Geelong teenager Katie Jones shares foster care experience, launches fundraiser for Meli
A Geelong teenager has reflected on her experience in the foster care system, as she launches a fundraiser to help other young people.
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Despite the trauma Katie Jones has lived through, she remains an optimistic young woman, striving to make a difference for other young people.
The 19-year-old experienced heavy trauma during her childhood and into her early teens and eventually became homeless.
Ms Jones said she struggled with an eating disorder and behaved anti-socially.
At the age of 15, after living on the streets, Ms Jones was put into the foster care system.
She said in her first year, she was placed at nine different homes.
“The most amount of months I was in one home was two or three,” she said.
“Sometimes I didn’t even know the foster carers didn’t want me back.”
Ms Jones said her anti-social behaviours were a big factor in being moved frequently.
She said she had trouble adjusting to life in foster homes, because it was so different to how she had lived for the 15 years before.
“I’ve learned a lot from it, from each foster carer,” she said.
“When you’re in a foster home, you’re in control but you’re not.
“It was stressful. And then going to school was hard.
“It was like, ‘you’ve got to treat other kids this way’, and I’m like ‘I can’t relate to any of these kids’. They don’t understand.”
Ms Jones said she had been a difficult teenager to deal with, and experienced further trauma while in a relationship at 16, as well as mental health issues.
Ms Jones left foster care for independent living at 18.
Through all of it, Ms Jones said she had constant support from those close to her, including her best friend, foster sister, and case worker Siobhan who she gets weekly coffees with.
Ms Jones said she also used walking to help with her wellbeing – and would now use this to make a difference to others in similar situations.
She has started a fundraising initiative to support children and young people in care in Geelong through The Walk To Empower.
Ms Jones is aiming to walk 150km during November, with the goal raising $2000.
All funds raised will go towards experiences and support for children and young people in foster care through not-for-profit organisation Meli.
Meli’s Better Futures Barwon – Community Connections program is supporting Ms Jones over the course of her challenge.
With their support, Ms Jones is now living in an apartment, has a part-time job she loves, and is completing a Certificate IV in Community Services.
“I always wanted to do something for other kids that might be in the same place as I was,” she said.
“I want to be able to have the voice, change something if I can.
“Even if it helps one person, that would mean the whole world to me.
“I don’t want other kids to feel the things that I’ve felt.”
There is an urgent need for foster carers in Geelong, who receive 24/7 support from Meli, with all necessary training provided.
Donate to The Walk To Empowerment at meli.org.au/campaign/the-walk-to-empowerment/
Follow Ms Jones’ journey at @walktoempowerproject on Instagram
For more information about foster caring, contact Meli on 5226 8900 or visit www.meli.org.au/foster-care
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