This is a podcast created for young people with experiences of living in state care. Its part of the GOM Central Project, created with a group of young care leavers and based on their expertise of the system.

GOM Central is part of Relationship Australia South Australia’s Post Care Support Services, which helps young people from care backgrounds with stuff like grant and housing applications, referrals, counselling, and accessing government records. Call Post Care Support Services on 1800 188 118 or visit elmplace@rasa.org.au

Straight Up was created on Kaurna and Peramangk Country. We wish to acknowledge the Kaurna and Peramangk peoples, and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians; their spiritual, physical, emotional, mental and economic connection to the Land and Seas. We acknowledge the original custodians of Australia and in doing so understand that their inherent Cultural and Spiritual beliefs continue to sustain the living People of each region.

GOM Central is funded by the Department of Child Protection, and delivered by Relationships Australia South Australia. Straight Up is produced by Narrative Marketing.

Having Kids in Care

Brianah and Emily both fell pregnant while they were still in care themselves, and experience

Michel, from Metropolitan Youth Health, works with young parents and knows about the challenges they face and where they can seek support.

Here are some resources and services for young parents:

Metropolitan Youth Health, are in Christies Beach, Angle Park and Elizabeth. They provide free, confidential, one on one support for young people (12-25), helping clients complete education, maintain their physical, sexual and mental health and strengthen parenting skills and confidence.

Hannah Place is based in Pooraka, and provides support and accommodation to young women (up to 18) who are pregnant or parenting.

Aboriginal Family Support Services offer programs for Aboriginal parents and families to be equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to grow happy in a safe and healthy environment.

Parent Easy Guide has information for young parents about being a parent, like how to look after yourself, being a good role model and being an organised parent.

Relationships Australia South Australia offer support groups, programs and courses, groups and case work for families with children under 12.

The parenting helpline (1300 364 100) provides 24/7 telephone information and support.

Pregnancy Advisory Centre offers women the option of terminating their pregnancy.

Special thanks to Michel Wyman and Metropolitan Youth Health, and to Brianah and Emily for sharing your stories.

This is a podcast created for young people with experiences of living in state care. It's part of the GOM Central Project, created with a group of young care leavers and based on their expertise of the system.

GOM Central is part of Relationship Australia South Australia’s Post Care Support Services, which helps young people from care backgrounds with stuff like grant and housing applications, referrals, counselling, and accessing government records. Call Post Care Support Services on 1800 188 118 or visit elmplace@rasa.org.au

This podcast was created on Kaurna and Peramangk Country. We wish to acknowledge the Kaurna and Peramangk peoples, and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians; their spiritual, physical, emotional, mental and economic connection to the Land and Seas. We acknowledge the original custodians of Australia and in doing so understand that their inherent Cultural and Spiritual beliefs continue to sustain the living People of each region.

GOM Central is funded by the Department of Child Protection and delivered by Relationships Australia South Australia. Straight Up is produced by Narrative Marketing.

Corona Convos is a Straight Up spin off, chatting to people who have lived in care about what life is like during COVID-19.

If you want up-to-date South Australian info about COVID-19, head to https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/

COVID-19 is putting lots of extra stress on people, if you’re struggling with things like parenting, mental health, housing, finances, or relationships (or in another area of your life) we can help! Relationship Australia South Australia’s Post Care Support Services are still available for anyone who has lived in care for more than six months. Call 1800 188 118 for more information, or visit the website.

Straight Up and Corona Convos is created by The GOM Central Project with a group of young people with experiences of living in care, and funded by the Department of Child Protection.

This podcast was created on Kaurna and Peramangk Country. We wish to acknowledge the Kaurna and Peramangk peoples, and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians; their spiritual, physical, emotional, mental and economic connection to the Land and Seas. We acknowledge the original custodians of Australia and in doing so understand that their inherent Cultural and Spiritual beliefs continue to sustain the living People of each region.

Nothing About Me Without Me

Every year the CREATE Foundation holds a conference about out-of-home-care. Last year was CREATE’s 20th anniversary, and they invited Nora and Jamie-Lee to come and speak about the GOM Central Project. We thought it would be a good idea to do some recording, and give everyone who missed out, a little taste of what it’s like.

If you’re interested in finding out more about the CREATE Foundation and conference check out:

CREATE Foundation is the national consumer body representing the voices of children and young people with an out-of-home care experience. CREATE advocates for young people with care backgrounds while actively involving young people in their varied services and programs.

Create Your Future is a resource for all things relating to transitioning from out-of-home care to independent living. This site also includes support services and an abundance of tips and advice.

The Sortli App is a free mobile app which holds all of your important documents, so you have them with you everywhere you go. Sortli also has a bunch resources available to young people which can be helpful before, during or after transitioning out of care, and helps you navigate things getting a license, or a bank account, or a job or saving up.

The 2019 CREATE Conference report summarizes the conference, and includes pictures, data and highlights.

The ‘Are we Listening?' and ‘CREATE’s Advocacy’ reports were referenced at the conference by CREATE Foundation Executive Director of Research, Dr Joseph McDowall, and may be of interest.

CREATE’s other reports can be found here.

Special thanks to CREATE Foundation and all the people who shared their stories and experiences on this episode.

This is a podcast created for young people with experiences of living in state care. It’s part of the GOM Central Project, created with a group of young care leavers and based on their expertise of the system.

GOM Central part of Relationship Australia South Australia’s Post Care Support Services, which helps young people from care backgrounds with stuff like grant and housing applications, referrals, counselling, and accessing government records. Call Post Care Support Services on 1800 188 118 or visit elmplace@rasa.org.au

This podcast was created on Kaurna and Peramangk Country. We wish to acknowledge the Kaurna and Peramangk peoples, and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians; their spiritual, physical, emotional, mental and economic connection to the Land and Seas. We acknowledge the original custodians of Australia and in doing so understand that their inherent Cultural and Spiritual beliefs continue to sustain the living People of each region.

