ABSTRACT
In Australia, young care leavers experience poorer outcomes across multiple life domains compared to their non-care-experienced peers, including an overrepresentation of early pregnancy and parenthood. Care-experienced young women may become pregnant soon after exiting care, facing additional challenges as they navigate their move to independent living alongside the responsibilities of motherhood. This study explores mothering and help-seeking experiences of care-experienced young mothers as they age out of out-of-home care (OOHC). A qualitative secondary analysis was conducted using data from ‘Navigating Through Life’, a mixed-method longitudinal study in Western Australia. Ten care-experienced mothers were purposively selected from the original study sample of 125 care-experienced young people, including those ageing out of care and some who had already exited OOHC. Thirty-six semi-structured and narrative interviews were analysed using a reflexive, thematic approach. The findings suggest mothering as a care-experienced young woman involves a unique and complex interplay of rewards and challenges. Informal support networks were highly valued for help-seeking, with connection being a key motivator. Leaving care and post-care support services require improvements to better support care-experienced young mothers. These mothers are motivated to break cycles of disadvantage and need trauma-informed, non-judgmental support from inclusive services that address the impact of their care history on their well-being and parenting ability. This study emphasizes the importance of improving service delivery for this group.