“Don't stand up on unlevel ground”: Care leavers' experiences of out-of-home care

Background: Children and young people in contact with child protection services often experience poorer life outcomes compared to their peers. Limited research exists on the reasons behind this disparity from the perspective of those with direct lived experience. Objective: To explore and amplify the voices of care leavers (adults formerly in care) and understand their unique experiences and perspectives on the benefits and challenges of being a child or young person in care. Participants and setting: Seven care leavers aged 19–69 years (three Australian Aboriginal, four non-First Nations), participated in a semi-structured, open-ended interview. Methods: Founded in exploratory and participatory methodology, interviews were examined using qualitative thematic analysis to identify patterns of meaning connected to the research question. Findings: Six themes were identified: 1) Care can be good…but it is luck of the draw; 2) Care is conditional; 3) Don't stand up on unlevel ground; 4) OOHC is not my identity (an identity to be hidden, yet a desire to be known); 5) Not my real family or my real home (the desire to belong and be at home); and 6) Kept in the dark - seen but not heard (powerless and uninformed). Conclusion: Care leaver's stories challenge assumed narratives about Out-Of-Home Care, highlighting how short-term, inconsistent care undermines children's need for stability, participation and meaningful relationships. Findings contribute theoretically by examining intersectionality in care contexts and practically by advocating for relational continuity as well as child-centred, participatory, culturally responsive models of care.