68 young people attended South Australia’s CREATE Your Future (CYF) Expo last month to gain tools and information to help with their transition from care to independent living.
Hosted by CREATE Foundation (SA) in partnership with Key Assets Australia and in its second year, the CYF Expo brought together a record 71 services to support young South Australians, 15-25, in their transition to independence.
"Such a brilliant opportunity for young people."
This event was all about helping young people with a care experience explore their future, meet supportive organisations, and discover opportunities to learn, grow and dream big.
CREATE Foundation CEO Imogen Edeson said, “The Expo set out to give young people real tools to plan their next steps – whether that’s finding a job, applying for housing, budgeting, or learning more about their options.
We also hope the expo helped young people transitioning from out-of-home care to feel seen, heard and supported because they deserve to know they’re not doing this alone,” she said.
“We want every young person transitioning out of care to know who they can talk to and what supports are out there, while also having a sense that there’s a whole community backing them.”
“Great event, useful not just for young people but also for services to network and collaborate.”
A wide range of stalls were on offer at CYF Expo 2025
Young people had 71 stalls to choose from on the day, almost doubling stall numbers last year. The stalls provided different information about jobs, education, health and more, all with a focus on the transition from care.
Stallholder activities included:
- Adelaide Metro’s VR travel experience, helping young people practise catching public transport
- Life Without Barriers’ Dream Tree, filled with messages of hope and future goals from young people
- Adelaide 36ers basketball workshop
- Boomerang and mandala art
- And a photobooth to capture memories of the day.
Close to 30% of attendees identified as First Nations and those who joined us had various care placements including foster care, kinship care, residential care and independent placements.
Bringing together young people from across Adelaide and surrounds saw five sibling groups reunited. This unique opportunity meant that young people could spend the day with their siblings, exploring stalls to help with their transition to independence while also enjoying a pizza lunch and plenty of fun games and activities throughout the day.
“We would love to attend again, what a great space for connection."
Thank you to everyone that attended South Australia’s CREATE Your Future Expo. Young people, carers and stallholders spoke highly of the event which came back bigger and better in 2025.
CREATE is grateful to all of the services that put on stalls and provided young people and their carers with targeted information and resources to help with the transition to independence.
CREATE would like to pay special acknowledgement to our incredible partners, Key Assets Australia who helped us to make the Expo a reality. We hope to bring this event back in 2026 to assist more South Australian young people choose their path in life. #MyPathMyFuture
BTS at CREATE Your Future Expo 2025
Go behind-the-scenes at the 2025 CYF Expo in this video where CREATE Young Consultants interview attendees and stallholders.
