Home Stretch WA - eligibility

Home Stretch WA was implemented across the State as part of broader reform work to improve how support is offered and provided to young people transitioning from out-of-home care. 

To be eligible to participate in Home Stretch WA, the young person must qualify for leaving care assistance as set out in section 96 of the Children and Community Services Act 2004. To qualify under section.96, the young person must have:

• left the CEO’s care, and 
• be under 25 years old, and
• have been the subject of any of the following after reaching 15 years: 
  • a protection order (time limited or until 18), or
  • a negotiated placement agreement which was in place continuously for at least six months, or
  • been provided a placement service under s.32(1)(a) continuously for at least six months.

Any queries regarding a young person’s eligibility for Home Stretch WA can emailed to HomeStretchWA@communities.wa.gov.au.

Young people who were placed on a Special Guardianship Order after turning 15 years old are eligible for Home Stretch WA and qualify for leaving care assistance (under section 96 of the Children and Community Services Act 2004), provided the Special Guardianship Order was replacing a protection order (time-limited) or protection order (until 18 years).

Young people who were placed on a Special Guardianship Order before they turned 15 years old are not eligible for leaving care assistance or the Home Stretch WA program due to not meeting legislation requirements under section 96 of the Children and Community Services Act 2004.

The Department of Communities has established Home Stretch WA service providers in all regions of the State. 

A young person who is eligible for Home Stretch WA can be referred to a service provider in their region through a Department of Communities Child Protection District Office.

Yes, if the young person has the ability to understand what Home Stretch WA is, the role of the transition coach and the minimum level of engagement that is required for them to participate in the program. The level of engagement will be dependent on a young person’s circumstances. It would typically include a check-in with the young person on a weekly to monthly basis. The level of contact and support would be negotiated to meet the needs of the young person.  

Provisions will be made by the transition coach for the young person to have a support person in attendance at the Home Stretch WA information session (Stage 2) to assist them in making an informed choice about their participation and engagement.  

For more information, refer to the resource Home Stretch WA and Young People with Disability – Information for District Office Staff (PDF, 357KB). Please note that some links contained in this document can only be accessed by Department of Communities staff.

It is important to note that a Staying On Subsidy is not available where the carer (supportive adult) is being paid or is eligible for the Centrelink Carer Payment. This is because the Centrelink Carer Payment rate (and any supplementary payments and allowances where relevant) will be much more than the Staying On Subsidy. However, the young person and supportive adult would have all other supports available under Home Stretch WA, such as one-to-one support from a transition coach and the young person would have access to Invest In Me funding, as required.