When some children were turning to drugs and alcohol to cope with their anxieties, Corey turned to tattoos.
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The day Corey celebrated his 18th birthday was undoubtedly a milestone event, but it was a day filled with both happiness and sadness.
He was leaving a life he had hated for so many years, but he was leaving so many behind.
Corey, like so many before him, grew up in the foster care system and was forced to grow up fast.
There is no doubt that there are children out there who have had positive foster care experiences, and there are families who have loved their foster children as if they were their own.
Many children grow up in the foster care system in a family that loves and cares for them.
Corey says his story was very different.
ABC’s Four Corners presented a story on out-of-home care last month, alleging some children in the care of one Tasmania provider were being neglected.
Corey was never in the provider mentioned in the story, but he does have a first-hand experience of care.
Human Services Minister Jacquie Petrusma confirmed this week that 11 children still in the care of the provider were being removed, reiterating that the children in care were safe.
“With the child protection kids, I can see why they go down the road of criminals and drug addicts because it’s traumatising,” Corey said.
“I had times where it got that bad that I contemplated suicide. But I didn’t because I knew that if I left, no one would be there to look after [the others].”
For most people who have no firsthand experience with the foster care system, it can seem like a different world – and often it is.
Corey alleged that he saw neglect happening in our own backyard, but he felt like nobody could see it.
Before his eyes, Corey said he saw a generation of people whose lives were being taken away.
He saw their hope, their self-worth, confidence and spirit starting to fade.
Tasmania’s Commissioner for Children and Young People Mark Morrissey has called for the introduction of an independent advocate to oversee the sector.
“These children and young people deserve to be front and centre at all times,” Mr Morrissey said.
“This is about increased accountability and transparency, but ultimately it’s about doing all we can to give children in state care the best possible level of support.”
Today, Corey is living a healthy life, but worries about the children still in care.
“All I want to do is to help other people so they don’t go through what I did,” he said.
“It’s been tight wrapped for a long time and it’s about time it’s come out.”