Children and young people in out-of-home care (OoHC) are more likely to experience disability, developmental delay and the impacts of trauma.
Too often, they face long wait times and fragmented systems that make it harder to get the right support at the right time.
Bridges Victoria, delivered by Berry Street Yooralla, works alongside children, carers and care teams to change this.
We provide coordinated, trauma-informed disability support within care settings, helping children and young people better understand their needs, strengthen their participation, and connect with longer-term supports, including the NDIS.
By connecting disability support with care and focusing on what matters most: better outcomes for children and young people.
Why this matters
Many children in care are living with unmet or unrecognised disability. Without the right support at the right time, this can affect their wellbeing, relationships, learning and sense of stability.
Across Victoria:
- Many children in care show signs of disability or developmental delay
- Families and carers often wait months for assessments and support
- Delays accessing the NDIS can limit opportunities during critical stages of development
- Unmet needs can contribute to placement breakdown and disruption
While there have been important reforms, gaps remain – particularly for children in out-of-home care placements and those outside early childhood programs.
Bridges Victoria responds to these gaps by bringing disability support into everyday care environments.
How we support
Working alongside children and their support networks
We take the time to understand each child or young person, their strengths, experiences and goals.
We partner with carers, families and practitioners to build shared understanding and practical strategies that can be used in daily life.
Providing timely, practical support
Bridges Victoria offers short-term, targeted allied health and behaviour support to respond quickly when needs emerge. This includes:
- Speech pathology
- Occupational therapy
- Psychology
- Positive Behaviour Support
This support is designed to make a meaningful difference now, while longer-term supports are being put in place.
Supporting access to the NDIS
We help children and young people to get the disability supports they need, including access to the NDIS, by:
- Building clear evidence of their needs
- Supporting access requests and planning
- Strengthening understanding and confidence for carers and teams
Strengthening the system around the child
Bridges Victoria is part of a broader approach to improving how disability support is delivered across the care system. This includes:
- Access to a network of experienced disability and therapeutic providers
- Training and practice support for the workforce
The difference it makes
When children and young people receive the right support at the right time, outcomes improve – not just for them, but for everyone around them.
Children and young people are better supported to:
- Communicate their needs
- Build relationships
- Participate in school and community life
- Experience greater stability and wellbeing
Carers and practitioners are supported to:
- Understand and respond to complex needs
- Build confidence in their role
- Create more stable and supportive environments
The broader system benefits from:
- Fewer placement disruptions
- Reduced reliance on high-cost, crisis responses
- More coordinated and effective support pathways
A young person’s story
Ella*, aged 9, came into foster care after experiencing family violence and neglect. She found it hard to communicate and often became overwhelmed, which sometimes led to emotional outbursts.
Her carers knew she needed support, but the wait for a speech assessment was long, and without a diagnosis, it was difficult to access additional help. Through Bridges Victoria, Ella was able to see a speech pathologist within weeks. She and her carers were supported with practical strategies to build communication and reduce overwhelm.
Over time, Ella began to express herself more clearly, participate more confidently at school, and feel more settled in her placement.
With support from the Bridges team, Ella was also able to access the NDIS and continue receiving the support she needs.
*Name changed for privacy
Building capability across the sector
Supporting children with disability and trauma requires a skilled and confident workforce.
Bridges Victoria contributes to this by providing training, coaching and shared learning opportunities for practitioners across the out-of-home care sector.
This helps build consistent, informed approaches that better support children and young people in their everyday environments.
More information
For more information on Bridges Victoria, you can contact Berry Street Yooralla.
Phone: 03 9666 4500
Email: yooralla@yooralla.com.au