Megan: A Foundation for Both of Them

Megan* was, 19 years old and 39 weeks pregnant was referred and arrived at Hope Street’s Brunswick West refuge. A First Nations young woman who had a strained relationship with her biological parents and had grown up moving between various family members across Darwin, Brisbane, and Melbourne, came to Hope Street with very little time before the birth of her child, and a lot to navigate. 

Hope Street’s Youth Residential Brunswick West program (YRBW) and the Youth Support Service (YSS) teams worked together, coordinating a hospital birthing plan and connecting Megan with external services to ensure she had continuous care through the birth and beyond. A personalised case management plan was developed with Megan, putting her goals and voice at the centre of her support. 

Within weeks of arriving, she gave birth to her daughter, Sara. 

With her case managers alongside supporting her, Megan engaged with the Royal Women’s Hospital for ongoing maternal care, connected with the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, and began working with the Margaret Tucker Youth Hostel, a hostel for young First Nations females and their children.  

Through these connections, she built parenting skills and grew in confidence as a mother, embracing her new role with maturity and a genuine commitment to providing a safe, nurturing environment for Sara. 

The goal she kept coming back to was a stable home for Sara. Hope Street’s team supported her to pursue this, and Megan successfully secured long-term community housing, close to shops, childcare, and services. Exactly what she’d been working toward. 

In a short period of time, Megan went from arriving at the refuge heavily pregnant and largely alone, to leaving the program with a home, a support network, and a clear plan for her and Sara’s future. 

*Name changed to protect privacy.