SOCIAL service providers in the Mallee have welcomed some aspects of this week’s Victorian Budget.
Mallee Family Care praised the $895 million allocation to the child and family services system for the next financial year.
Part of that, $548 million, will be available to residential care services.
About $33 million will go to support young people with complex needs after they leave residential care, providing ongoing support and access to housing.
Mallee Family Care chief executive Teresa Jayet said she was pleasantly surprised to see increased funding for some of the state’s most vulnerable children.
“I’m still getting into the detail, but in reviewing it there were a few surprises,” Ms Jayet said.
“One of the things we have been doing as an organisation is lobbying government in reviewing the issue around residential support for kids in and out of home care.
“The high-acuity role never has a lot of dollars attached to that type of service and it required a review 10 years ago, so to see that it has finally had a budget announcement is a really good investment to support these kids and young people.
“The budget has also recognised that many of the children and young people we work alongside are some of the state’s most vulnerable kids and with that also comes a lot of complexity.
“We take a holistic approach as we don’t work with children in isolation of their families. This budget has been a good investment into that care system for those kids.
“One thing we know is that if we can get in early they will have better life outcomes.
“If there was no action in this budget I would be fearful as to what the consequences could have been.
“The budget actually came good on investing in kids early. That is really critical.”
Mallee Accommodation and Support Program chief executive Vincent Wilson said the budget made “some reasonably significant funds available” for homelessness programs.
“We’re very, very pleased to see some significant additional investment in residential care and child protection,” Mr Wilson said.
However, he said the budget failed to provide investment in social and affordable housing, and did not lay out a clear plan to address demand in years ahead.
“Certainly in the housing space, it’s disappointing not to see anything there, and it continues to leave us in the limbo we’re in as well while we wait for the Federal Government’s proposed Housing Australia Future Fund to be negotiated in the Senate,” he said.
Mallee Family Care has received increased patronage in the past year for financial counselling, legal support and mental health support programs.
They are not alone. MASP and Haven; Home, Safe were also bracing for more demand on their services, particularly if Victorian landlords pass on additional land tax costs onto tenants from early next year.
“I’m pretty certain there’ll be extra demands placed on us,” Ms Jayet said.
Mr Wilson said: “I certainly hope that that doesn’t lead to increased rents or anything like that that causes pressure through the services like MASP.”
