Research commissioned by Anglicare Victoria shows the state would save millions of dollars if it increased the age people in state care gained independence from 18 to 21.

With half of state care leavers unemployed, homeless, in jail or a parent within a year of leaving the system, Children’s Commissioner Mark Morrissey said raising the care leaving age made sense.

“As we know, these days many young people are still either living at home or are heavily reliant on their parents, often into their twenties,” he said.

“Young care leavers deserve the same.

“Far better outcomes for these young people will be achieved when the leaving care process is more gradual, with strengthened supports to better equip them with living skills and to promote their independence.”

Foster and Kinship Carers Association of Tasmania chief executive Kim Backhouse has previously advocated for raising the care leaving age as high as 25.

She said many Tasmanian carers supported their foster children long after they turned 18 with little to no governmental support.

“Just because they’re 21, 22, 23 doesn’t mean they just want to leave them at a bus stop with nowhere to go,” Dr Backhouse said.

“I’d like to see them in the system until they’re at least 21.”

The government funds an ongoing case worker to engage with care leavers until they turn 19.

The state also funds CatholicCare and Kennerley’s Moving On program, aimed at developing life skills, and the After Care Support Services Program for care leavers aged 18 to 24.

Human Services Minister Jacquie Petrusma said the Youth at Risk Strategy and reforms to the out of home care system would consider the needs of people leaving care.