“Elli’s journey reminds us that young parents are capable, resilient, and deserving of every opportunity to thrive.” – Lisa
At 16, Elli is mum to seven-month-old Oakli. When Elli was pregnant, her mum referred her to Brave Foundation’s Supporting Expecting and Parenting Young Teens (SEPT) Program.
Elli was a young parent-to-be facing big responsibilities and feeling the weight of it all. With Oakli’s father no longer in the picture, Elli said it was sometimes difficult to shoulder so much on her own.
“It’s just very overwhelming. It’s a lot of responsibility to put on a 16-year-old, which can be challenging.”
Elli and her Brave mentor Lisa worked together to identify the goals that matter most to her and develop a pathway plan to achieve them. Developing her independence and confidence was a key priority for Elli and underpinned many of the goals she set for herself. Throughout her time in the program and with support from Lisa, Elli celebrated some big milestones, including buying herself a car, enrolling in study and re-entering the workforce.
Lisa recalled that, “Even on the tough days, she [Elli} showed strength and determination, often inspiring those around her without even realising it.”
For Elli, it sometimes felt like the responsibilities of caring for Oakli meant there was less time to join in activities and connect socially with her peers. As Elli’s confidence grew, her focus turned to rebuilding that sense of connection. With Lisa’s support, she began building her own village of support by connecting with other mums and bubs.
Looking to the future, Elli’s taking things day by day. Having graduated from SEPT, her first priority is carrying forward the skills and confidence she’s developed in the program to create stability and independence for her and Oakli.
