Wednesday, 4 August 2021

Ministers statements: Kids Under Cover

Ms HUTCHINS (Sydenham—Minister for Crime Prevention, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (14:19): I rise to update the house on how this government is providing additional safe homes for vulnerable young Victorians thanks to 45 new portable studios being delivered through Kids Under Cover for vulnerable kids. This will bring our total investment over the last two years to $6.5 million and a total of 95 units. Young people are sadly overrepresented in Victoria’s homelessness statistics. My colleague the member for Richmond knows too well that 15 per cent of young people accessing homelessness services were aged between 15 and 24 in the year 2019–20. We know that homelessness can profoundly affect a person’s mental and physical health and their education and employment opportunities, and clearly a safe and secure home is critical to helping at-risk young people keep their lives on track.

Through Kids Under Cover we are providing one- and two-bedroom studios at the home of the young person’s family or their legal guardian’s place. The studios can give young people a secure and stable place to live while remaining in contact and in touch with their families. So far young people in Sebastopol, Robinvale, Craigieburn, Cobram, Mill Park and Yarrawonga have received a relocatable studio, with more to be provided in Mildura, Heidelberg Heights, Corio, Bulleen, Sale, Churchill and many more places across the state. These investments come with the backing of scholarship funding for textbooks, school activities and travel costs to support these kids staying connected to either education or training. This government is absolutely committed to providing wraparound services to vulnerable kids. It is our best shot at keeping these kids out of the criminal justice system. A safe, secure home is really vital for that task, and I look forward to working with Kids Under Cover to address this critical issue.