- 150 young people have now been supported by the
flagship Home Stretch program in WA - Program supports eligible young people leaving
care from 18 years old until the age of 21 - Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations
announced to deliver Home Stretch services in Kimberley and the Pilbara
The
State Government’s flagship Home Stretch Western Australia program, which was an
important election commitment, has reached a major milestone having supported
150 young people leaving care in WA.
The
$37.2 million program supports young people leaving the child protection system
with access to support up until the age of 21, as they move towards
independence.
Assistance
provided through the program includes help with obtaining safe and stable
accommodation and supports tailored to the young person’s needs across
enrolling in further education, re-engaging with health services, improving
financial skills, connecting to voluntary work opportunities and identifying
where to access support in the local community.
The
program also supports carers of the young people who continue living with them,
with financial payments to cover expenses such as food, accommodation and
utilities.
The
milestone comes as six Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) have
been announced to deliver Home Stretch WA services across the Kimberley and
Pilbara regions.
The
following ACCOs have been appointed:
- MG Corporation (Kimberley region – Kununurra and
Wyndham); - Jungarni Jutiya (Kimberley region – Halls Creek);
- Broome Youth & Families Hub (Kimberley
region – Broome and Derby); - Marra Worra Worra (Kimberley region – Fitzroy
Crossing) - Bloodwood Tree Association (Pilbara
region – Port Hedland, Marble Bar, Warralong, Yandeyarra and Newman); and - Robe River Kuruma (Pilbara region – Karratha,
Roebourne and Wickham).
Appointing
these ACCOs to deliver Home Stretch WA across regional northern WA will allow
place-based localised services to be delivered to young people in the regions leaving
care.
Other
service providers involved in delivering the program include Yorganop Association,
Salvation Army, Wanslea and Mission Australia who deliver the program in the
metropolitan area, South-West and the Great Southern.
Anglicare
WA continues to support all Home Stretch WA providers delivering the program
through a Community of Practice.
Comments attributed to Child Protection
Minister Sabine Winton:
“What an amazing milestone this is, with 150
young people having now been supported as part of this flagship program.
“Many of these young people have overcome
major obstacles and trauma in their life, so to be able to support them for a
few extra years after they leave the Department of Communities’ care and
provide them with financial and other assistance as they move to independence
is so important.
“It’s also exciting to be able to announce six
well-established Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to deliver the
program up in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions, who will be able to provide
localised and targeted support to young people leaving care.”
Comments attributed to Kimberley MLA Divina
D’Anna:
“It’s great that we have locally-led
services to deliver this program for our young people in the Kimberley as they
turn 18 and transition out of care.
“I look forward to seeing what MG
Corporation, Jungarni Jutiya, Broome Youth & Families Hub, and Marra
Worra Worra achieve in supporting young people who participate in the Home
Stretch program.”
Comments attributed to Pilbara MLA Kevin
Michel:
“I’m really pleased to see that the
successful Home Stretch program is being expanded to our Pilbara region.
“I welcome the decision to appoint Bloodwood
Tree Association and Robe River Kuruma, two well-established local
organisations, to lead this important service in our region and help set up
young people for a bright future.”