Election of Anthony Albanese as Prime Minister welcomed by public housing residents in Adelaide

Callum Barrott-Walsh used to shy away from telling people his family lived in public housing – but not any more.

There was a time when Callum Barrott-Walsh shied away from telling people his family lived in public housing – but not any more.

The Huntfield Heights boy, 17, said the election of Anthony Albanese as Prime Minister has instilled a sense of pride in his background and fuelled a desire to one day enter politics himself.

“I think it’s really refreshing to see that Australia has a fresh start with a prime minister who grew up in a disadvantaged household, living in social housing with a mum who was on a disability pension,” he said on Sunday.

“It ignites great hope into a lot of younger people currently living in social housing that in Australia you have the ability to be whatever you want to be, whatever your background.”

Callum, a year 12 student at Cardijn College, said there was much about Mr Albanese’s upbringing he could relate to.

Callum Barrott-Walsh with brother Jesse and mum Allison near their housing trust home at Huntfield Heights. Picture: Tom Huntley

Anthony Albanese with his mum, Maryanne Ellery. Picture: Twitter/Anthony Albanese

The incoming prime minister’s mum lived on a disability pension.

Callum’s younger brother Jesse has Down syndrome and his dad has mental health problems. His mum stays home to care for them both.

“It’s meant there are a lot of challenges every day,” he said.

“Having a younger brother with a disability and a father with a lot of mental health challenges has really helped me to see the imbalances within society all around me and a great avenue and a great way to change that is politics, so one day I’d love to get into politics.”

Mr Albanese spoke at length about his childhood during the election campaign and, in his victory speech on Saturday night, paid tribute to his mum, Maryanne Ellery.

“It says a lot about our great country that a son of a single mum who was a disability pensioner, who grew up in public housing down the road in Camperdown, can stand before you tonight as Australia’s prime minister,” he said.

“Every parent wants more for the next generation than they had. My mother dreamt of a better life for me. And I hope that my journey in life inspires Australians to reach for the stars.”

In the northern suburb of Davoren Park, Tam Formann said she hoped Mr Albanese’s upbringing would help him understand the challenges faced by current public housing residents.

Ms Formann, 37, and her five children live in a run-down three-bedroom house, which is so cramped that one of her sons sleeps in her bedroom and another sleeps on a makeshift bed in the lounge.

Tam Formann, 37, with her son Bryce Kelly, 4 at their home at Davoren Park. Picture: Tom Huntley

Tam Formann, 37, with kids Elijah Kelly, 14, Nikki Kelly, 18 and Bryce Kelly, 4. Picture: Tom Huntley

When the family moved into the home in 2018, Ms Formann said she was told by Housing SA the placement was only temporary until a bigger place could be found.

“It was all boarded up before we got here … it was absolutely disgusting,” she said.

In the same way Mr Albanese described the dreams of his mother, Ms Formann said she hoped to provide her children with better opportunities than the ones afforded to her as a young person. Her daughter, Nikki, finished year 12 last year and is now undertaking a course in childcare.

“I’ve got her to where I wanted to be when I was her age … she got her licence before me” she said.

But she said a crucial part of improving life for future generations was ensuring families have appropriate, secure and well-maintained housing.

“We need more housing, we need to get out of here and our lives can finally start,” she said.

“I don’t want to be here. My goal is to just spend the rest of this year working out where we’re going to be for 2023.”

Ms Formann, on a carer’s pension, looks after her mum, Kathryn Barns, 64, who lives nearby in a Housing SA unit complex on Peachey Rd at Davoren Park.

Ms Barns, who lives on a disability pension, said she had always voted Liberal, including at this election, but believed Mr Albanese would do a better job at helping lift standards of living.

“Everyone is always talking about the minimum wage but no one is doing anything for the pensioners,” she said.

“We just get left behind.”

Vivian Carvell, 65, another resident of the same complex, said she did not vote out of protest because she was a member of the Stolen Generation. She also welcomed the election of Mr Albanese but said it was “getting harder and harder for the young ones”.

“I feel sad because I’ve got eight grandkids and six great-grandkids and they’re all worried about housing,” she said.

Keisha Smith, 19, with her grandmother Vivian Carvell, 65. Ms Carvell welcomed the election of Mr Albanese but said it was “getting harder and harder for the young ones”. Picture: Tom Huntley

Her granddaughter, Keisha Smith, 19, said she receives a JobSeeker payment but has been told she is ineligible for public housing because she does not have enough money to pay for rent or a bond.

“I’m wanting to move out, I’m not really coping,” she said.

Ms Smith said she has been trying to find work as a cleaner but the pandemic meant jobs in the industry were in short supply.

She, her mother and her 13-year-old brother are currently living in emergency housing at Evanston after experiencing homelessness for much of last year.

“We were living in a hotel room for nine months with just two beds and a microwave, no kitchen,” she said.

Originally published as Election of Anthony Albanese as Prime Minister welcomed by public housing residents in Adelaide