Year 12 graduate Deja has her sights set on university, and the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games

Sport has been a “form of therapy” for this South Australian teen who had a rough start in life. Now she has her sights on Brisbane in 2032.

Until she was about seven years old Deja was regularly missing from the classroom.

She had a difficult start to life after being taken into state care, but the now 17-year-old wants other young people to know that “where you start in life does not define your future”.

As well as completing year 12, Deja this year competed for Australia at a major athletics competition in Queensland and aspires to return as a triathlete at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

“I know where I came from in life and I do not want to go back,” the Fleurieu Peninsula teen said.

“From not attending school regularly until midway through year 2, to now graduating year 12, my grandparents were the ones who made this possible.

“Now that school has come to an end I have big dreams for the future.”

Latest data shows a drop, for the first time in five years, in the number of kids in care who are absent from school for long periods.

The proportion absent for more than 20 days per semester had been steadily worsening, from 17.8 per cent in 2018 to 29.4 per cent in 2022.

Last year there was a slight drop to 27.2 per cent (or 693 students).

Data is not yet available for 2024.

Deja, 17, training for a triathlon. Picture: Hunter Wood Photography

There are more than 4800 young people in state care, including 1600 living with foster carers and 2400 living with relatives.

Another almost-700 live in state-run homes with paid carers.

When Deja and her siblings were taken into care their grandparents Kerry and Clive “put their lives on hold” to look after them.

“Life can throw challenges and sometimes being in care can feel like an extra layer of difficulty,” said Deja, adding she had turned to sport “as a form of therapy”.

“But simply believing in yourself and staying focused on what you can control is key.”

Education Minister Blair Boyer said investments in mental health support in schools and monitoring truancy were “making a real difference”.

Child Protection Minister Katrine Hildyard said for young people “dealing with significant trauma, schools often provide a sense of belonging, stability, safety and opportunity”.

Anyone interested in sponsoring Deja’s Olympic training can contact Tempo Systems Triathlon Club.