Laticia Cox; with her Aunt Kristy at Nashville; and at Dollyworld

From the time she came into care at the age of 11, she’s been determined to find her own way.

That included finding her own carer.

“I ran away from my dad’s, and my mother said she wasn’t in the best position to support me either,” Laticia said.

“So, I said can you drop me around Aunty Tracy’s please?”

Laticia still lives with Aunty Tracy – who was a family friend –and remains forever grateful for her and her family’s support.

“I had a rough upbringing,” Laticia said. “It was very turbulent and I missed a lot of primary school.

“But I decided to reach for the stars and I’m very proud of what I’ve achieved.”

And Laticia’s achievements are many.

She was named Paralowie High’s year-12 student of the year when she graduated last year, also winning the Australian Defence Force Long Tan Leadership award, and the Muriel Matters award for her advocacy and leadership.

In 2022 she was named vocational, education and training (VET) student of the year and became a VET ambassador.

She advocates for the Rainbow Community, actively champions for LGBTQIA+ wellbeing, and tutors students in English and history.

At the age of 15, she sailed on the One and All, and continued to volunteer on board mentoring other young people.

Youth Opportunities, which is a mentoring organisation for young people, has also been a focal point for Laticia.

There she helps young people in its leadership program and has developed into a public speaker in great demand.

Recently Laticia spoke at Youth Opportunities’ Stars in the Garden event.

A local businessman in the audience was so impressed, he offered Youth Opportunities a $5000 donation if Laticia would give the same talk to his colleagues.

“He said the message I had was the message he wanted his workmates to hear,” Laticia said.

“I’ve been told I’m the poster child for resilience – I’ve learned when you get an opportunity, it’s better to say yes than no.”

Laticia still has a strong relationship with both her parents, and her three younger brothers and sister.

All but one brother are also in care.

She also has two foster brothers and a foster sister, who she still lives with.

Laticia said her relationship with the department had started out rocky, but had grown over the years.

She is particularly grateful to her caseworker Rebecca Denton.

Rebecca is in awe of Laticia’s drive, and her achievements.

“She says it’s because she’s had the same social worker for the past five years,” Rebecca said laughing.

Is that you?

“Yes, but I think she had it all in herself.”

Rebecca said Laticia had a list of goals from the age of 15, which included getting a Working with Children Check, her first aid certificate and sailing on the One and All.

“That really made her, I think,” Rebecca said.

“She told me from the outset she wanted to be a psychologist or social worker.

“She wanted to help families like hers. She’s a really amazing person.”

Late last year, the department funded a trip to Nashville in the United States so that Laticia could visit her maternal aunt, renowned bluegrass singer Kristy Cox.

“It was so nice to see her,” Laticia said. “We got to hang out. I tried all the American fast food, and it was horrible.

“We travelled to the Great Smokey Mountains and stayed in a beautiful log cabin, and went to Dollyworld, which was amazing.

“It was all about keeping that family connection, which is one of the most important things.”

The future is bright for Laticia – she’s been accepted into the psychology honours program at Flinders University and plans to become a social worker.

“It’s exciting,” she said. “It’s a new chapter in my life.”