When Michael was 17, after living in a string of different homes and facing mental health issues, he met foster carer Greg, who's now both his father figure and best friend. "If I didn't have him, I'd be out on the streets or even dead," he says.

There are over 6000 kids in need of foster care in Victoria alone - often coming from broken homes with histories of domestic violence and drug and alcohol abuse.

Beau Donelly reports.

Audio: 

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Foster care - SYNcast.mp3