GOM Central is funded by the Department of Child Protection and delivered by Relationships Australia South Australia. Straight Up is produced by Narrative Marketing.

Corona Convos is a Straight Up spin off, chatting to people who have lived in care about what life is like during COVID-19.

If you want up-to-date South Australian info about COVID-19, head to https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/

COVID-19 is putting lots of extra stress on people, if you’re struggling with things like parenting, mental health, housing, finances, or relationships (or in another area of your life) we can help! Relationship Australia South Australia’s Post Care Support Services are still available for anyone who has lived in care for more than six months. Call 1800 188 118 for more information, or visit the website.

Straight Up and Corona Convos is created by The GOM Central Project with a group of young people with experiences of living in care, and funded by the Department of Child Protection.

This podcast was created on Kaurna and Peramangk Country. We wish to acknowledge the Kaurna and Peramangk peoples, and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians; their spiritual, physical, emotional, mental and economic connection to the Land and Seas. We acknowledge the original custodians of Australia and in doing so understand that their inherent Cultural and Spiritual beliefs continue to sustain the living People of each region.

Care Court Cavan

In this two-part series, we talk to young people who have gone from being in care to being in the Adelaide Youth Training Centre (also known as Cavan). They tell us their about how they ended up inside, and what it’s like there. We also talk to Magistrate Philip Broderick, who has worked in the youth courts, and Mary Wellington, who works with residents of Yatala Labour Prison who were in care as children.

If you’ve been in Cavan and you need a place to live, there is a housing program available. Check your eligibility here.

Centrecare also offers a program for Aboriginal young people at risk of entering the youth justice system. Check it out here.

Special thanks to Mary Wellington, Michael Broderick and to the young people who have shared their stories.

This is a podcast created for young people with experiences of living in state care. It’s part of the GOM Central Project, created with a group of young care leavers and based on their expertise of the system.

GOM Central is part of Relationship Australia South Australia’s Post Care Support Services, which helps young people from care backgrounds with stuff like grant and housing applications, referrals, counselling, and accessing government records. Call Post Care Support Services on 1800 188 118 or visit elmplace@rasa.org.au

This podcast was created on Kaurna and Peramangk Country. We wish to acknowledge the Kaurna and Peramangk peoples, and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians; their spiritual, physical, emotional, mental and economic connection to the Land and Seas. We acknowledge the original custodians of Australia and in doing so understand that their inherent Cultural and Spiritual beliefs continue to sustain the living People of each region.

GOM Central is funded by the Department of Child Protection and delivered by Relationships Australia South Australia. Straight Up is produced by Narrative Marketing.

Care Court Cavan

If you’re interested in finding out more about the over-representation of young people from care or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds in youth detention, here are a couple of articles to read:

Inadequate placement matching causing fear among children and young people in care – Office of the Guardian for Children and Young People 2019

Report finds children in care overrepresented in youth justice – Office of the Guardian for Children and Young People 2019

Young people in state care overrepresented in the youth justice system – Office of the Guardian for Children and Young People 2016

Special thanks to Mary Wellington, Michael Broderick and to the young people who have shared their stories.

Straight Up is a podcast created for young people with experiences of living in state care. It’s part of the GOM Central Project, created with a group of young care leavers and based on their expertise of the system.

GOM Central is part of Relationship Australia South Australia’s Post Care Support Services, which helps young people from care backgrounds with stuff like grant and housing applications, referrals, counselling, and accessing government records. Call Post Care Support Services on 1800 188 118 or visit elmplace@rasa.org.au

This podcast was created on Kaurna and Peramangk Country. We wish to acknowledge the Kaurna and Peramangk peoples, and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians; their spiritual, physical, emotional, mental and economic connection to the Land and Seas. We acknowledge the original custodians of Australia and in doing so understand that their inherent Cultural and Spiritual beliefs continue to sustain the living People of each region.

GOM Central is funded by the Department of Child Protection and delivered by Relationships Australia South Australia. Straight Up is produced by Narrative Marketing.

Do I have an STI?

How often do you get a sexual health check-up? Do you know where to go? What it’s like?

Well lucky for you we have put aside our embarrassment and sent Jamie-Lee and Nora into our local Shine clinic to get tested. And we made them audio record the whole thing.

If you want to get tested too you can do like us and go to a Shine SA Clinic, or the Adelaide Sexual Health Centre. Both of these services are free, confidential and inclusive.

Shine SA also has some excellent fact sheets on a range of sexual health and relationship wellbeing topics. Health Direct’s website has a bunch of helpful articles and sources for anyone who wants to learn more about sexual health, too.

Special thanks to Nikki Brandon and the staff at Shine on Wyatt Street.

This is a podcast created for young people with experiences of living in state care. It’s part of the GOM Central Project, created with a group of young care leavers and based on their expertise of the system.

GOM Central is part of Relationship Australia South Australia’s Post Care Support Services, which helps young people from care backgrounds with stuff like grant and housing applications, referrals, counselling, and accessing government records. Call Post Care Support Services on 1800 188 118 or visit elmplace@rasa.org.au

This podcast was created on Kaurna and Peramangk Country. We wish to acknowledge the Kaurna and Peramangk peoples, and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians; their spiritual, physical, emotional, mental and economic connection to the Land and Seas. We acknowledge the original custodians of Australia and in doing so understand that their inherent Cultural and Spiritual beliefs continue to sustain the living People of each region.

GOM Central is funded by the Department of Child Protection and delivered by Relationships Australia South Australia. Straight Up is produced by Narrative Marketing.