Better Futures

Better Futures and Home Stretch provides young people with information, advice and support as they transition from care.

On this page

Better Futures can support your transition from care by providing:

  • coaching
  • funding
  • Community Connections.

You will have a say in decisions about your future. You will also get support to reach your housing, study, work, cultural and health and wellbeing goals.

Eligibility

You are eligible for a referral to Better Futures from 15 years and 9 months if you are in:

  • kinship
  • foster
  • residential
  • permanent care on or after your 16th birthday.

You must also be on one of the following Children’s Court orders:

  • care by Secretary order
  • long-term care order
  • family reunification order
  • permanent care order.

Referral

Kinship, foster or residential care

Your case manager will refer you to Better Futures when you are 15 years and 9 months.

Permanent care

If you are on a permanent care order, Permanent Care and Adoptive Families will refer you to Better Futures.

If you are an Aboriginal person on a permanent care order, the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency will refer you to a Better Futures Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation.

Visit Permanent Care and Adoptive Families

Visit Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency

Coaching

Once you're in the program, you'll be allocated a Better Futures worker. Your worker will provide you with support, information and advice based on your needs and interests.

As your goals and needs change, so will the level of support from your worker.

Your Better Futures worker can help you with things like:

  • finding a new place to live or staying where you currently live
  • finding a job
  • managing your health and wellbeing
  • budgeting and other life skills
  • staying in school or going to TAFE or Uni
  • getting your driver’s licence.

Financial support

Flexible funding

Your Better Futures worker can also help you get financial support, known as flexible funding.

You can get funding if you live alone or with a carer. Flexible funding can pay for a wide range of things that relate to your transition goals. These include:

  • study costs including textbooks for TAFE or Uni
  • annual myki tickets
  • clothes for job interviews and work uniforms
  • costs towards driving lessons, getting your licence or buying a car
  • mental health support
  • entertainment and social activities
  • setting up a home, including furniture and whitegoods
  • gym membership, sports equipment or support to engage in hobbies.

Transition to Independent Living Allowance

You may also be eligible for the Transition to Independent Living Allowance (TILA).

TILA can support your transition by helping with moving costs, bond payments and other costs of living. You can get TILA up to the age of 25.

You can get both TILA and Better Futures flexible funding.

Your case manager or Better Futures worker can help you apply for TILA.

Melbourne City Mission administers the TILA program in Victoria.

For more information about eligibility, visit the Department of Social Services.

Community connections

You can get Community Connections support through the Better Futures program. Community Connectors can help you:

  • find a mentor
  • get work experience and find a job and study opportunities
  • meet new people and build healthy relationships
  • get involved with community groups and social activities
  • start a new hobby
  • connect with your culture
  • join a sports team.

Community Connectors do not provide casework support. They work with your Better Futures worker. They can connect you to services and activities in your community.

Your Better Futures worker can refer you to a Community Connector in your area.

Home Stretch

Home Stretch includes an allowance. You can use this for housing costs and other things that support your transition goals.

The allowance can help you stay with your carer, if they agree, or support you to live independently.

If you live independently, your Better Futures provider will manage the allowance on your behalf.

Your case manager or Better Futures worker can refer you to Home Stretch.

Eligibility

You are eligible for Home Stretch if you are in:

  • kinship care
  • foster care
  • residential care
  • permanent care.

You must be in one of the above on or after your 16th birthday.

You must also be on one of the following Children’s Court orders:

  • care by Secretary order
  • long-term care order
  • family reunification order
  • permanent care order.

You can get Home Stretch support from 16 to 21 years of age.

Application

Kinship, foster or residential care

Your case manager or Better Futures worker can support you with your Home Stretch application.

Permanent care

If you are on a permanent care order, Permanent Care and Adoptive Families (PCA Families) will be able to refer you to a Better Futures provider.

If you are an Aboriginal young person on a permanent care order, the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) will be able to refer you to a Better Futures Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO).

Your provider will support you to access Home Stretch.

Visit Permanent Care and Adoptive Families

Visit Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency

Better Futures service providers contact details

Find contact details for Better Futures service providers. Better Futures gives young people information, advice and support for the decisions they make about their future after leaving care.

Resources

Better Futures Our Way: supporting Aboriginal young people.

You can find fact sheets and videos about Better Futures Our Way on the Victorian Aboriginal Children and Young People's Alliance's website.

These resources help guide Aboriginal young people leaving care and their carers to understand what they can expect from Better Futures support.

CREATE Foundation

CREATE Foundation supports young people who are currently in, or who have left care up to 25 years.

They have fact sheets and videos about Better Futures and Home Stretch. Visit the CREATE Better Futures website.

SORTLI

SORTLI (sort out your life) is a free mobile app that has step-by-step guides to help your transition from care.

Download SORTLI from iTunes (iOS) and Google Play Store (Android).

Leaving Care Hotline

Phone: 1300 532 846

Email: leavingcare@mcm.org.au

Hours: 9 am to 8 pm on weekdays and 10 am to 6 pm on weekends and public holidays.

Health & social support

Updated

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