Wednesday, 18 June 2025

Ministers statements: child protection

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:05): I rise to update the house on the recently refreshed ministerial youth advisory group, known as MYAG, which I co-chair alongside one of the appointed members. Since 2019 MYAG has given invaluable advice to the minister of the day about what works well and what can be done better within the child protection and care systems. MYAG members have current or recent experience living in our care systems. Members of MYAG reflect the diversity of the community and have experience of all care types – kinship, foster, permanent and residential. The lived experience of MYAG members is vital in providing insight to me in my role and to our government as a whole in our work to care for children and young people who cannot live with their family.

As well as the regular meetings, MYAG also has a strong development platform from which members are able to participate in other forums and opportunities. I also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the commitment and contribution of all previous MYAG members who have been a part of MYAG since 2019. I want to particularly acknowledge the outgoing co-chair for her leadership, insights and stewardship of MYAG since 2019. She has been widely recognised for her leadership and mentorship of other young people. Over these years MYAG members have provided input into many reforms and investments of this government. The Better Futures and Home Stretch reforms stand out as highlights. Our government’s record investment in the 2023–24 state budget – $548 million to ensure all young people have access to therapeutic supports in residential care – was directly informed by the experiences of the young people on MYAG.

In 2022 MYAG received the Child and Youth Empowerment Award at the Victorian Protecting Children Awards. MYAG continues to be an important platform through which young people with lived experience of the Victorian child protection and care systems have a direct voice to the Victorian government about their experiences. I am committed to the value and importance of MYAG, and I look forward to meeting with the group again next month.