The FCAV strongly believes that preparation and support for young people leaving care is essential for their transition to independence and that foster carers are intrinsic to a young person’s successful transition from home-based care. This fact sheet is designed to assist carers and young people navigating their leaving care pathways.
Eligibility for Services: Leaving Care services are specifically for any young person aged 16 to 21 years who has been subject to a Victorian Custody or Guardianship Order on or after their 16th birthday. Support is available to those young people transitioning from care or who have left care and subsequently need support. DFFH has the following Leaving Care programs:
Better Futures
Home Stretch
COMPASS
Transition planning
Leaving care hotline
To be eligible for Better Futures support, a young person must be in kinship care, foster care, residential care, or permanent care on or after their 16th birthday and on a Care by Secretary Order, Long-Term Care Order, Family Reunification Order, or Permanent Care Order.
A young person’s case manager will refer them to Better Futures when they are 15 years and 9 months old. The Better Futures worker is available to help a young person transition from care, when their Child Protection Order finishes, up until 21 years of age.
For more information: Better Futures - DFFH Services
All young people on a Family Reunification Order, a Care by Secretary Order, or a Long-Term Care Order, and living in out of home care, can access the Home Stretch program from 16 years of age. They will be able to remain with their foster carer or kinship carer or transition to other housing options (for example, private rental), supported through an allowance, case work and flexible funding.
Through Home Stretch a young person can stay with their kinship, foster, or permanent carer until they turn 21 years of age – naturally, their carer would need to agree with this plan. Carers can access an allowance to help support the young person during this time.
Young people subject to a Permanent Care Order are also eligible for the Home Stretch program from 18 years of age, with a choice to remain with their carers or to transition to other housing options, supported through an allowance, case work and flexible funding.
For more information: Home stretch - DFFH Services
COMPASS is a leaving care program for young people (aged 16.5 to 18.5 years upon entry) who are living in or have recently left out of home care. The program provides different levels of housing according to need. Some young people will continue to live with their foster of kinship carers, while others will require COMPASS housing.
For more information: Compass Leaving Care: Support for Care Leavers Victoria
From 15 years and 9 months of age, young people will participate in the development of a 15 plus Care and Transition plan. This plan will include supports needed to help the transition from out-of-home care into independence.
TILA is a one-off payment from the Australian Government to help young people who are leaving out-of-home care, providing a contribution of up to $1,500 towards the costs involved in moving to independent living. TILA is available to applicants who:
are 15 to 25 years old.
are leaving, or have already left, formal out-of-home care.
have decided to stay on at home with their carers after a care order expires.
For more information: TILA I Transition to Independent Living Allowance | Melbourne City Mission (mcm.org.au)
The Leaving Care Hotline provides information about:
finding accommodation or staying in existing accommodation.
staying in education or returning to studying.
looking for a job or applying for on the job (vocational) training, keeping a current job.
re-connecting with family.
financial help to maintain independence if you have already left state care.
linking with other support services.
The hotline is managed by Melbourne City Mission on 1300 532 846 or leavingcare@mcm.org.au
SORTLI ('sort out your life') is a fun, informative and easy-to-navigate, free mobile app to assist young people to transition to independence. The SORTLI app is available from iTunes (iOS) and google play store (android).
This is a resource for young people aged 15 years and above who are starting to plan for their transition to adulthood and independence. The kit is filled with resources and information to assist the planning process and provide caseworkers, young people, and carers with the information they need to plan for a successful transition.
Go Your Own Way Info Kit - CREATE Your Future
Further Support Information is available at Support services for young people leaving care - DFFH Services
