiative announced by the Victorian Government to support at-risk children and young people is a practical and sensible response to the unique challenges thrown up by the COVID-19 pandemic, Anglicare Victoria said today.
Anglicare Victoria CEO Paul McDonald said it was important the state will continue to support young people in foster care, residential care and kinship care who were due to age out of the system in 2020, as well as providing additional support to frontline staff and carers.
“The government is to be congratulated for recognising the importance of supporting vulnerable young people and families in the unprecedented times we are all navigating,” Mr McDonald said.
“The targeted support for vulnerable families and one-off payments for foster and kinship carers is very welcome.
“Frontline residential care staff have been some of the heroes of our organisation and it is fantastic to see the government providing additional support for these essential service providers. They always put the wellbeing of young people first and foremost, and that hasn’t changed despite the unprecedented times we are in.
“The Home Stretch initiative for those in state care is being extended for 200 young people who are turning 18 this year and would otherwise have been pushed out of the care system. This decision will make a massive difference in their lives, as they would otherwise have faced the threats of unemployment and homelessness in the middle of a health emergency.
“Victoria is effectively leading the country by being the first state or territory to introduce support to extend state care until the end of 2020 as an interim measure to support at-risk young people.”
