Sometimes the Safe Places team can turn around a young person’s life over months, and sometimes it takes years.

One of the most rewarding aspects of working with young people overcoming trauma is helping them to rebuild family connections.

It says a lot about a young person’s past when the only place they feel safe is surrounded by the four walls of their cell. To the point where that young person will assault others just to “get back inside“.

In their work with young children who have suffered trauma and abuse, one of the greatest challenges for Safe Places carers is helping these youngsters understand healthy childhood behaviours.

For the average 17-year-old, showering daily and catching the bus on their own would be an everyday occurrence, but for Jay* these are giant steps towards independence and self-reliance.

Tyler* came to Safe Places for Children after a series of unsuccessful placements that did not meet his needs. He was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), global developmental delay, anxiety and encopresis.

In this interview, Julie speaks about the different perspectives she's experienced caring for young people, the challenges of both youth worker and case manager roles, and what this has taught her about working from the heart.