Pumps and poetry (2023) by Melanie Senior is an article exploring Senior’s work in the Victoria, Australia child protection system from the perspective of a lawyer with Care Experience and having been a foster carer too.

Melanie Senior writes poignantly of the “shame and stigma” that continue to haunt her, “shame and stigma” which was “ground” into her during her childhood.

She says:

“Within Western society, there persists a negative view of children who have experienced out-of-home Care. Widespread beliefs include that such children have inherently problematic behaviours, are likely to leave school prematurely, rely upon government benefits, experience alcohol or drug issues, engage in criminal activity and are much more likely to become pregnant as teenagers…

She goes on to talk about how these attitude are incorporated into records kept on kids in the care system, and that the “language, stereotypes and expectations” for such children haven’t changed much since the 19th century.