Research highlights that children of incarcerated parents often face significant challenges (Martin, 2017). My personal journey with a recidivist father who dealt heroin— but not to use—has profoundly shaped my identity. The distress of his arrests and the stigma of being treated as a proxy criminal instilled deep feelings of shame and inadequacy within me.

As a pediatric occupational therapist, I became acutely aware of my clients' struggles, which mirrored my own childhood experiences. I connected with children who had witnessed police raids, their homes disrupted, and their parents subjected to violence. I recognized that their trauma stemmed not only from their parents' actions but also from the actions and language of law enforcement.

My experiences have underscored for me the importance of compassionate communication in law enforcement and the lasting shadow of trauma and stigma. If officers approached these situations with humanised language, we could potentially foster better outcomes for children affected by their parents' actions. In my work, I aim to support children in similar circumstances while seeking to overcome my own trauma.

Between 2022 and 2024, the Australian Childhood Foundation delivered the Off and Racing Youth Support Service in Perth : a successful  18-month program prototype funded by a one-off Federal Government grant , which provided equine-assisted learning and exposure to the racing industry for a group of 14-17 year old young people with involvement in child protection and at high risk of homelessness.

It provided equine-assisted learning and basic horse-handling skills; access to industry training sites and mentors; and a genuine employment pathway into the equestrian industry.  Participants were supported to improve mental health, make prosocial connections, develop life skills; and have access to cultural activities and on-country experience.  There was a focus on recovery and growth: building on individual strengths, connectedness, and hope for the future. It was underpinned by integrating current thinking in trauma transformative practice and criminogenic need into every day interactions with the young people. 

An independent social impact review by the Youth Affairs Council of WA recommended extension of the program and in late 2024, the Equestrian Youth Engagement Service was developed to significantly reframe the focus on young people with current, chronic involvement in the Youth Justice system, including custodial detention. It also broadened the job opportunities to the wider equestrian industry.  

The learnings from the pilot, social impact study and extension program will be discussed, including the power of animal assisted interventions, maintaining youth engagement with lived experience support, working within statutory systems, the importance of cultural support and supporting young people to transition to employment.