Celebrating children who grow up in out-of-home-care

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Every child has the right to feel safe and to grow up with their parents. Sadly, there are times when it is too unsafe for children to remain with their parents, and they enter out-of-home care.
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Head and shoulders photo of a young woman named Ester, who has lived experience of Out of Home Care

Most children in care in Western Australia live with extended family or with foster carers.

World care day is the biggest celebration of children who grow up in care, promoting conversations about people defying the odds and succeeding; people like Esther, now aged 23, who grew up in out-of-home care.

Esther spoke with staff at the Department of Communities, to share a bit about what it was like to experience trauma in her early years and to grow up in care.

“I felt worthless for a really long time wondering what to do with my life, not feeling like I belonged anywhere, wanting to be with family and just felt lost in life”.

Yet things turned around for Esther when she was cared for by Hana, a Department of Communities Residential Care Worker.  

“We still are super close to this day; it’s been nearly 12 years. She was the first person to show me what love was, unconditional love and be that mum figure in my life. I’ll forever be grateful for her coming into my life. She made me feel at home, helped me find my worth and my own feet in life, helped me work through my trauma, guided me in life and never ever gave up on me. I truly believe if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be where I am today”. 

Esther has achieved so much and we celebrate her today.  

“I am educated, I have a full-time job that I love, I have a car and licence and am moving on with my life. I’ve picked my own little family and circle and when I look back to where I came from it’s amazing because one person can truly have a life changing impact”.

Today we celebrate all children currently in care, as well as those like Esther that have left care and are now adults.

Nominations will soon be open for the Achiever Awards, which provide recognition, encouragement and financial assistance to young people who have been in care and are undertaking further education and training. Over 600 extraordinary young people have been recognised through this program since its inception in 1990.

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