A Story of Resilience, Culture, and Purpose
From Foster Care to Parliament House
Jaharn Mundy-Drazevich, a 19-year-old Yuin, Ngunnawal and Ngarigo man, was removed from his birth parents at just two months old. He spent his early years in several foster homes before being taken in by kinship carer Selina Walker.
"I had to demonstrate to him that I would not abandon him, allowing him to be a child."
The Carer Who Became a Pillar of the Community
Selina Walker, a Ngunnawal woman, decided to become a kinship foster parent when Jaharn was a young child. She also took in six closely related relatives, raising Jaharn as a single parent.
She describes fostering as difficult, particularly when raising a traumatized child, but notes that the reward is seeing that child thrive. Walker has been a foster mother for over 20 years and currently cares for nine children.
Her dedication has been widely recognized:
- ACT Barnardos' Mother of the Year (2017)
- 2024 ACT Australian of the Year Local Hero
- Founding member of Yerrabi Yurwang Child and Family Aboriginal Corporation, a community-controlled organization supporting Indigenous families and children.
A Young Man Finding His Way
Jaharn now works on several youth advisory boards and plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in social work, aiming to become a caseworker or work in care and protection. He credits Selina Walker for his development.
About seven years ago, he learned of his Yuin heritage. At his grandfather's funeral two years ago, he met extended family members for the first time—a pivotal moment in reconnecting with his culture.
A Call for Change at Parliament House
In March 2024, Jaharn stood alongside Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek at Parliament House to call for government action on the high rates of Indigenous children in out-of-home care. The event was organized by an alliance including SNAICC.
Under the National Closing the Gap Agreement, governments committed to reducing Indigenous youth in care. Yet the latest data shows Indigenous children are about 10 times more likely to be in out-of-home care than other Australians.
"Indigenous families caring for Indigenous children is important," said Catherine Liddle, CEO of SNAICC. "Children disconnected from their families are more likely to self-harm and come into contact with juvenile justice systems."
A Legacy of Strength and Pride
Selina Walker expressed immense pride in Jaharn, describing him as a strong, contributing Black man in society. Jaharn continues to learn about his culture and family connections—something he lacked while growing up in Canberra.
His journey from foster care to advocacy is a powerful reminder of what is possible when community, culture, and love come together.