“I want other kids to know they are allowed to speak up and that their ideas are important.” Jordy, National Youth Participation Advocate.
Image: A photo of Jordy smiling at the camera. He has brown hair, green eyes and is wearing a green sports top.
Life Without Barriers has long been guided by the voices of the people we support. This year, that commitment has been strengthened with the development of our first Accountability Statement, created in collaboration with the National Youth Advisory Group (NYAG).
The NYAG is made up of 15 young people aged between 15 and 25 from across Australia, all with lived experience of care. They bring insight, ideas and courage to conversations that shape our organisation. Their perspectives remind us that accountability is not just a principle; it is a practice that must be embedded in how we work every day.
Jordy is one of those young people and recently he presented at the 2025 National Foster & Kinship Care Conference alongside Anthony Raitman, Executive Director of Strategy and Risk at Life Without Barriers and Jacintha Batchelor, Carer Ambassador.
Image: Anthony, Jordy and Jacintha on stage presenting at the 2025 National Foster & Kinship Care Conference.
Jordy spoke about how lived experience can influence reform in the foster care system. He shared how his involvement in NYAG provided a genuine platform to advocate for change, saying,
“When you speak up, people do listen, and sometimes they even change things because of what you say.” Jordy said.
“My role as a Youth Participation Advocate is to voice my concern about how the care system can work better.”
“We get to share ideas and help make decisions that affect kids like us. It makes me feel like my voice really matters.”
Anthony asked Jordy how it feels to have his story and ideas help make foster care better for other kids.
“It feels amazing to share my story as part of the National Youth Advisory Group.” Jordy shared.
“I am helping make things fairer. An example is the Accountability Statement.”
“Life Without Barriers recently worked with our National Youth Advisory Group to establish an accountability statement so that we understood what it meant to be accountable to children and young people in our care, and that we could meet up and live up to those expectations," Anthony added.
When asked why Jordy thought it was important for people like him to be given a job where lived experience as seen as crucial, he said. ‘It shows that what I went through matters.’
“When Life Without Barriers offered me this role it made me feel respected. I am not just telling my story; I have lived experience of this system. I am helping staff understand what it is really like to be in care.”
“That means they can make better choices for me and other kids.”
“It is important because people who have lived experience know what works and what does not. The system also needs to be flexible so it can accommodate diverse needs and disabilities.”
Jordy said it is important to hear from kids with diverse backgrounds and experiences ‘Because every kid’s story is different.’
“Some kids come from diverse cultures, some have disabilities, some are LGBTQIA+. If we only listen to one type of story, we miss what others need.”
“When we hear from lots of kids, we can make foster care safer and fairer for everyone.”
Jordy said he wanted other kids in care to know that their voice really matters.
“I used to think no one would listen to me because I was just a kid in care. But being part of National Youth Advisory Group, showed me that when you speak up, people do listen, and sometimes they even change things because of what you say.”
“I want other kids to know they are allowed to speak up and that their ideas are important.”
After Jordy spoke, Anthony introduced the Voices of Innovation project, which uses human-centred design to co-create solutions with those who have lived experience - children, young people, carers and families.
"My approach to driving innovation has been enriched by the wisdom and experiences of young people, their families and carers." Anthony said.
"Co-presenting with Jordy and Jacintha is a demonstration of how much we value Lived Experience and models co-design in practice.”
To wrap up the session, Jacintha reflected on the vital role carers play in creating safe and nurturing environments for children. She reinforced the importance of recognising carers’ expertise and involving them meaningfully in decision-making, echoing the need for stronger, more responsive support structures.
The Accountability Statement promises
Transparency: We are honest in our communication to build trust and engagement
Involvement: We include children and young people in decision-making processes to enhance their voices
Support: We provide ongoing guidance through periods of transition to ensure emotional and cultural safety
Feedback: We listen to children and young people's voices to improve services and practices
Empowerment: We provide training and resources to enable youth leadership and advocacy
For young people in care, accountability means being heard, being informed, and being part of decisions about their lives. For Life Without Barriers, it means creating systems where those expectations are not optional, but standard practice.
