Transcript: Kevin’s Story
Kevin
Michele and Jo - foster carers to Kevin
Taylor - Epuni Youth Worker
[Kevin] I lived with my parents and then CYF until the age of about six or seven and
throughout that time my parents were high drug users.
[Michele and Jo] I think in his own world and in his environment there were a lot of adults
around, a lot of people that were obviously were not very safe people for him to be around,
but he is very good at talking to people in general so it wasn’t hard for him to talk to a social
worker.
[Kevin] I started seeing a lot of things, like of them taking drugs and kind of being there, but
not really being there in their head and things like that.
[Michele and Jo]] His Mum was his primary carer but she wasn’t in any condition to look after
him very well and his father was pretty absent, in and out of his life and when he was
present it tended to result in some serious domestic violence stuff.
[Kevin] Once I got taken away from their care I got put into a family home which I didn’t like
so I fought there.
[Michele and Jo] So, when he was eight his auntie and uncle stepped up to say ‘we would
really like to care for our nephew’. I take my hat off to them, they did a fantastic job.
[Kevin] One day I just over-stepped it and went too far. Over aggressive and ended up being
placed into Epuni care and protection residence.
[Taylor] When he first came in he was pretty scared, quite vulnerable and quite anxious. Just
for the first two weeks it was pretty difficult, he was pretty challenging.
[Kevin] When I went into Epuni I was quite shocked, just the whole environment of it. Big
staff members with hair pieces and just being locked in with big thick windows and big wire
fences. It was quite scary and intimidating.
[Michele and Jo] Obviously when he had to have a period of time in secure care at Epuni he
has met a couple of the guys there who he just decided that they were actually pretty cool.
They have been really good in terms of messaging and you know, talking to him and just
being available for him.
[Kevin] I started realising that I was starting to get a lot more the more I behaved, which I
was enjoying.
[Taylor] I was actually one of the ones who pushed my Manager to have one of the
residences dogs (Tess - the dog in residence).
[Kevin] I think the bigger change for me was being able to have someone else I was close to.
Tess being a dog and then Taylor being the person, so a good companion there.
[Taylor] At the time it was a great concept and Kevin just loved her.
[Kevin] Once I did leave it was really good to be able to be into that transition and then part way into my transition be able to see Taylor and Tess again.
[Taylor] ...and it was initially him that made the first contact with me or through his social
worker who said that Kevin really wants to see you and the dogs.
[Kevin] That way me and Taylor could go out and do things without being restricted by Epuni
rules and regulations and things like that.
[Michele and Jo] Yeah, I know for Kevin that there are people that have come into his life
and that have really made the difference in terms of the choices he has ultimately made.
[Kevin] I live with Michele and Jo for my new foster care givers and they are really good
people. Really supportive at school and at home. Really support me with my horse riding
and all that kind of thing. They are just really good people to be with and I have known them
for quite a long time.
[Michele and Jo] He is really fun to be around. You always know that you can come home
and know at the end of a long day that Kevin is going to have some interesting little gem or
story to tell you about his day. It’s actually really neat to come home and have that.
[Taylor] I’m still a part of his life now and it’s just unbelievable where he has come from.
From a horrific upbringing to where he is now, it is just really a success to Child, Youth &
Family and I’m really proud of him.
[Michele and Jo] He leaves a real impression in peoples’ hearts. He is certainly a character.
He has his ups and downs like any other teenager but he really is turning into a wonderful
young adult.
[Michele and Jo] Never think that you can’t make a difference or that you don’t make a
difference. No matter how much time you end up spending with a child or young person, if
it’s five minutes or five hours, it could be in that bit of time that you say something that really
resonates or makes a difference for that child and young person.
[Kevin] I just feel like it is such a great privilege to have all these great supports. Coming
from school, my teacher Rachael Martin and then from Epuni, I had Tess, Jo over there,
Taylor. At home I’ve got Michele and Jo. Family supports we’ve got a friend called Alistair.
Yeah, just so many people that are willing to put their hands up and help in any way that
they can which is really good to have them there. Yeah, I’m making them proud.