Home Stretch Welcomes Liberal Announcement For Vulnerable Youth

Media

Victorian Liberals announce extension of care to age 21 if elected.
Home Stretch call on Andrews Labor Government to commit to legislate extension of care and provide funding for implementation before state election.

The Home Stretch campaign welcomes the announcement at the 2018 VCOSS Good Life Summit by Opposition Leader Matthew Guy that, if elected in the Victorian state election, his government would extend the age of out of home care from 18 to 21.

In a joint press release issued by Matthew Guy and Georgie Crozier, the Liberal Nationals Government said they “will pilot the Home Stretch program and provide funding for 75 places per year over two years for young people transitioning from state care.”

Home Stretch Chair Paul McDonald congratulated Guy on this significant and positive step forward. “This reform will have a positive impact of our most vulnerable young people in our state. It will change the futures of these young people for the better, ensuring they don’t become another youth justice, unemployment or homelessness statistic.”

Victorian Co-Chair Deb Tsorbaris saw the announcement as a win for the sector. “The sector supports this important reform and welcomes the opportunity to work to ensure no child is left behind.”

Home Stretch is now calling on the Andrews Labor Government to legislate and fund the extension of care to age 21 in Victoria.

“There are few social reforms that have had the universal social and economic outcomes for a government that extending care does. The social and economic outcomes when a government extends care to 21 years are remarkable for young people and for the state. This should be a bipartisan no brainer as seen in the recent Tasmanian election and we call upon the Andrews government to announce this much needed reform on behalf of the children under his government’s care”, Mr McDonald said.

#Ends

www.thehomestretch.org.au
Paul McDonald and Deb Tsorbaris are available for comment.
Further enquiries contact: Irina Stojcevska
Tel: 0403 673 503
Email: Irina.Stojcevska@thehomestretch.org.au

Sign The Pledge

Every child deserves to be supported into adulthood – extending out of home care until the age of 21 will give thousands of young people the additional guidance they need to have a real shot at life.

We will not share your information with any 3rd party entities.
Find out more by reading our privacy policy.