Tuesday, 15 October 2019

In reply to  Ms BATH (Eastern Victoria) (11 September 2019)

Mr DONNELLAN (Narre Warren North—Minister for Child Protection, Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers):

I thank the Member for her comments and for highlighting the critical role foster and kinship carers play in our community.

The Victorian Ombudsman made seven recommendations to the state government following its own motion investigation into financial supports to kinship carers—and all were accepted in principle.

The Andrews Labor government has committed to getting it done. We have implemented six of the seven recommendations and have made significant progress towards implementing the final recommendation.

I can assure the parliament, and Ms Heather Baird from A Better Life for Foster Kids, that our government is committed to improving the lives of vulnerable Victorian children and young people in out of home care, including kinship care.

In the 2019-20 State Budget, we committed to ongoing funding for the new model of kinship care, investing $106.1 million over four years in addition to $10.1 million to continue the Aboriginal kinship finding service.

The new kinship model is enhancing placement quality, stability and support for children and their kinship carers. It includes identifying potential kinship carers earlier, strengthening community connections for Aboriginal Children, dedicated kinship care workers to support the placements, and delivering better and more flexible support that sustains these carer arrangements.

As part of the kinship model, the First Supports program is providing active support, comprehensive assessments of child, carer and placement needs and flexible brokerage (average of $1000 per family) to kinship households to purchase items to assist in maintaining stability of the kinship care arrangement. The First Supports program is delivered by community service organisations and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.

I will ensure Ms Baird is updated on our substantial progress against the Victorian Ombudsman’s recommendations.