A young woman standing behind the red wall

Extending care to 21 was just the start

Home Stretch secured national reform to ensure young people leaving care are supported beyond 18, changing outcomes for care experienced young people across Australia.

About Home Stretch

Building the next chapter of reform

We’re leading a national effort to strengthen how governments support young people beyond care through a corporate parenting approach.

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Who we are

Home Stretch is a national, nonpartisan advocacy movement formed to challenge a long-standing policy failure: the expectation that young people in state care become independent at 18.

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State by State Policy Map

Every state and territory has now committed to extending care to 21. The next phase is strengthening consistency, coverage and long-term support across the country.

Victoria

Extended care to 21 years for all care placement types. Delivered through Better Futures. Includes: carer reimbursements or housing allowance, worker and brokerage.

New South Wales

Extended care to 21 years, includes carer reimbursement for foster and kinship care placements, and Independent Living Allowance ($260 a fortnight) for young people leaving residential care.

Queensland

Extended care to 21 years for all care placement types. Delivered through Better Futures. Includes: carer reimbursements or housing allowance, worker and brokerage.

South Australia

Extended care to 21 years for youth in foster and kinship care.

Northern Territory

Extended care to 21 years, though eligibility and access vary.

Western Australia

Extended care to 21 years for all care placement types. Includes: carer reimbursements or housing allowance, worker and brokerage.

Tasmania

Extended care to 21 years for youth in foster and kinship care.

Australian Capital Territory

Extended care to 21 years, though eligibility and access vary.

Seth’s Story

“What the Home Stretch program has done for me has been incredible.

They’ve non-stop supported me with the funding I needed to continue my schooling, as well as essentials like clothing and everyday living costs. I’m grateful to have had them in my life. If they weren’t in my life I would have never gotten help from anyone, from keeping my anxiety to myself, to never asking anybody for support. I’m incredibly grateful.”

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Ayub's story

“I grew up in over eight different foster homes and many more residential care placements throughout my childhood. Before my 18th birthday, I was evicted from state care and became homeless.”

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Dylan Langley

“You go through so much in care that to be left on your own while you’re still trying to get your head around that and the rest of your adult choices, it’s so much to take on board that you are just going to crash and burn.”

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Ways to support

The success of Home Stretch has been driven by a powerful coalition of supporters, community service organisations, philanthropists and charitable trusts across the country. Their commitment to improving outcomes for care-experienced young people has helped turn a shared vision into meaningful reform, creating lasting change for young people leaving care.

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Partner with us

Partner with us to help drive lasting reform for young people leaving care. Your investment can strengthen advocacy, elevate lived experience and create conditions for long-term systemic change.

Partner with us

Home Stretch is a national campaign supported by organisations across Australia that believe young people leaving care deserve the same opportunities, stability and support as their peers.

We work to ensure young people leaving out-of-home care continue to receive the support they need to thrive until at least age 21.

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Extending care to 21 was just the start

Building the next chapter of reform

Who we are

Home Stretch is a national, nonpartisan advocacy movement formed to challenge a long-standing policy failure: the expectation that young people in state care become independent at 18.