Hi, I’m Crystal*. I’m 16 and have lived experience in out-of-home care. I entered care at the age of 3 and was placed into foster care. At 15, I went into residential care and then I made the decision to self-place.
My experiences have made me want to advocate for other children in care.
In primary school, when other kids found out I was in care, I was bullied with kids says things like “your parents didn’t want you” when that wasn’t the case at all. It made me feel ashamed and different from everyone else.
I overcame the sigma after a while by not letting the bullies opinions matter to me. I learned to ignore them.
My advice would be, don’t let anyone make you feel ashamed of your story and experiences. Don’t give up, and always stand up for yourself.
Believe in yourself. You’ve probably been through more than most people your age, which makes you strong and shapes who you are. Don’t let anyone diminish that.
Crystal is on a mission to help others
In the next 5 years, I hope to be studying to become a paediatric nurse to help children.
In terms of what I want to see changed in the care system, there should be:
- increased funding and resources ensuring all children in care have access to education, healthcare and mental health services.
- providing carers with the training, support and resources they need to provide a stable and nurturing environment for kids.
- ensuring that young people in care have a voice in decisions that affect their lives and are able to advocate for their needs.
Thank you, Crystal for sharing your advocacy journey and how you #SnapThatStigma
Want to share your story? Email marketing@create.org.au to become a part of our #SnapThatStigma campaign.
*Names have been changed and stock photos have been used for privacy reasons.
