❓ Minister provides an update on the Home Stretch program, highlighting its impact on young people leaving care, the support provided, and the expansion to include Aboriginal community-controlled organisations. The program has supported 150 young people to date.
AnsweredQoN 421Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CHILDREN
IN CARE — HOME STRETCH PROGRAM
421. Dr K. STRATTON to the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the WA Labor government's
election commitment to extend support for young people leaving care through to the age of 21 years. Can the minister
update the house on the impacts of the government's Home Stretch
program , including how many young people this life-changing program has
supported to date; and can the minister advise the house of how this program
supports young people moving towards independence to reach their full
potential?
IN CARE — HOME STRETCH PROGRAM
421. Dr K. STRATTON to the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the WA Labor government's
election commitment to extend support for young people leaving care through to the age of 21 years. Can the minister
update the house on the impacts of the government's Home Stretch
program , including how many young people this life-changing program has
supported to date; and can the minister advise the house of how this program
supports young people moving towards independence to reach their full
potential?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for
Nedlands for the question. I acknowledge and put on the record not only her
strong advocacy in the community sector space, but also her knowledge
and the impact she is having on government policy.
Home Stretch is a really important initiative and flagship
program for the WA Labor government, and I am very proud that this election
commitment was one that we took to the people in 2021. Our government is
investing some $37.2 million to deliver this important program. The significant
difference it is making to young people's lives is quite incredible and
it has been a great privilege since becoming Minister for Child Protection to
actually talk in person with the young people for whom this Home Stretch
program is making a quite extraordinary difference.
Earlier in the week it was great to have the opportunity to
speak to a young man whose life has been positively impacted by Home Stretch,
and this morning it was my great pleasure to be at the Department of
Communities in Fremantle as we held a morning tea to celebrate a huge milestone
for the program—that 150 young people have now been supported as part of this program. As members know, this
program supports young people when they leave care, usually at the age of 18, but they are now being supported in a very
significant way until the age of 21. Assistance can include financial
support; mentoring; helping find accommodation; enrolling in educational
institutions; re-engaging with health services; improving financial skills; and
connecting with voluntary work opportunities. The program can offer young
people access to a transition coach, a staying-on subsidy, housing allowances
and the Invest in Me fund. These will provide a financial safety net to support
young people in achieving their goals. Importantly,
Home Stretch will also ensure that the carers who support these young people
are supported financially , to keep
supporting those young people beyond the age of 18 and to help cover expenses
such as food, accommodation and utilities.
I mentioned that on Monday I met
with an extraordinary young man, Gerome, who is part of the Home Stretch
program. He was courageous and honest in sharing with me his life's
journey and experiences, and what Home Stretch has meant for him as he now
transitions to independence. What was also quite extraordinary about Gerome was that, in telling his story, he wanted
to make an impact on other young people and he wanted to give back and
provide the same opportunities for other young people. I really commend him for
his courage and motivation in wanting to help and support other young people
like him. During the morning tea I also had the opportunity to hear from many
other young people who have benefited from this program.
I
would also like to acknowledge my predecessor in the child protection
portfolio, Hon Simone McGurk, who has done an extraordinary job over six
years in getting this program to where it is today, when we can celebrate 150 young people whose lives have been influenced
significantly and in a positive way to be their best selves. I would also like to acknowledge the Home Stretch team in
the Department of Communities and the various service providers , including Anglicare WA, the Yorganop Association
Inc, the Salvation Army, Wanslea and Mission Australia. They all do an incredible
job in supporting and making Home Stretch a success.
Today we also announced that six
Aboriginal community-controlled organisations will now become part of the Home
Stretch program, which will allow the program to be delivered in the Pilbara—member
for Pilbara—and in the Kimberley.
These organisations are: the MG Corporation in Kununurra and Wyndham; Jungarni
Jutiya in Halls Creek; Broome Youth
and Families Hub in Broome; Marra Worra Aboriginal Corporation in Fitzroy
Crossing ; the Bloodwood Tree Association in Port Hedland; and Robe River
Kuruma Aboriginal Corporation in Karratha, Roebourne and Wickham.
