Care Experienced Activist, Terri-Anne Hamer on growing up in care, shame and healing

In this episode of Relational Activism in Social Work, hosts Tim Fisher and Rich Devine are joined by Terri-Anne Hamer, a care-experienced activist, who shares her powerful journey of overcoming intergenerational challenges and finding her voice within the care community. Terri-Anne reflects on her unique path, discussing her experiences as a third-generation care-experienced individual, her role as a kinship carer for her brother, and the emotional process of understanding her identity. She highlights the transformative power of storytelling for care leavers and discusses her work with the Care Leavers Association, particularly its commitment to connecting care leavers of all ages through initiatives like Care Leavers Connected and a new digital inclusion data bank.  Tim and Rich explore the impact of trauma and shame, with Rich sharing his own journey around self-worth and validation. Together, they consider how understanding one’s story can reshape identity positively. Terri-Anne emphasises the importance of systems that support care leavers beyond the age of 25 and underscores how resilience, connection, and community support empower individuals to move forward.  The episode closes with Tim reading an inspiring poem on identity and potential, followed by Rich’s “Eckhart Tolle roulette” reading, which encourages listeners to look beyond worldly achievements and find peace in understanding the essence of who they are. This episode blends humour and vulnerability, showcasing the resilience of care-experienced individuals and the meaningful impact of relational activism in social work. You can find Terri Anne on LinkedIn and Twitter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terri-anne-hamer-82b850304/https://x.com/tahamer80And learn more about The Care Leavers Association here: https://www.google.com/search?q=the+care+leavers+association&rlz=1C1GCEA_enGB973GB973&oq=the+care+leavers+association&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCggAEAAY4wIYgAQyCggAEAAY4wIYgAQyDQgBEC4YrwEYxwEYgAQyCggCEAAYgAQYogQyCggDEAAYgAQYogQyCggEEAAYgAQYogQyBggFEEUYPDIGCAYQRRg80gEINDA0OWoxajSoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8