THE chief executive officer of Foster Care Association Victoria has visited Mildura for a Foster Care Week, meeting with Mallee Family Care to discuss solutions to what could become a "dire" state for foster care.

Carer retention and recruitment is at an all-time low and continues to rapidly decline, with 2021-22 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare figures for Victoria revealing only 323 carers came into the system while 621 exited.

The mass exodus has been attributed in part to the rising of cost of living, preventing carers having both the time and financial means to provide support.

MFC chief executive Teresa Jayet said the Mallee community was "hurting", the cost of living affecting carer numbers.

"Here in the Mallee we have some really compounding factors on people living their day-to-day lives but more so for carers when you factor in poverty," Ms Jayet said.

"We have a perfect storm brewing and this has been the trajectory for more than 10 years.

"We know that the number of children coming into care is greater than ever and there is a high rate of people exiting out of the foster care system."

Foster Care Association Victoria chief executive Samantha Hauge agreed.

"Carer retention is at an all-time low and has been declining over the past several years, so unless the government takes a serious look at carer retention and recruitment strategies, we will be in a dire situation," Ms Hauge said.

"The best form of recruitment is carer word of mouth. The happier our carers are, the more people we can recruit, so if we look at better respect, supports and more financial backing that in turn will help us recruit and retain carers."

Ms Jayet said Victorian carers were faring worst when it came to financial support.

"Our focus is advocating for carers across the Mallee region and MFC has been delivering foster carer services for 40 years not only within the state of Victoria but across the river in NSW," she said.

"What we have noticed is a complete disparity between the supports that are offered financially between Victoria and NSW.

"One of the critical issues we want to highlight is the allowance by the Victorian Government must increase to support our carers."
Ms Hauge echoed this sentiment.

"Victoria has the lowest care allowance rate across the nation," she said. "A six-year-old child in Victoria compared to a six-year-old child in NSW, that carer receives $91 a week less for the same child.

"The Victorian care allowance cost-of-living indexation for the last 24 months was 2 per cent when annual household inflation was more than 6 per cent in both 2022 and 2023.

"An allowance increase is critical to bring Victoria care conditions to parity with other states to keep existing carers in the system and to increase the number of carers who had been locked out due to the costs."

Former foster carer of three children and MFC chair Ross Lake said becoming a carer was rewarding, and he encouraged others to do so.

"As a result of the children I had in foster care I now have 10 grandchildren and a next generation to enjoy," Mr Lake said.

"You get to enjoy all the ups and downs like any family."

Ms Hauge agreed. "You get the opportunity to create a brighter future for some of our state's most vulnerable children who haven't had that opportunity and you get to provide them with a stable, caring, loving environment," she said.

Ms Jayet said MFC was looking for more carers, particularly young men.

"The need is infinite," she said.

"There will always be a need for carers within our community but I reckon we don't tell the story enough about the different type of carers available. You can have emergency, interim, short-term, long-term, guardianship - there are different ways to support children in care.

"I think there is a misconception that you have to be a couple, of a particular age or faith, that you have to be heterosexual, but that is a myth.

"Anyone can become a carer from the age of 18 onwards."

Studies have also shown that having adequate foster care has an economic benefit of more than $450 million.

"If we want to break the cycle of poverty, the trajectory has to start early on so it doesn't implicate other sectors later in the child's life," Ms Jayet said.

Those interested in becoming carers are encouraged to contact Mallee Family Care.