It was a pleasure to welcome Federal Minister for Social Services and Member for Sydney, the Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP, and Member for Melbourne, Sarah Witty MP, to the Foster Care Association of Victoria in June to discuss the experiences of foster carers and a range of federal issues affecting foster care in Victoria and around Australia including:

• Improving access to Commonwealth family payments and supports for children and young people in care.

• The impact of means testing Family Tax Benefit on volunteer foster carers and the barriers this can create for children accessing support.

• Administrative burden and eligibility for carers on Family Tax Benefit, Child Care Subsidy and Additional Child Care Subsidy.

• Improving access to childcare to support placement stability and carers' workforce participation.

• Access to Commonwealth-funded Medicare dental care for children and young people in care regardless of incomes of their volunteer carer.

• Opportunities for streamlining coordination between Commonwealth and state systems to ensure children in care do not miss out on support.

We look forward to keeping you informed of ongoing discussions and progress in these areas as they develop.