Remember when you turned 18 years old?

Did you have it all together – ready to launch into the world completely independently, equipped with a set of kitchen appliances and a blanket or two? Or were you still at home, studying, working or looking for a job, with the financial and emotional support of family or carers?

While some young people successfully manage that transition at 18, there are many who would struggle without help, even if they’ve had the advantages of a stable family life and an uninterrupted education.

In fact, an increasing number of Australian young people are staying at home for longer periods. ABS statistics show that over half of 18-24 year olds were still living at home in 2012-13 (up from 47% in 2006-07); and nearly a third of 18-34 year olds (also an increase, from 27% a decade ago).

Yet many of our most vulnerable young people don’t have this choice.

Young people who are in the care of the state – in ‘out of home care’ – are those whose home environment wasn’t safe enough for them to stay in. They’re the young people who often have a history of neglect, poor physical or mental health, exposure to violence, substance abuse and poverty to contend with; and they’ve often had fragmented support from family, friends and community.

The state becomes their de facto ‘parent’ until they turn 18 – and then, ironically, they are suddenly considered to be mature and independent enough to manage the world themselves.

It’s not surprising that a recent report from Swinburne University showed that 50 per cent of those who left state care at 18 years old would be homeless, in prison, unemployed or a new parent within 12 months of leaving care.

The Home Stretch campaign is an initiative of Anglicare Victoria, supported by Anglicare agencies across the country (including Anglicare Southern Queensland) and other community organisations that care about young people. Supporters are advocating for state care to be extended to all young people in out of home care until at least the age of 21 years – extending the same level of support to which most other young Australians have access in their transition to adulthood.

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