This presentation will explore how a participatory drama process might provide insights about how young people transition from care to independence in Queensland, Australia. Gaining knowledge around social support for young people exiting care aged 18 is important in understanding what is missing within their networks, how they value and form relationships, and the barriers and challenges around social support. Linking to IDIERI’s theme, issues of distance, separation and containment define and influence young people’s in-care experiences, particularly relating to their ability and capacity to build and maintain positive personal relationships and develop interdependency skills into adulthood. The presentation will discuss a proposed applied theatre research project that seeks to generate useful insights around social support while also effectively engaging participants in a research process which facilitates collaboration and connection.
Originally from the UK, Lucy is a Master of Arts Research candidate at Griffith University, and works as an inclusive drama practitioner for a Plural Theatre in Brisbane. Plural Theatre specialises in creating and facilitating drama workshops for marginalised and vulnerable children and young people for whom access to drama and theatre may be less accessible. In her role at Plural, Lucy works primarily with young people in and on the edge of out-of-home care, and most recently those transitioning from care to independence, using drama to explore participants’ emotions, ideas and thoughts around transition. Out of this work evolved a need to better understand young people’s experience of transition in order to develop intentional, young-person centred practice which can better support participants to articulate and express their views and needs and discover creative ways to share these with people who can help them on their journey to adulthood.