So the now 26-year-old who spent more than a decade in care turned to the Dame Roma Mitchell Trust.

Alysha reunited with her mother at the age of 12, but remained under guardianship until she turned 18.

She credits the trust, and its grants which support young people with a care experience, for helping her strike out on her own.

Alysha has applied for and received three grants over the past few years for a lawn mower, a fridge and most recently a washing machine.

“I’m too broke to get it myself, so it’s amazing there’s funding for people like me who’ve had a hard start to life,” she said.

The Dame Roma Mitchell Trust provides grant funding for eligible children and young people to achieve personal goals, contribute to health and wellbeing, or provide developmental opportunities.

That can include everything from a computer to study, finance for a business opportunity or for items to set up home – just like in Alysha’s case.

Alysha now lives in a small coastal community on the Yorke Peninsula, in a house she inherited along with her mother, from her maternal grandfather.

“My pop developed dementia when I was 17, and we cared for him until I was 21, when he passed away,” she said.

Alysha first learned of the trust about the same time, from her sister’s foster carer.

“She knew I was going through a rough patch,” Alysha said.

Alysha is now planning to apply for another grant, this time to help support her son Harley, who’s just turned four.

“I don’t have much money at all,” she said.

“I’m thinking about getting him a bedroom set, if I can.”

You can apply for a grant here.