00:00Forced to flee family violence, Ella faced calling these streets of Melbourne home.
00:07I just ran out of options. I couldn't keep relying on my friends' homes to be my home.
00:14I needed to live independently.
00:16But being under 18 years old, she was met with closed doors.
00:20When a child is screaming out for help, there's not really a response at all.
00:26Ella found safety in Amplify, a pilot program that helped young Victorians caught up in family violence by helping financially and providing case managers to help with court applications and housing.
00:39We really do need to see investment across the state of dedicated case management.
00:45Now regional Victorians are speaking up, saying they desperately need a program like Amplify.
00:52Connor Poole was just 16 when he was left homeless in Mildura.
00:56I needed someone to attend court with me to get a family violence intervention order.
01:01I needed someone to help me apply for Centrelink.
01:04Now 22 and in a safe home, he's knocking on politicians' doors calling for help.
01:09But complicating that request is the news funding for Amplify is about to run out.
01:14The future of Amplify hinges on this year's state budget and those caught in the crisis say the funding needs to be locked in.
01:22Advocates say importantly Amplify treats children as individuals and not as a product of their parents or carers.
01:29Even though we do have child protection and that is so heavily invested, it's proven time and time again, it's not working, it's harming us.
01:39There needs to be a better response.
01:42A critical time for those most at need.
