Wednesday, 4 October 2023

Ministers statements: foster and kinship carers

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:10): I rise to update the house on the annual Kinship Care Week and Foster Care Week held during September. The Victorian government values and celebrates the role of our kinship, foster and permanent carers each and every day of the year, but Kinship Care Week and Foster Care Week provide an opportunity to especially acknowledge and celebrate our carers and the vital role they carry out in our community in caring for children and for young people.

Kinship and foster carers as well as permanent carers open up their hearts and their homes to our children and young people. On any given day across our state there are about 7300 children and young people cared for by kinship carers and around 1500 children and young people cared for by foster carers. Our carers are a critical part of our community. They offer care and support. They share certainty and security with vulnerable children, and this is vital. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the incredible commitment and service of our kinship, foster and permanent carers. It is seen, it is valued and it is celebrated.

I would also like to acknowledge Leonie Patterson, who was awarded the Victorian government’s 2023 Victorian Protecting Children Awards Carer Award. Over the course of 38 years as a foster carer Leonie has provided a nurturing, stable and safe home for a staggering 357 children. Her story and those of the children she has helped, assisted and provided a home for are truly remarkable. Leonie is a remarkable woman.

The Victorian government is proud to support carers, including through the care support help desk, which helps carers access important documentation and assistance. Since the care support help desk was launched in October last year there have been more than 2600 calls from carers across the state. The assistance provided has supported almost 1900 children and young people living in care. We also support the Carer Kafe program, which provides a range of online and in-person learning and development opportunities for carers. I would also like to acknowledge Kinship Carers Victoria and the Foster Care Association of Victoria for the important work that they do to support carers and advocate on their behalf.