Future looking brighter for young Victorians in State care

Victoria’s leading youth homelessness service, Melbourne City Mission (MCM), has welcomed today’s announcement by the State Government that it will extend support for young people in the state care system, by increasing the Leaving Care age to 21.

From the first half of 2019, young Victorians in foster care and other types of Out-of-Home Care will have the option to stay in care for another three years beyond 18.

MCM CEO Vicki Sutton stated that "Offering an extra three years of support will create the conditions for young people in care to confidently step into adulthood. An extra three years will give them plenty of time – at the right time – to develop skills for independent living, complete education or training, and forge a pathway to employment in a supported environment."

"At the moment, we have too many care leavers who are not ready to make the transition to independent living, who exit from the care system into homelessness."

"More than 20 per cent of young people presenting at MCM’s Frontyard – the Statewide intake point for young people aged 12 to 25 seeking homelessness assistance – disclose that they have come from the care system."

"Extending the leaving care age would be a significant game-changer and we congratulate the Victorian Government and Minister Jenny Mikakos. Making it 21 years will make a significant dent in the rate of youth homelessness in Victoria" said Ms Sutton.

MCM strongly believes that the three years of additional support will create the conditions needed for young people leaving care to confidently step into adulthood – to address past trauma, develop livings skills necessary to become independent, complete their education and training and commence gaining employment experience.

It is also about young people being connected to the community, links to supports and about not being disconnected from the people that are caring for them.

These are things that every young person needs to successfully become a motivated and self-sustaining adult in our community.

Available for media interviews
Ms Vicki Sutton, CEO, Melbourne City Mission
Mr Wayne Merritt, General Manager – Homelessness Justice Division

About Melbourne City Mission (MCM)
Established in 1854, Melbourne City Mission (MCM) is Melbourne’s oldest charity. It is a leader and innovator in the provision of services to the community that works with some of Melbourne’s and Victoria’s most vulnerable individuals, families and communities. Together with its Frontyard service in Melbourne’s CBD, it is Victoria’s largest Youth Homelessness Service provider supporting more than 2,000 young people each year experiencing or at risk of homelessness.