Bringing a new model of care to Victoria

Stories from Berry Street

For nearly 150 years Berry Street has dedicated itself to keeping children, young people and families safe, thriving and hopeful. Yet today, in Austra…

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Thousands of children and young people across Australia can’t live safely at home. They need to be removed and placed into out-of-home care. The best models are typically kinship care and foster care. However, there are serious pressures on these models.

We’re seeing a large decrease in the number of people willing to become foster carers. And the children and young people needing out-of-home care, presenting with ever more complex needs and behaviours.

And with a decrease in the number of people becoming foster carers, the pressure on residential care is increasing.

So, Berry Street has found a program that cares for traumatised young people, and maximises their recovery, it’s called PIC - Professional Individualised Care.

Implementing PIC in Victoria, however, is not a simple exercise.

In this episode of Stories from Berry Street, Richelle Hunt speaks to James Stubbs, Director of Berry Street’s Northern Region, about what PIC could mean for Berry Street and the people in need of extra special care right now. She also talks to Jarrod Wheatley, CEO of PIC in NSW, who explains the success he’s had with the program and the challenges around rolling it out.

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