Appointing
these ACCOs is really important, and shows how committed this government is to
supporting place-based solutions and services to deliver for young
people in the regions who are leaving care. I extend my congratulations to
these organisations on stepping up to be part of this program, and I look
forward to updating the house in the future
on how the Home Stretch program will continue to support young people leaving
care. Our young people a re our best asset in our communities, and Home
Stretch is absolutely helping young people to reach their potential and make
fantastic contributions in their lives.
Nedlands for the question. I acknowledge and put on the record not only her
strong advocacy in the community sector space, but also her knowledge
and the impact she is having on government policy.
Home Stretch is a really important initiative and flagship
program for the WA Labor government, and I am very proud that this election
commitment was one that we took to the people in 2021. Our government is
investing some $37.2 million to deliver this important program. The significant
difference it is making to young people's lives is quite incredible and
it has been a great privilege since becoming Minister for Child Protection to
actually talk in person with the young people for whom this Home Stretch
program is making a quite extraordinary difference.
Earlier in the week it was great to have the opportunity to
speak to a young man whose life has been positively impacted by Home Stretch,
and this morning it was my great pleasure to be at the Department of
Communities in Fremantle as we held a morning tea to celebrate a huge milestone
for the program—that 150 young people have now been supported as part of this program. As members know, this
program supports young people when they leave care, usually at the age of 18, but they are now being supported in a very
significant way until the age of 21. Assistance can include financial
support; mentoring; helping find accommodation; enrolling in educational
institutions; re-engaging with health services; improving financial skills; and
connecting with voluntary work opportunities. The program can offer young
people access to a transition coach, a staying-on subsidy, housing allowances
and the Invest in Me fund. These will provide a financial safety net to support
young people in achieving their goals. Importantly,
Home Stretch will also ensure that the carers who support these young people
are supported financially , to keep
supporting those young people beyond the age of 18 and to help cover expenses
such as food, accommodation and utilities.
I mentioned that on Monday I met
with an extraordinary young man, Gerome, who is part of the Home Stretch
program. He was courageous and honest in sharing with me his life's
journey and experiences, and what Home Stretch has meant for him as he now
transitions to independence. What was also quite extraordinary about Gerome was that, in telling his story, he wanted
to make an impact on other young people and he wanted to give back and
provide the same opportunities for other young people. I really commend him for
his courage and motivation in wanting to help and support other young people
like him. During the morning tea I also had the opportunity to hear from many
other young people who have benefited from this program.
I
would also like to acknowledge my predecessor in the child protection
portfolio, Hon Simone McGurk, who has done an extraordinary job over six
years in getting this program to where it is today, when we can celebrate 150 young people whose lives have been influenced
significantly and in a positive way to be their best selves. I would also like to acknowledge the Home Stretch team in
the Department of Communities and the various service providers , including Anglicare WA, the Yorganop Association
Inc, the Salvation Army, Wanslea and Mission Australia. They all do an incredible
job in supporting and making Home Stretch a success.
Today we also announced that six
Aboriginal community-controlled organisations will now become part of the Home
Stretch program, which will allow the program to be delivered in the Pilbara—member
for Pilbara—and in the Kimberley.
These organisations are: the MG Corporation in Kununurra and Wyndham; Jungarni
Jutiya in Halls Creek; Broome Youth
and Families Hub in Broome; Marra Worra Aboriginal Corporation in Fitzroy
Crossing ; the Bloodwood Tree Association in Port Hedland; and Robe River
Kuruma Aboriginal Corporation in Karratha, Roebourne and Wickham.
Appointing
these ACCOs is really important, and shows how committed this government is to
supporting place-based solutions and services to deliver for young
people in the regions who are leaving care. I extend my congratulations to
these organisations on stepping up to be part of this program, and I look
forward to updating the house in the future
on how the Home Stretch program will continue to support young people leaving
care. Our young people a re our best asset in our communities, and Home
Stretch is absolutely helping young people to reach their potential and make
fantastic contributions in their lives.
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