The Centre has a key role in advocating for children and young people leaving state care when they turn 18 years of age. Services and supports available under the current DHS Leaving Care program are as follows: 

• Leaving Care Mentoring Program (provides opportunities for young people leaving care to interact with adults in community settings, and to promote healthy personal relationships in order to avoid social exclusion)
• Post Care Support, Referral and Information Service (each DHS Region will support a service that assists young people aged 16-21 years who require support in transitioning to independence and leaving state care)
• Leaving Care Brokerage Funds (flexible funding for those young people transitioning from care and those up to 21 years of age who need support subsequent to leaving state care)

The Centre's advocacy is progressed through its involvement in the Statewide Leaving Care Forum, and ongoing participation in the Leaving Care Advisory Group convened by DHS. The Leaving Care Advisory Group was established to inform the funding roll-out, resolve implementation issues and steer good practice. Group membership includes:

Current focuses of the Centre's advocacy include:

• effective policy to meet the needs of young people in Year 11 of the VCE who turn 18, when they exit care but continue to need support to ensure the best educational and broader life outcomes
• effective communication of leaving care policy and practice
• strong representation of the Centre's membership and of the sector regarding all leaving care issues

In 2010, the Leaving Care Advisory Group will meet in February, April, July, October and December. Further DHS information is available from maria.trombin@dhs.vic.gov.au.

If you belong to a CSO and have leaving care issues that need to be addressed at a sectoral level, please contact Darren Lewin-Hill, Policy and Project Leader, Membership and Sector Development, on 03 9094 3520 (direct), or email darren.lewin-hill@cwav.asn.au