The Andrews Labor Government is boosting practical support for Victorian kinship and foster families with a new help desk service that will assist carers in their important roles in our community.

The new Care Support Help Desk will assist carers navigating the children and families service system to access important information and vital documents for children in their care, including birth certificates and Medicare information.

The new service also eases the administrative burden on Child Protection practitioners, who will have more time to actively engage with children, families and carers.

With about 9,000 children in kinship and foster care in Victoria on any given day, the Labor Government is helping families and carers get the support they need, especially in the early days of a placement.

Backed by a $5.8 million investment in the Victorian Budget 2022/23, the new Care Support Help Desk has a team of 20 people supporting families across the state.

The new service, run by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, operates from 9:00am to 5:00pm on weekdays. Find your closest team at services.dffh.vic.gov.au/foster-care or by calling 1300 475 170.

To improve the outcomes and experiences for vulnerable children, young people and families, the Labor Government has invested almost $2.9 billion over the past three budget for children and families’ services.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Child Protection and Family Services Colin Brooks

“Kinship and foster carers do an outstanding job and these big-hearted Victorians from all walks of life deserve every bit of support we can give.”

“Ensuring carers have quicker access to the information and documents they need will make a big difference for thousands of carers and Child Protection practitioners.”

Quotes attributable to foster carer Natalie

“The Care Support Help Desk is an important initiative that will help so many kinship and foster carers and the children and young people in their care.”

“I encourage carers to

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