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The Victorian Government has provided funding to support young people on a permanent care order who turn 15 years and 9 months after 1 July 2021 to get the support they need as they get older and become independent.
Better futures can support young people with:
| Development Coach | Information and Advice | Flexible Funding to achieve your goals |
| Support to access employment | Housing | Support with driving lessons and getting your licence |
| Support to explore independent living | Health and wellbeing | School related items such as books, laptop and uniform |
| Support to apply for TAFE/university courses | Community and cultural connections | Learn new skills (eg managing money, cooking) |
| Assistance to apply for Centrelink | Employment | Support recreational/sporting interests (memberships/equipment) |
| Education |
Better Futures also offers Home Stretch, which supports young people to remain living with you after 18 or to move to other housing, like private rental. This support is available until 21 years of age via payment of an allowance.
To be eligible for Better Futures support you will be
Young persons will be eligible for these programs until they are 21, so even if they don’t think they need help now, we recommend they still make contact with us. Their circumstances may change and they may not have thought of some of the support that might be available to them.
It is critical that young persons make contact with PCA Familes about this program before they turn 18, where some services may no longer be made available to them (like the Homestretch allowance).
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Young persons will receive a letter indicating they may be eligible for Better Futures as they are approaching 15 years and 9 months of age. Where PCA Families has information that indicates you may be eligible we will attempt to contact you via phone, email or letter to determine if you want a referral to Better Futures support. |
We know that some of your past experiences may make you reluctant to engage with the Better Futures providers. We encourage parents/cares to talk with young persons about the benefits of at least engaging to find out what the program is and what it might offer, so informed decisions can be made.
Once we have confirmed your eligibility, and you consent to referral for Better Futures services, PCA Families will connect you with a Better Futures provider. Better Futures and Homestretch are delivered by community service organisations and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations across the state.
The best way to contact PCA Families about Better Futures and Home Stretch is to book a consultation with an advisor by clicking the button below (45 minute consultation).
Better Futures Advisor Consultation - Book a 45 minute consultation to discuss the Better Futures program (preferred)
T: 03 9020 1833 - choose option 2
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The Victorian Government offer advice to young people to assist you when you decide its time to start planning towards moving out from your parents or carers homes. The key to optimal success is preparation: having a planned and supported transition to independent living, involvement in all decision making and a detailed support plan for ongoing support! |
There are resources to support you through this process and it is critical that you find out what those resources are that may be available to you (whether immediately or in your future).
For more information about Better Futures or Home Stretch please visit DFFH here or to find out more about what is available to you when leaving care see here.
Is Better Futures aiming to have my young person leave home at 18?
No. The purpose of Better Futures is to help your young person transition to independence. What that looks like will differ for each young person. The purpose is NOT to transition them out of home at 18, unless that is what your young person wants. As you are aware the DFFH care allowance for young people on permanent care orders ceases at 18. If your young person wants to continue living with you until 21, Better Futures will effectively continue the care allowance until then.
As noted above, Better Futures provides so much more than a financial allowance to help them transition to independence, so it is very important that they are engaged early in conversations about what support they can receive.
Is Better Futures available for young people who are adopted or on Family Court Parenting Orders?
Better Futures is not currently available to those young people who are adopted or on Family Court Parenting Orders. PCA Families will be advocating for change in this area, so if you are able to provide case studies to help us, then please let us know via the member input/feedback form.
If you are receiving a DFFH care allowance please consider your young person’s eligibility for the Federal Transition to Independent Living Allowance (TILA)
