Young people growing up in out-of-home care continue to face stigma, discrimination and systemic barriers in education, health care, housing and employment — but many are breaking through those barriers every day.
Today, on World Care Day, the theme Breaking Barriers calls on governments, services, carers and the broader community to challenge stereotypes and remove obstacles that limit the opportunities of young people with a care experience.
Through CREATE Foundation’s Youth Advisory Groups and national #SnapThatStigma campaign, young people have shared how stigma is often the greatest barrier they face.
“We are just like you; except we just grew up differently. Maybe we might feel more comfortable with what we went through, if people didn’t make judgments so quickly.”– Young Person.
Young people report being underestimated at school and dismissed in the health system. Some describe having their health concerns repeatedly ignored, being excluded from learning opportunities, or being discouraged from further study or employment because of assumptions linked to their care background.
- “…I was asked to sit out of NAPLAN because I was ‘too stupid’ to get good marks on NAPLAN. I was called stupid in front of the class.”
- “l was told I could never achieve anything and that I’m not worth anyone’s time.”
- “Doctors can be dismissive if you have a complex health condition.”
- “I’ve been told that I need to choose between getting a job and [pursuing further] education… I’ve been told that I need to put my education on hold.”
CREATE Foundation CEO Imogen Edeson said World Care Day is an opportunity to listen and act.
“When we hear directly from young people with a care experience, it’s clear the barriers they face are not about a lack of ambition or capability — they’re about systems that don’t expect them to succeed,” Ms Edeson said.
“World Care Day calls on all of us to reflect, challenge stigma, and play our part in creating real pathways that support young people to thrive.”
To mark World Care Day, CREATE has released a blog highlighting five young people breaking barriers, sharing their stories of resilience, leadership and achievement.
The public is encouraged to get involved by taking the Breaking Barriers pledge — sharing one action they will take to challenge stigma and support young people in care.
Young people with a care experience are also invited to share a photo or short video about a barrier they’ve broken. Watch our Board Member and CREATE’s World Care Day Ambassador, Emily Hikaiti kicking off World Care Day 2026 with her video message.
About World Care Day
Now in its’ tenth year, the Care Day initiative is underpinned by a collective of nine global voice of care organisations from across the world, including EPIC in Ireland, VOYPIC in Northern Ireland, Who Cares? Scotland, Voices from Care in Wales, and Become in the UK, Fepa in Spain, Fice in Croatia, Voyce in New Zealand and CREATE in Australia all working together to promote conversations about young people defying the odds and succeeding in their own right.
About CREATE Foundation
CREATE Foundation is the Australian national consumer body representing the voices of children and young people with an out-of-home care experience. We provide programs to children and young people with an out-of-home care experience. We listen to what those with lived experience tell us, and advocate alongside them to achieve systemic change. CREATE is a national leader in child and youth participation in Australia, bringing 25 years of child voice and participation expertise.
*ENDS*
For further comment from CREATE Foundation’s CEO, Imogen Edeson contact Taylor Toovey, Communications and Media Specialist via (m) 0478 814 752 or taylor.toovey@create.org.au
Key statistics on out-of-home care in Australia
- There are currently around 44,900 children and young people in out-of-home (OOHC) care nationally (AIHW, 2024).
- As of 30 June 2024, of the 44,900 people in out-of-home care, 20,000 were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children (AIHW, 2024).
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are 9.6× more likely to be in out-of-home care or on third-party parental responsibility orders than non-Indigenous children (SNAICC, 2025).
- Nationally (excluding WA), only 6.8% of child protection spending was directed to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations, with most jurisdictions spending under 10% of their child protection budgets through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations (SNAICC, 2025).
- Only 15.6% of total child protection expenditure was spent on family support services, meaning roughly 16 cents of every $1 is invested in prevention (SNAICC, 2025).
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2024). Child protection Australia 2023–24. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/child-protection/child-protection-australia-2023-24/contents/about
CREATE Foundation. (2025). This matters to us: Lived experience insights from children and young people with a care experience 2024-2025. This-matters-to-us-CREATE-Foundation-Youth-Advisory-Group-Report-2024-2025.pdf
SNAICC. (2025). Family Matters Report 2025. https://www.snaicc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Family-Matters-Report-2025-v3.pdf
