The Victorian foster care system has given me so much, but far too many vulnerable children in our state are denied similar opportunities, writes Matthew Bach.
We’ve read the news reports about record deaths of children in care, shocking rates of sexual abuse and, as we’re currently hearing at the , appalling and growing Indigenous over-representation.
Commissioners have said the system is “broken” and “fatally flawed”.
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All of this very bad news breeds an understandable cynicism: the care system is so complex, and the children within it so traumatised, that dysfunction, abuse and criminality are the inevitable outcomes.
I owe so much to our foster care system, but far too many vulnerable children are denied similar opportunities, writes Victorian Shadow Minister for Education Matthew Bach. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw
Well, let me beg to differ.
Let me put forward a very different narrative, that state care can be an amazing force for good and social advancement.
I know a thing or two about it as I was born into care – here in Victoria – in 1983, under a Labor Government.
That Government had its financial problems, like today’s.
But to be fair to Premiers John Cain and Joan Kirner, they cared deeply about children whose families could no longer look after them.
When I was a baby my biological parents – both beautiful people – concluded that they were not in a position to care for me.
They made the selfless decision to place me into care.
I went first into foster care, and then into a long-term placement with a wonderful family.
This family, my family, then set about adopting me.
They called me Matthew because it means “gift from God”.
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No parents have loved their biological children better than my parents have always loved me.
Let’s be clear, there’s nothing special about me.
Every single child with experiences of the care system deserves such love.
Pardon my religiosity, but everyone is a gift from God.
Ultimately, it’s only because of my care experience that I’ve been given so many amazing opportunities – including a wonderful state primary education, then a secondary education at Melbourne Grammar School, courtesy of a 90 per cent fee reduction (because almost everyone is desperate to give kids who’ve experienced care a fair go).
When I first stood for Parliament, I confess, I was nervous about how people would react when they found out I’d started life in care: the biological son of a young immigrant and his girlfriend.
Yet the only feedback I received was totally positive.
Victoria isn’t perfect.
However, in my personal experience, Victorians love giving different people a shot.
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But I’m afraid it’s here that the positivity has to end.
You see, my story is rarely replicated today.
Today, vulnerable children are all-too-often denied similar opportunities because of Victoria’s broken child protection system.
Here’s what’s going down right now.
The independent Children’s Commissioner reports that record numbers of vulnerable children are dying in the care of the state.
Indigenous over-representation has hit an all-time high: one in nine Aboriginal babies are removed by the Government, easily the worst rate in the country.
And while in care the most traumatised children in society are targeted by paedophiles and subjected to violence, even rape.
Just a few weeks ago the Children’s Commissioner shared shocking new information about how many children are abused in care.
She said: “In the lead up to next month’s State Budget, we are sharing this data to make clear the continuing consequences of under-investment”.
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There’s been underinvestment in foster care.
Look, I’m biased.
But as a foster-care baby I think carers are angels. These volunteers do amazing work. They are the very best of us.
Yet in Victoria carers are leaving in their droves as the allowance they receive falls way short of even covering essentials like school uniforms and the doctor’s bill.
It hasn’t been raised for over six years, even as the cost of living has skyrocketed.
Unsurprisingly, an independent review by consultants at KPMG has recommended lifting the allowance by over 60 per cent.
There’s also been chronic underinvestment in early care for families who are vulnerable.
Evidence shows that models including structured counselling can keep many kids out of the care system and safely at home, saving millions in the process.
These models work best, experts say, for Indigenous families.
These sorts of targeted investments will actually save us money – not tomorrow, but in the very near future.
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Because if you can keep kids out of child protection and with loving families, either biological or foster, you radically improve their chances of contributing to society.
Loving families give children the care and skills they need to thrive, not Governments.
So, we also need to talk about adoption.
Most of the 10,000 children in care tonight can be safely reunited with their biological families.
Most, but not all.
And there are so many amazing families out there who want to adopt.
Yet last year only 14 children were adopted in Victoria.
There are even greater barriers for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Since adoption equality became law in 2016, the Government reports that “fewer than five” children have been adopted by same-sex couples who – obviously – face hurdles heterosexual couples don’t when seeking to start a family.
The challenges are huge, admittedly.
Yet the opportunities are similarly so.
With focus, reform and investment many of today’s vulnerable children may – like me – come to thank their lucky stars for our care system.
Matthew Bach is the Victorian Liberal Member for Eastern Metropolitan Region and the Shadow Minister for Child Protection and Youth Justice.