Launched in October 2019, Strong carers, stronger children details Victoria's strategy to better support kinship, foster and permanent carers to drive improved outcomes for children and young people in care.
Strong carers, stronger children commits to:
- Maintaining children and young people’s connection to family where possible, and finding appropriate care arrangements
- Ensuring carers are adequately prepared to support the children they care for
- Ensuring carers are well-informed, valued and empowered
- Providing relevant and timely training to enable carers to provide safe, stable, quality and culturally-connected care
- Enhancing and improving the supports and systems available to carers
- Facilitating long-term stability for children and young people in care.
View the Strong carers, stronger children strategy:
12-month action plan 2021–22
Strong carers, stronger children is being implemented over five years through a series of action plans developed in consultation with the sector.
Strong carers, stronger children: 12-month action plan 2021–22:
- includes actions across six goal areas
- includes new and existing initiatives and actions that contribute to better outcomes for carers, children and families
- highlights innovation, best practice and commitment across the community, sector and government
- lays the foundations for subsequent action plans.
View the 12-month action plan 2021-22
- Strong carers, stronger children: 12-month action plan 2021–22 (PDF)
- Strong carers, stronger children: 12-month action plan 2021–22 - accessible (Word)
Home-based carer census
Victoria’s first home-based carer census collected baseline demographic and attitudinal data for Victorian foster, kinship and permanent carers.
The home-based carer census aims to understand the needs and experiences of Victoria’s carers so we can improve policy and services for carers, children and young people.
1,788 home-based carers took part in the carer census in 2020, providing important insights into carer needs.
Researchers can access the census aggregate data sets by contacting the Quality Improvement System Reform branch at qisr@dffh.vic.gov.au.
- Carer census report accessible (Word)
- Carer census report (PDF)
- Carer census survey (Word)
- Carer census infographics (PDF)
- Carer census infographics (Word)
For more information on kinship care, foster care and permanent care, see Children in care page on the Services website.
For more information on reforms underway in the children and families services system, see Roadmap for Reform.