The Victorian Council of Social Services (VCOSS) continues to collaborate and seek priorities from its social services member organisations including the FCAV, to hear directly from representative bodies about the needs of vulnerable Victorians. VCOSS focuses on budget and funding needs in order to develop budget submissions and advocate at the highest levels.

The VCOSS 2025 Budget response includes critical analysis of where the budget met and fell short in terms of housing, health, wellbeing, First Nations support, education, disability and other services, including out of home care needs:

“Foster and kinship carers play a vital role in creating safe, enriching, and therapeutic environments for children and young people. The majority of Victorian carers report that providing care is highly rewarding, but mounting cost-of-living pressures are taking a toll. While Victoria provides carers a fortnightly allowance to contribute to care costs, Victoria’s base rate is the lowest in the country. This is contributing to carer dissatisfaction, carer churn and a significant long-term decline in the overall number of foster carers. The loss of experienced carers creates instability for children and young people, reduces options for home-based care, and leads to greater use of contingency care (e.g. hotel rooms with workers) and residential care. VCOSS is disappointed that this Budget did not raise – and index – the Care Allowance to cover the true costs of providing a safe and therapeutic environment, nor did it provide equity in the rates and levels of Care Allowance provided for children and young people in care based on their needs, not placement type.”

On 22 May 2025, Rowan Pulford, FCAV Policy Advisor and foster carer, attended the 2025 VCOSS Treasurer’s Lunch following the release on the 2025 Victorian Budget where he took the opportunity to rise and pose a question directly to new Victorian Treasurer, Jaclyn Symes.

Rowan’s Question to the Victorian Treasurer:

“The current Victorian Care Allowance of $223 per week is no longer sufficient to meet the real costs of caring for a child. With the allowance indexed at just 2% annually—well below inflation—its real value has steadily declined. This places increasing financial pressure on volunteer foster carers, many of whom are already stretched thin.

Failing to invest adequately in the foster care system risks losing these dedicated volunteers, which would lead to significantly higher costs for the state in the form of increased demand for residential care and other crisis services. What steps will the government take to address the shortfall in the Care Allowance and prevent long-term economic and social costs associated with an under-resourced foster care system?”

The Treasurer welcomed the question and though she was not able to make any commitments in her response she suggested a follow up meeting with her office which has been scheduled and we look forward to updating you on that discussion.

The Treasurer's Lunch also featured a panel discussion moderated by Jon Faine AM, with Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Inc CEO Aunty Jill Gallagher AO, economist Professor David Hayward and VCOSS CEO Juanita Pope discussing what this year's Budget means for the community sector.

With thanks to Juanita Pope, CEO and the team at VCOSS for hosting this annual opportunity to hear directly from the Treasurer. Thank you to Treasurer Jaclyn Symes for engaging openly and at length with the community sector and to other members and supporters who bring the insightful questions and robust analysis of the budget.