The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) - Carer Advisory Groups

DHHS Carer Advisory Groups bring together carers, carer representatives, community service organisations and DHHS to improve communication and foster service improvements in out-of-home care. It is critical that carers participate in decision making and development opportunities.

Carer Advisory Groups have been established in each of the four DHHS divisions - North, South, East and West embedding carer participation into local service improvements and ensuring carers’ voices are heard.

The contribution of carers is invaluable to the effectiveness of each Carer Advisory Group due to the generosity of carers in volunteering their time and effort.

The main goals of the Carer Advisory Group are to:

• Develop a shared understanding of common issues facing carers

• Improve communication between those involved in the care of vulnerable children and young people

• Provide a collaborative setting to strengthen home based care with a focus on carer support, training and retention.

  • Provide a localised setting to work together in identifying issues and opportunities to achieve better outcomes for children and young people in care and for continual improvement in the delivery of out-of-home care in Victoria. CAG Info for Carers

Membership of each group is a two-year term with provision for a further term pending vacancies. Membership is open to; statutory kinship carers, foster carers, senior agency representatives, Kinship Carers Victoria, Foster Care Association Victoria and DHHS representatives including Child Protection.  

The fourth term of the group commences January 2021 and runs through to December 2022. Each division holds quarterly meetings, February, May, August and November each year. Each group is Co-chaired by a DHHS Director or senior staff member alongside a nominated carer.

West Division Carer Advisory Group is now seeking expressions of interest from statutory kinship carers and foster carers who are interested in becoming a member of the West Division group, please contact Sandie Mitchell on 0408 035 800 or complete an Expression of Interest form and email to Sandie.Mitchell@dhhs.vic.gov.au