How a Kids Under Cover studio kept this First Nations family connected

Imagine living in a home so crowded that your 70 year old grandmother had to give up her room so your two sisters have somewhere to sleep.

For Liam, a young Aboriginal boy in Kinship care, this was the daily reality.

Liam was just 6 years old when he and his three siblings were placed with their maternal grandmother for foster care. Although his grandmother strived to provide the best life for her family, their small three bedroom home was cramped.

Living on top of one another, the family started to fight, and their strong bonds started to fray. Liam and his brother had no space to put distance between disagreements. Liam became disengaged with his schooling, and his friendships suffered. He felt isolated and alone. His mental health plummeted.

On top of this, the overcrowding in the home had become dangerous. Black mould was growing in Liam and his brother’s bedroom, putting their health at risk. Their grandmother’s attempts to remove the mould failed, and it continued to spread.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people are removed from their homes at a rate 22 times higher than their peers, and they are particularly vulnerable to homelessness when leaving care. 

Liam already felt this pressure at such a young age. He wondered how he would afford rent if he chose to move out. He wondered what would happen when he turned 18, and left the foster care system.

Young people like Liam are exactly why the work we do with the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) is so important. We must keep young First Nations people connected to their kin and culture – but we must also ensure families have space to thrive as a whole. Combining culturally-safe support and care with our early intervention solutions is a proven strategy for stopping homelessness before it starts for First Nations young people.

When Liam’s VACCA case worker saw the overcrowding in the home, they knew it was critical to secure a Kids Under Cover studio for him – not only to support Liam, but also for the family unit. After a lengthy process of advocacy work by both VACCA and Kids Under Cover, Liam and his family received a two-bedroom, one-bathroom studio.

It was at this point that the lives of every family member started to change.

Now living in his own space, Liam started to come out of his shell. He rebuilt a trusting, loving relationship with his grandmother, was able to have friends over to his own space, and explore his independence outside of the home. Instead of constantly fighting with his brother, Liam came to see him as a best friend. The two boys became each other’s greatest supports and confidantes. In fact, the whole family flourished. The mould was removed from his brother’s room, his grandmother was able to move back into the master bedroom, and Liam’s sisters had more space to grow.

Supported by VACCA’s services, Liam identified his goal of starting a mechanic apprenticeship as part of VCAL, and worked incredibly hard to achieve his dreams. Instead of looking to his transition out of care with fear and uncertainty, Liam now felt in control and excited for what the future held.

Today, Liam is working hard at his passion, having completed his apprenticeship and gained a full time job. Both he and his family credit the space and safety of his Kids Under Cover studio as a crucial part of his emotional stability, bold ambitions and strong relationships today.

We won’t stop until every young person facing homelessness gets the happy, safe future they deserve, just like Liam. No young person should be homeless in our community – which is why we need your help to support our Target450 campaign.

Target450 will stop homelessness for 450 more young people just like Liam. This includes 200 more studios to house 300 more First Nations young people, breaking the cycle of trauma that flows from out of home care to homelessness.

By keeping First Nations people with their kin, supported by partners like VACCA in our custom-built studio accommodation, we can give these young people the chance to chart their own path.

Want to find out more and support our journey?

Your support will help us hit Target450 – become a Target450 supporter.