Shell Jacovic, 30, spent most of her childhood in state care, entering the system at the age of seven.
Ms Jacovic, now a primary school teacher, describes the "scary, daunting" process of having to transition out of care when she turned 18.
"I was told that I had to look for housing because there wasn't any more funding," she said.
"I wanted to pursue university… I was really nervous about the whole situation, it was very overwhelming.
“I didn't know what to do. And I was in a situation where I was quite alone."
Ms Jacovic landed on her feet, moving in with a friend and enrolling in university, but she said the situation placed her under a great deal of pressure at an age when most of her peers had the support of their parents.
"I didn't have any financial support, any emotional support, it was just you on your own, sort of thing," she said.
"A lot of kids in care have come from traumatic backgrounds, and for me, that was definitely the case.
"And I didn't have anyone to guide me about what I should do and what is next and how to, you know, approach new challenges."
Support age limit lifted to 21
To help ease the transition to independence, the state government has announced it will invest $37.2 million into its Home Stretch program, which will provide support to young people leaving state care up until the age of 21.
The funding will go towards finding suitable accommodation, enrolling in education, finding voluntary work, improving financial skills and receiving support from a "transition coach".
"When I heard about the Home Stretch program, I was really happy, because I thought about all the children that are in care now that are going to benefit from this amazing strategy that's getting put into place," Ms Jacovic said.
"I know it definitely would have made an impact on my life, having not just financial but emotional support."
Tyler, who does not want his surname used, has been part of the program's trial over the past three years.
"I was able to get pretty much everything that I needed, they were able to emotionally support me through everything that I didn't have family to support me through," the 21-year-old said.
"Even where I'm living right now, I wouldn't have just about any of it, if it wasn't for the Home Stretch program."
Tyler said while he had received a forklift ticket and a Responsible Service of Alcohol certificate, he wanted to pursue the same path as his mentor, and help others who have been in a similar situation to him.
A 'life-changing' policy
Premier Mark McGowan said the permanent establishment of the program was an important election commitment.
"The world can be a very cold place at the age of 18, where you don't have anything, you don't have anyone," he said.
"This is a $37 million commitment, it means that the 250 to 350 young people leaving care at the age of 18 will have the support of the state through to the age of 21.
"They'll have the availability of mentors, educational support, foster carers through to 21 years of age, at which point in time, they'll be much better prepared and much more able to cope."
Minister for Child Protection Simone McGurk said Home Stretch provided practical support.
"Too often we know that without the right support, young people will have poor outcomes,” she said.
"They've already faced a number of challenges in their lives, those challenges that brought them before the child protection system in the first place.
"I'm very proud of this policy and I think it will be life-changing."
Ms McGurk pointed out that for the first time in 25 years, there had been a reduction in the number of children going into care.
Home Stretch is an opt-in program, but the need is expected to grow.
In 2022 the number of young people leaving care will be 269 but that figure will rise to 304 next year, and 339 in 2024.
Home Stretch is being delivered through the Department of Communities by Anglicare and Yorganop Association Incorporated.
The state government announced the Home Stretch trial in 2018 after an auditor-general's report found most young people leaving state care were not receiving the support they need.
The report found that put them at "higher risk of being homeless, unemployed, missing out on education and training, and not getting the physical and mental health care they need".
