Carers are already volunteering their hearts and homes to provide care to young people who need them and the allowance rate is falling in real value by the month, forcing carers to pay out of pocket on essentials like food, bills and services because they will not let the children in their care go without.
Despite years of advocacy by carers and peak bodies, as well as a KPMG report on the Allowance that the Government has kept cabinet-in-confidence which provides evidence of the shortfall, carers are still bearing the true costs of care. Read the Campaign Update here for full progress, challenges and next steps.
View the rates comparison across other states to see that Victoria has the lowest Care Allowance rate for foster, kinship and permanent care in Australia. We ask the Government to increase the care allowance to meet parity with the rates in NSW and other neighbouring states, as outlined in our letter to ministers Treasurer Pallas and Minister Blandthorn and indexation that keeps pace with the cost of living. The Care Allowance was only indexed by around 2% in the last two years, when household inflation was over 6% and 7% consecutively with the consequence that the already low Care Allowance has declined in real value.
We invite you to add your name to this petition to show that we’re not alone in expecting better for carers and the children and young people in their care.
As well as signing the petition below, please use this draft Letter to your MP - to contact your local MP to seek their support to carers and the campaign. Adapt this letter as described, adding your own perspective as you see fit, save to your pc, and attach to an email to your local MP - find the email address of your local MP here: https://new.parliament.vic.gov.au/contacting-members
Your submission will be sent to decision makers and we will keep you updated on progress of this action. We intend to keep the petition open until the end of December 2023 or until a commitment is made by the Victorian Government to increase the care allowance.
Submission to this petition will include your name and statements only. No contact or other information will be shared with any other party.
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