Jessica’s young life has been touched by domestic violence, sexual assault, addiction and hospital psychiatric admissions. At 14, home became a series of short-stay foster homes, groups homes, respite care and hostels. Now aged 18, she is living independently, juggling study and part-time work to meet rent and pay the bills.
It’s been tough. That she has graduated from Year 12 and come this far, she attributes to the support of a good case worker who helped her through the turbulent years following her removal into care.
However, at 18 she finds she has been cut off from that important guidance and source of advice about eligible supports and allowances.
“At 18 many young people still need a lot of guidance and don’t have family to go to,” Jessica said. “If they’ve had a case manager for a long time and have built that respect and bond with them and their support is gone – it can be like repeating what happened in your home life.
“You sort of get thrown in the deep end and have to learn for yourself. It can be lonely and if you don’t know how to budget, things are not going to go so well.”
She said extending care to 21 years, as proposed, would provide ideal backup while young people found their feet, allowing them to step back support as and when they felt ready.
“The new program will be really beneficial,” she said.
"At 18 many young people still need a lot of guidance and don’t have family to go to.”
Now at TAFE studying community services and youth work, Jessica hopes to start a degree in law, criminology and justice next year and has also applied for entry to the Police Academy. She’s motivated to effect change.
“It took a lot for me to get to where I am now,” she said. “I just want to see other people able to change their lives around and get on the right pathway. They will then be able to help others who have been in their situation.
“With domestic violence, sexual assault – the world at the moment is influencing the younger generation and soon it is not going to be a pretty country.
“Only a very small percentage of young people succeed in life after being in care. If we put more support in place and make sure everything is running smoothly, that percentage will go up so much. Then, rather than having young people going to prison, suiciding or getting themselves all wrapped up in ‘stuff’, they will actually get a qualification and do good things.”