The Meanings of Permanency

THE MEANINGS OF PERMANENCY

GROWTH SOLID THRIVE

TRUST

STABILITY FOREVER SECURITY SAFETY

PERMANENCY SECURITY FAMILY CULTURE

homeBELONGING

IDENTITY

STABILITY

FAMILY FOREVER RESILIENCE

SAFETY home

SEPTEMBER 2020

The Research Centre for Children and Families, University of Sydney, is delighted to present this photographic collection that was produced as part of the Meanings of Permanency study.

The study was conducted to understand what permanency means to young people with experience of out-of-home-care in New South Wales. The New South Wales Government is implementing the Permanency Support Program in response to evidence that children need to grow up in stable, secure and loving homes. It is important to hear from young people about how they understand the concept of permanency and how decisions about permanency impact their lives.

The Research Centre brought together a small group of young people in 2019 and a second group in 2020, to express their views of permanency visually using a participatory research method called Photovoice. The young people took photos to reflect on their own history and explore what helps them feel connected, safe and secure. They worked together to select images and write captions that conveyed shared stories of resilience, belonging and cultural identity. Some words that conveyed permanency are represented in the heart shape opposite. We hope this evocative photographic collection reaches those who make decisions that impact on children and young people in out-of-home-care and builds understanding of what matters to them most.

Warm regards, A/Prof Amy Conley Wright Dr Susan Collings Director,

Research Centre for Children and Families

Research Fellow,

Research Centre for Children and Families

Permanency is the feeling that you are anchored and groundeD

AND you won’t be uprooted.

If it wasn’t for permanency,

I wouldn’t be able to do all those things that I can now,

like going to Japan to connect with my culture

The ocean represents continuity, peace and flow.

It is always there no matter what else is going on in life.

It’s something simple but it means a lot.

Something as simple as making cookies together

feels like home.

I’d spent so long moving around that it was really hard to see permanency until I had it - finally I had something

concrete

On the path of life, there can still be regrowth after damage has been done.

Permanency gives you

the foundations of hope that you carry wherever you go.

Permanency is that safe place where new things can grow.

Belonging to your family’s present and future.

It’s not about where you come from, it is where you

belong that truly matters.

Nature represents rebirth and renewal.

Always changing but reliable rather than uncertain.

The gift of your own pet shows

you are here to stay.

Shells are our ancestors bones and remind us of a connection to culture, history and time.

Ochre represents initiation and a journey of acceptance and resilience.

Belonging to places that are special to someone you love.

Babies symbolise complete trust and safety.

We are home for them.

Old buildings symbolise strength and survival.

They have weathered the effects of time.

Identity documents give you control over where you live and where you go.

No one can take that away (unless you don’t pay the rent).

A unique and shared experience because everyone sees them differently.

Sunsets are about reflection and connection to the universe.

Animals offer safety and companionship without judgement.

Pets know you best.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are so grateful to the 11 young people who took part in the study. Thanks to Aaron, AC, B, Felicity, Imogen, Stevie, LA, Mandy, MC, RK and MR*. We could not have asked for a more inspiring group to work with and thank each participant for bringing their energy, creativity, wisdom and openness.

We also gratefully acknowledge the support of Miranda Moir, from the Office of the Senior Practitioner, Department of Communities and Justice, who gave permission for us to work with members of its Youth Consult for Change group. Special thanks to the Youth Consult for Change Group Coordinator, Freija Brandie, who helped us in so many ways and whose commitment to the project was invaluable. Final thanks to the talented Bobby Hendry for design work on the book. Bobby is a valued member of the Expert Reference Group for the Fostering Lifelong Connections study whose insights based on experiences as a young person in care are helping to improve practices related to family time for children in permanent care.

This project was supported by a donation from the NSW Committee Adoption and Permanent Care Inc which helped so much with the production of this book.

*Young people made up a pseudonym or used their initials in project reporting.

SUPPORTED BY