Image: At the WA Government announcement of additional funding for the Home Stretch WA program, which is now available and rolling out to young people State-wide.
Home Stretch WA supports young people in Perth and all regional area of Western Australia leaving out of home care at the age of 18 years and helps them transition to interdependent living by providing extended support and resources until the age of 21 years.
Home Stretch WA supports young people with access to accommodation, education and training opportunities, employment and local services; as well as positive experiences of personal wellbeing and in developing important life skills. There is a strong focus on connecting young people to their support circles and their culture.
Nine Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and three Community Service Organisations have been commissioned to deliver Home Stretch WA to eligible care leavers in metropolitan Perth and all regional areas of Western Australia.
The Goldfields Indigenous Housing Organisation Inc. has recently been appointed to deliver the program in the Goldfields-Esperance region and Yorganop Association Incorporated will provide the program across the Wheatbelt.
The roll out of Home Stretch WA across WA has been collaborative process between Communities and our district Child Protection offices, Anglicare Community of Practice, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, Community Service Organisations and young people with lived experience and carers.
The WA Government has provided additional funding of $46.3M over the next 4 years to the Home Stretch WA program, ensuring the continued support of young people leaving out of home care.
This additional funding will build on the $37.2 million to make Home Stretch WA permanent across the State, following a trial of the program launched in 2019.
Home Stretch WA is on track to provide more than 300 young people individualised support and assistance as they transition out of care and into independence.
For more information, visit our Home Stretch WA webpage.
