The Victorian Government funds a range of services and supports to assist young people aged 16 to 21 years of age to transition from care to adulthood.
Better Futures
Better Futures supports care leavers, engaging with young people and their support networks, including case managers and care teams, early in their transition from care.
Better Futures includes case work support, information and advice and flexible funding.
For more information, see Better Futures
Home Stretch
Home Stretch provides young people leaving care with a more gradual and supported transition to adulthood.
Through Home Stretch, young people and their kinship, foster or permanent carers will have the option of the young person remaining with their carer up to the age of 21, supported by an allowance.
Young people transitioning to an independent living option, such as private rental, are eligible for an allowance to support them with their transition goals up to 21 years of age.
For more information, see Home Stretch.
Housing First
The Housing First for Young People Leaving Care initiative (Housing First) includes:
- guaranteed housing
- wrap around case work support.
It provides young people with a gradual and supported transition from care.
For more information, see Housing First.
Transition to Independent Living Allowance (TILA)
TILA is a Commonwealth allowance for young people aged 15 to 25 years who are leaving or who have already left care services. TILA is a payment of up to $1500. It can cover a variety of costs such as:
- education
- counselling
- medical costs
- whitegoods
- obtaining a driver's licence
- any other agreed items.
Melbourne City Mission administers the TILA program in Victoria.
For more information about TILA eligibility, see the Department of Social Services website.
More information
For more information on leaving care, including a list of funded providers, see the Leaving care page on our Services website.
Better Futures fact sheets and videos for young people
A series of fact sheets and videos explain the support available to young people from Better Futures. These were developed by the CREATE Foundation and the Transitions from Care Youth Expert Advisory Group (YEAG).
Visit the CREATE Better Futures website for details.
Better Futures fact sheets and videos for Aboriginal young people
A series of fact sheets and videos explain support available to Aboriginal young people. They were developed by the Victorian Aboriginal Children & Young People’s Alliance and the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA).
Visit the Victorian Aboriginal Children & Young People’s Alliance website for details.