Lived experiences of First Nations children in Therapeutic Residential Care

Abstract

Background: First Nations children and young people are disproportionately represented in residential care in Australia. This overrepresentation is a direct consequence of the enduring legacy of colonialism and assimilation policies that have fractured Indigenous families and communities. Objective: This article examines the lived experiences of First Nations young people living in Therapeutic Residential Care (TRC) settings, exploring what supports their wellbeing and what constrains it. Participants: Sixteen First Nations young people aged 12–18 living in TRC settings across New South Wales, Australia. Methods: Using thematic analysis informed by Critical Race Theory, the study privileges the voices of young people, positioning them as knowledge-holders whose insights are too often marginalised or excluded from policy discourse. Results: Participants identified key enablers of wellbeing, including relational stability, cultural affirmation, and opportunities for autonomy and growth. Constraints included frequent relocations, disempowering routines, fractured identity, and cultural disconnection. Themes of systemic racism and the need for cultural safety emerged strongly. Young people articulated both what the system must stop doing (e.g., disempowering practices) and what it must do more of (e.g., honoring relationships, embedding cultural safety, and enabling agency). Conclusions: The study highlights the urgent need for structural reform in TRC, grounded in Indigenous perspectives and relational accountability. Elevating the lived expertise of First Nations young people is essential to creating culturally safe, empowering care environments.