‘It’s hard to be hopeful (if) you don’t know what your next living arrangement will be’, says former foster child Jess

On the back of a spike in interest being shown in becoming a foster carer, a young woman who found ‘a sense of direction and life purpose’ shares her experience as a child in care.

Young South Australian Jess has a life perspective and swag of academic, business and community accolades that belie her age — and challenging childhood experiences.

At just 20, she’s an established entrepreneur, having already set up and sold a successful business, and is a proud recipient of the Governor of South Australia’s Commendation Award.

She is both a research assistant at the Ehrenberg Bass Institute as well as an intern at Kicker Communications and is studying a double degree in business marketing and neuropsychology.

But far from enjoying a privileged early life, the poised former student of Tenison Woods College in Mount Gambier spent her formative teenage years in various foster care arrangements.

At just 20, Jess, a former foster care child, is an established entrepreneur, having already set up and sold a successful business. Picture: Brenton Edwards

It’s for this reason she is buoyed by recently-released state government data showing a spike in interest from people keen to learn more about becoming a foster carer.

It finds more than 360 inquiries were made by those interested in supporting a child in need following a two-month digital advertising campaign, created through “analysing years of carer data”.

In addition more than 6000 people accessed the “Become a Foster Carer” landing page on the Child Protection’s Department’s website during August and September – an increase of more than 1000 per cent.

While choosing not to go into details, Jess simply says her upbringing wasn’t “typical”, acknowledging that without the support and stability she was provided as a teenager by her carers, she wouldn’t have flourished as she has.

“Foster carers really provide that sense of stability that enables a child to thrive … it means you’ve got a consistent person in your life which for young people is really paramount; it enables a child to focus on their dreams and potential,” she said.

“Most importantly, it gives young people a sense of direction and purpose in their life … when you’re facing tumultuous circumstances, it’s very hard to kind of look at your future and be hopeful (if) you don’t know what your next living arrangement will be.

“I’ve a brighter outlook on life and achieved all these things because I was in a stable environment; I realise how lucky I’ve been.

“The thought that there are many children, especially young children, out there who may not reach their special potential because of the circumstances that they have no choice in is devastating.”

In SA now there are almost 4040 children in 2740 households with foster and kinship carers, in emergency, respite and long-term care.

Child Protection Minister Katrine Hildyard said the reasons children weren’t able to live with their birth families were “varied, complex and often heartbreaking”, adding more carers were needed.

“As carers retire or their circumstances change, we need more people to start their carer journey … (to open) their hearts, homes and lives to children and young people who are facing extremely difficult circumstances,” she said.