❓ Mrs. Marshall asks about the expansion of the Home Stretch program and its impact on young people transitioning from care. The Minister details the program's support services and highlights its positive impact with an example.
AnsweredQoN 347Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CHILDREN
IN CARE — HOME STRETCH PROGRAM
347. Mrs M.R. MARSHALL to the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's Home Stretch
program, which supports young people in care.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how the recent $46.3 million expansion of the
program will support more young people as they move towards independence?
(2) Can the minister advise the house what this boost will
mean for young people in our community?
IN CARE — HOME STRETCH PROGRAM
347. Mrs M.R. MARSHALL to the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's Home Stretch
program, which supports young people in care.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how the recent $46.3 million expansion of the
program will support more young people as they move towards independence?
(2) Can the minister advise the house what this boost will
mean for young people in our community?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
I thank the member for her question and for her strong advocacy in support of
vulnerable young people in her community. Members would know that leaving home
can be a pretty scary exercise for any young person who is 18 years old. We
know that 18-year-olds who had a tough start to life and are in the care system
find that even more challenging. That is why in 2021, members right remember,
WA Labor made a commitment to back those young people through funding a program
called Home Stretch with some $37.2 million, whereby we would provide support
for young people leaving care until the age of 21. I am happy to say that we
have delivered on that commitment and we now have service providers right
around the state backing in those young people leaving care, providing
much-needed support. That support can come in many different ways. I will talk
about that in a moment. It provides young people with a variety of options and
supports when they choose to leave care. They can have a trusted support
person, a mentor, to help them navigate what is a challenging time for an
18-year-old, supporting them through things like accommodation and housing,
education and health services, financial literacy, life skills, employment,
and, importantly, to stay connected to culture. As well as all those supports,
young people receive $2 500 in Invest in Me funding annually, allowing them to
get housing and other support that they need and providing an important safety
net.
As part of the Home Stretch
program, some young people choose to make their way independently, but Home
Stretch continues to provide financial support for foster carers who want to
continue to support those people beyond the age of 18. That is really
important, particularly with the cost-of-living pressures that we know are
faced by people throughout the community. We are backing foster carers to
ensure that they can continue to support those young people.
Members will be happy to know that
in this year's budget, we are backing Home Stretch even further with an
additional $46.3 million, which will make sure that every single young person
will have access to this much-needed program when they leave care at the age of
18. We know it is making a difference each and every day to young people's
lives.
I will share one particular
example. I have met many, many young people who are benefiting from this
program, which continues to provide them with support as they transfer into
adulthood. This young Aboriginal man had a transition coach from one of the
Aboriginal community–controlled organisations that is helping us
deliver Home Stretch. He had previously struggled to connect with other supports
and services and felt stuck. We know that it can be quite a minefield trying to
find the supports and services that are available, and that is what Home
Stretch is about—having someone walk alongside these young people to
provide that support. The young man's relationship with his transition
coach allowed him to start thinking about his future, set goals and,
importantly, achieve goals. He stated that he became unstuck. He has obtained his driver's licence,
engaged with employment opportunities, joined a footy team, accessed counselling, created a budget and organised direct
pavements to help him manage his finances, and secured independent
housing.
These stories are happening each
and every day through the flagship Home Stretch program introduced by the Western
Australian Labor government. I am very pleased that in this budget, through
some $46 million, we will continue to deliver for young people who are starting
their journey into adulthood so that they can be the best they can be.
I thank the member for her question and for her strong advocacy in support of
vulnerable young people in her community. Members would know that leaving home
can be a pretty scary exercise for any young person who is 18 years old. We
know that 18-year-olds who had a tough start to life and are in the care system
find that even more challenging. That is why in 2021, members right remember,
WA Labor made a commitment to back those young people through funding a program
called Home Stretch with some $37.2 million, whereby we would provide support
for young people leaving care until the age of 21. I am happy to say that we
have delivered on that commitment and we now have service providers right
around the state backing in those young people leaving care, providing
much-needed support. That support can come in many different ways. I will talk
about that in a moment. It provides young people with a variety of options and
supports when they choose to leave care. They can have a trusted support
person, a mentor, to help them navigate what is a challenging time for an
18-year-old, supporting them through things like accommodation and housing,
education and health services, financial literacy, life skills, employment,
and, importantly, to stay connected to culture. As well as all those supports,
young people receive $2 500 in Invest in Me funding annually, allowing them to
get housing and other support that they need and providing an important safety
net.
As part of the Home Stretch
program, some young people choose to make their way independently, but Home
Stretch continues to provide financial support for foster carers who want to
continue to support those people beyond the age of 18. That is really
important, particularly with the cost-of-living pressures that we know are
faced by people throughout the community. We are backing foster carers to
ensure that they can continue to support those young people.
Members will be happy to know that
in this year's budget, we are backing Home Stretch even further with an
additional $46.3 million, which will make sure that every single young person
will have access to this much-needed program when they leave care at the age of
18. We know it is making a difference each and every day to young people's
lives.
I will share one particular
example. I have met many, many young people who are benefiting from this
program, which continues to provide them with support as they transfer into
adulthood. This young Aboriginal man had a transition coach from one of the
Aboriginal community–controlled organisations that is helping us
deliver Home Stretch. He had previously struggled to connect with other supports
and services and felt stuck. We know that it can be quite a minefield trying to
find the supports and services that are available, and that is what Home
Stretch is about—having someone walk alongside these young people to
provide that support. The young man's relationship with his transition
coach allowed him to start thinking about his future, set goals and,
importantly, achieve goals. He stated that he became unstuck. He has obtained his driver's licence,
engaged with employment opportunities, joined a footy team, accessed counselling, created a budget and organised direct
pavements to help him manage his finances, and secured independent
housing.
These stories are happening each
and every day through the flagship Home Stretch program introduced by the Western
Australian Labor government. I am very pleased that in this budget, through
some $46 million, we will continue to deliver for young people who are starting
their journey into adulthood so that they can be the best they can be.
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