Teen found living in filthy South Australian state-run Tiny Home sparks fears kids set up for life on welfare

A boy found living in squalor has sparked fresh concerns Child Protection is failing vulnerable teens — with claims the system is setting them up for a life on welfare.

A teenage boy found living in squalor has sparked fresh concerns the state is failing vulnerable teens — with claims the system is setting them up for a life on welfare.

Foster carers for the boy’s sibling said they were horrified by what they saw inside his Tiny Home — one of several government-funded units meant to help young people in state care transition into independent living.

Instead, they found a filthy, rubbish-strewn pod with bashed-in walls and no staff present when they arrived.

The site is part of a Supported Independent Living Service run by the Department for Child Protection, designed for older teens who are nearing the end of their time in care.

“His Tiny Home was filthy, unhygienic, and clearly neglected,” the carers said.

“He himself was unkept and smelled of poor hygiene.”

Asked if anyone was helping him, the boy replied: “Nah, nobody gives a sh** here, they’re all pretty slack”.

The carers said he barely attended school, has no plans to get a job, and openly talks about how to “work the system” to keep welfare payments coming.

“He is acutely aware of how to manipulate the system for financial gain and has indicated that this is his long-term plan,” they said.

Inside a teenage boy's 'filthy' state-run Tiny Homes unit, showing damaged walls and rubbish scattered across the floor. Picture: Supplied

They also raised concerns about an undiagnosed disability because his sibling was diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

But when the carers pushed for an assessment, they claim his caseworker brushed it off, saying “it’s a long process” and “unlikely to happen”.

In a scathing letter to the Department, they wrote the boy had been “neglected under state care — not protected, not prepared, and not supported”.

The bathroom in state-run Tiny Homes unit has a damaged door. Picture: Supplied

Tiny Homes is a joint initiative between the Malinauskas Government and Junction Australia, aimed at helping older teens in care build life skills and move towards independence.

The site includes ten one-bedroom pods, with Junction stating staff are on-site daily, backed by 24/7 on-call support and regular inspections.

But the foster carers said that wasn’t their experience and fear other kids could be slipping through the cracks.

Guardian for children in state care Shona Reid. Picture Mark Brake

Junction chief executive Maria Palumbo defended the program, saying most teen residents were thriving.

She said staff helped young people engage in education, training and employment while learning to cook, clean and maintain their space.

“We encourage anyone to speak with us if they have concerns so we can translate these into constructive changes that make a real and practical impact in the lives of young people,” she said.

SA Guardian for Children Shona Reid said while she wouldn’t comment on this boy’s specific case, too many young people are being left to “survive on their own”.

“Imagine being 16, you have been in care most of your life, then placed in independent living, and then left to survive on your own. No guidance, no connection, no safety net,” she said.

“I regularly hear from young people who feel like they’re being set up to fail, fearing homelessness, unemployment or involvement with the justice system once they leave care.

“As one young person told us: ‘Every kid that leaves care has this story … like this is a mess for everyone.’ Supported Independent Living must never become abandoned living.”

A government spokesman said $10 million had been invested in post-care support, with regular monitoring, flexible models, and trauma-informed care.

Originally published as Teen found living in filthy South Australian state-run Tiny Home sparks fears kids set up for life on welfare