More Than Our Childhoods: A survivor-led participatory approach to out-of-home care life story research

Children in out-of-home care (OOHC) are often perceived as a burden on society among the general public. Low expectations of care-experienced people (CEP) persist into adulthood, leading to marginalisation and discrimination in education and employment. This article presents findings from an Australian research project that aims to disrupt ‘deviant’, ‘delinquent’ or deficit narratives commonly associated with CEP. The study used a survivor-led participatory approach to examine the long history of societal stigma towards CEP and the rising prominence of survivor-activism in this area. It describes one strand of the study consisting of an online biographical database containing 307 life stories about CEP which transcend deficit stereotypes and highlight our contributions to community, culture, and the OOHC research and policy agenda. These include 281 life stories of prominent historical and contemporary figures constructed using secondary research, and 24 life stories co-constructed with everyday Australians. Findings from a sub-sample of these life stories are presented as a form of historical advocacy that seeks to reinforce narratives of survival. Using a life course approach, the paper examines self-identities and trajectories in education, career, and activism among adults who spent time in OOHC during their childhoods. It concludes with a discussion of how the study can directly benefit CEP by reinforcing resilient self-identities, promoting a sense of belonging, providing evidence to inform strengths-based care leaver policies, and underscoring the value of an empowering and inclusive OOHC research agenda. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this paper contains names and voices of deceased persons.