Thursday, 13 August 2026

 Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:38): I rise to update the house on how the Carroll Labor government continues to back residential care workers and the young people that they support. Last week I attended ResiROCKS, the annual residential care forum organised by the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare. I was thrilled to present the Residential Care Awards with the centre’s new CEO Jamie Crosby to carers who go above and beyond in their work with young people, like Michael Cameron from Child and Family Services Ballarat, who received the Hall of Fame Award. Michael has made a lasting and positive impact over more than 12 years working in residential care. His consistent work has strengthened therapeutic and relationship-based approaches, particularly for young people experiencing high levels of vulnerability and disengagement. Michael’s contribution reflects a career dedicated to connection, dignity and better outcomes for young people who have experienced significant adversity. Residential carers like Michael are crucial in our work to support young people in care to thrive.

The Carroll Labor government values the role of residential care workers. In our time in government we have committed record investment to ensure a therapeutic model of care across all residential care homes. We have invested in ongoing funding for more two- and three-bed therapeutic residential care homes. We have expanded the department’s sexual exploitation practice leads across the state to prevent and address child sexual exploitation. We are funding comprehensive health assessments and plans for when young people enter care, and when young people in care are struggling with school we have invested in one-on-one tutoring support. We are also delivering HousingFirst housing and wraparound support for young people who are leaving residential care.

We value and celebrate the dedicated frontline workers who support Victoria’s most at-risk children each and every day in our residential care settings. While residential care may not always be our first care preference – we do preference kinship care first, and indeed we have the highest kinship care and the lowest residential care in the country – it is a necessary and integral part of our system. What those opposite need to explain – I certainly did not see them at the ResiROCKS celebration of these critical workers – is how their $40 billion in cuts will impact on child safety in residential care.