Children, Young People and Families Philanthropic Funders Network
Elevating the futures of children, young people and families navigating the transition into or from out-of-home care.
Last updated: 25 Nov 2024
Collaboration, innovation and impact
The Children, Young People and Families Philanthropic Funders Network (the Network) is a successful collaborative philanthropy model, playing a pivotal role in building collaboration, innovation and impact within the philanthropic sector.
The Network is currently funded by Equity Trustees, with the Centre providing support through project management, building policy and research knowledge and connecting networks across sectors and government.
The Network members share an interest in identifying opportunities to support system-wide innovation to improve experiences and outcomes for vulnerable children, young people and families.
Innovation in out-of-home care
In 2017 The Centre, together with Equity Trustees and the Sidney Myer Fund & The Myer Foundation began a partnership to deliver OOHC Philanthropic Funders Network.
Since its beginnings, the Network has provided a forum for its members to learn about the child and family services sector including trends, evidence and innovation in out-of-home care in Victoria and other areas. The Network also facilitates collaboration with both the philanthropic and child and family services sectors.
Case Study
The OOHC Philanthropic Funders Network is an example of impactful collaborative philanthropy in Victoria’s out-of-home sector, showcasing how diverse philanthropic organisations can partner with sector stakeholders to create lasting impact for children, young people and families. This case study describes the network’s purpose, activities, successes, and key features of this collaborative philanthropy approach.
Brighter Futures Transformation Pilot
Running from June 2018 – June 2020, the first OOHC Philanthropic Funders Network collaborative innovation grant brought together six funders and a total of $500,000 to fund Brighter Futures. This project partnered with various organisations, the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education and Training.
Brighter Futures sought to improve outcomes for young people transitioning from an out-of-home care experience to adulthood by connecting them with community members or groups aligned to their aspirations and goals.
The findings of the pilot showed how such services can empower the voice and agency of young people exiting out-of-home care. Brighter Futures illustrated the need for and the challenge of systemic change and the importance of philanthropy in supporting these issues. The project also reflects the Philanthropic Funders Network’s commitment to innovation through a ‘try-test-learn’ approach, where iterative adaptations were made to improve program outcomes and support young people to successfully transition to independence. This project ultimately influenced state government approaches to supporting young people leaving care.
Grant partners: Anchor Inc., Australian Communities Foundation, Sidney Myer Fund, The Jack Brockhoff Foundation, The R E Ross Trust, Gandel Foundation, Bennelong Foundation and The Mars Stride Trust managed by Equity Trustees.
Innovation grants
The Network member’s shared focus and commitment deliver innovation grants for the out-of-home sector, focusing on co-designing and building the evidence base for innovation.
To date, the OOHC Philanthropic Funders Network has provided over $1.5m in funding through three grant rounds to support innovative programs in the out-of-home sector.
Bringing Up Aboriginal Babies at Home
Beginning in November 2020, the collaborative innovation grant funded the Bringing Up Aboriginal Babies at Home project, supported by six members of the Network who provided $580,000 in funding over three years.
The project was delivered by the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) in partnership with Melbourne University’s Department of Social Work and followed the University’s Innovation process Mobilising Change Agent for Better Lives design approach. During the pilot phase, the project worked with young Aboriginal women and their partners who are at risk of their baby being placed in out-of-home care or, if removal has already occurred, seek reunification. VACCA supported the women to meet the needs of their infants and used Aboriginal-defined measures of success.
Through a self-determined and co-designed model of support, the project improved outcomes for the youngest children in or connected with the out-of-home care sector and their families in Victoria’s Aboriginal communities.
Grant Partner: Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency, Jack Brockoff Foundation, William Buckland Foundation, Gandel Foundation, Mars Stride Trust- managed by Equity Trustees, Australian Communities Foundation and Sidney Myer Fund.
Youthlaw - Stand up for Your Rights Project
Youthlaw – Stand up for Your Rights Project is supported by five members of the OOHC Philanthropic Funders Network who are providing $490,000 in funding over three years.
The project aims to test and evaluate an innovative approach to building the capacity of young people in residential care to protect and assert themselves and make informed decisions. A strength-based approach allows for knowledge-building, resilience and other protective factors.
The project was co-designed with young people who have lived experience and assist young people in the 13 residential units in the Central Highlands (Ballarat and surrounds) region that have a total capacity of 33 beds.
Grant partners: Barr Family Foundation, Equity Trustees RM Ansett Trust, Gandel Foundation, Sidney Myer Fund and The Jack Brockhoff Foundation.
Voice of Parents
A first in Victoria, Voice of Parents profiled nine birth parents with lived experience of the child protection system in a design project. The project success was underpinned by co-design principles resulting in a participation model and resources to support service delivery and practice improvements.
Gandel Foundation and Equity Trustees – The Arthur Gordon Oldham Charitable Trust.
Home Stretch
The Home Stretch is a national campaign, formed to seek change to the current leaving care arrangements for young people in state care, extending the leaving care age from 18 until 21 years. This campaign has now successfully achieved the extension of care in Victoria to 21 years, along with most, but not all, other states and territories. The then Minister for Child Protection, Luke Donnellan announced the change in Victorian Parliament in early 2021 describing it as one of his proudest moments.
Grant partners: Gandel Foundation and Equity Trustees – The Arthur Gordon Oldham Charitable Trust.
Workshop: Capability building for innovation and collaboration
In March 2021, as part of the OOHC Philanthropic Funders Network’s process towards the third innovation grant round, The Centre, on behalf of the Network, ran a workshop to build sector understanding and capability in collaboration and innovation.