Care experienced LGBTQA + young people in out-of-home care in Australia: A case study

Abstract

This paper presents a case study that discusses the lived experiences of two LGBTQA + young people who have been in out-of-home care in Australia, focusing particularly on the influence of relationships on their developing sexual identity. Utilising a secure base theoretical perspective, we argue that how young people experience support, care and safety may depend on the relational context in which it is received, and that warm, loving relationships may be just as significant for the development of positive gender and sexual identities as explicit support for identity formation. The findings from the two narratives provide an argument in favour of the secure base model to support young LGBTQA + people in out-of-home care.