Australian Childhood Foundation welcomes Amplify refunding

The Australian Childhood Foundation has welcomed the Victorian Government’s decision to re-fund the Amplify program, following evaluation findings that demonstrate strong outcomes for children and young people experiencing family violence and homelessness. The first-of-its-kind pilot, co-designed with young people with lived experience and delivered by Melbourne City Mission, provides dedicated support to unaccompanied help-seeking children and young people navigating trauma without a protective parent.

We welcome today’s announcement by the Victorian Government to re-fund the Amplify service, a first‑of‑its‑kind pilot co‑designed with young people who have lived experience and delivered by Melbourne City Mission (MCM). It provides vital support to unaccompanied help-seeking children and young people who have experienced family violence and homelessness.

“We are thrilled that the Victorian Government has invested, and will continue to invest, in this vital service. For children and young people who have lived through the trauma of family violence without a protective parent to turn to and guide them, this support can quite literally be life‑saving,” said Janise Mitchell, CEO of Australian Childhood Foundation.

After four years of successful piloting and evaluation, and clear signs that the program is genuinely improving the lives of children and young people, the decision to refund Amplify is an important and commendable step.

While Victoria is leading the way, our ultimate goal is to ensure that a young person’s postcode never determines their level of safety and support. Further, while Amplify fills a crucial gap, it is only one part of what children and young people need to truly recover from the trauma of family violence. Alongside dedicated case management, there is still a deep need for accessible counselling and therapeutic support to help them make sense of what they’ve been through and begin to heal.

We look forward to working with the State Government, and sector partners, to bring the support Amplify provides to regional and rural communities, so every child – no matter where they live – has a path to safety and healing close to where they are.

We also urge the Federal Government, alongside other States and Territories, to draw on the learnings from Amplify and invest in dedicated support so that all children and young people can benefit, regardless of where they live.

Conor Pall, Lead of Youth Engagement & Advocacy at Australian Childhood Foundation, said: “As someone who has lived through the trauma of family violence, I am relieved that this programme will continue to help young people. However, accessing lifesaving services should never be a postcode lottery. All children and young people who have experienced family violence deserve access to dedicated case management support to be safe. When they do, they are more likely to heal and go on to lead healthy and connected lives.”

Statement by: Janise Mitchell, CEO Australian Childhood Foundation and Conor Pall, Lead of Youth Engagement & Advocacy Australian Childhood Foundation

While the renewed funding marks a significant step forward for vulnerable young Victorians, sector leaders have emphasised the need for broader national investment to ensure equitable access to support. With growing evidence of Amplify’s impact, calls are mounting for other jurisdictions and the Commonwealth to consider similar models, reinforcing the principle that a child’s postcode should not determine their safety, recovery or access to therapeutic care.