Forging a bright new path

22 Apr 2021

“I really like cooking and eventually, I would love to own my own business – maybe a food truck – serving traditional dishes,” Tommi-Rae said. 

Meeting Tommi-Rae now, you see a happy, driven young woman whose baby boy is clearly the centre of her world but 12 months ago, things were very different. 

“My life a year ago looked nothing like it does now,” Tommi-Rae said. 

“I was a bad drug addict, I had nowhere to live, no job and no goals. 

“When Charles was born, something inside me changed. I knew I had to do better for my baby.” 

After completely ceasing her drug use, Tommi-Rae moved to Perth from Geraldton in December 2020 to join the Horizon House Young Mother and Baby Program (HHYMBP) when Charles was nine months old. 

At serious risk of homelessness, she had struggled to access emergency accommodation for herself and Charles in Geraldton but persevered and eventually was able to secure a place at a local women’s shelter. 

Whilst staying there, she got in touch with Horizon House Geraldton and the caregivers there referred her on to the Young Mother and Baby Program in Perth. 

“When I first called, I wasn’t eligible for the Program because I was still smoking a bit of marijuana,” Tommi-Rae said. 

“But they put me in touch with some local supports to help me quit. I had to take certain steps – get sign off from a drug counsellor, regularly attend a playgroup and stuff like that and then I was able to reapply and join the Program.” 

Tommi-Rae said it has changed her life. 

“When you don’t have a safe, secure and stable place to stay, it’s pretty much impossible to think about anything long-term. 

“Horizon House has given me stability, security and a routine, which I never had before but I love. 

“The staff here have helped me set goals for myself and they support me to work towards them –they teach me how to do things for myself so that I can be a strong, independent woman and mother. 

“For example, before I started my hospitality course at TAFE, they took me up to the campus to check it out and then they sat down and looked at the public transport journey planner with me and helped me figure out how I was going to get myself there and back every day. 

“They’re supporting me to find childcare for Charles while I study and do my work placement, they’ve helped me access Centrelink payments and basically to figure out and then do all the things I need to do to get my life in order.

“Being around other mums has been another really great thing about being here. 

“I’ve got other people to talk to who really understand what I’m going through and we can support each other with all the challenges and emotions that comes with being a new mum. 

“We get to share all the wonderful things about having a baby together too. 

“I love my little boy so much and I want to make sure I’m setting a good example for him and that he will grow up to have a life where he has opportunities and options. I want him to be able to have goals and my job as his mum will be to support him to achieve those goals.” 

“This is the first course that I’ve ever done and this work placement is my first job. I feel like Charles is going to grow up seeing that positive example and I am so proud and happy about that. I want to do the best I can for him.” 

When asked if she would recommend the Horizon House Young Mother and Baby Program to other young mums who are in a similar position to the one she was, Tommi-Rae said unquestionably, yes she would. 

“Moving to Perth from Geraldton was a huge step for me, and honestly it was pretty scary, but I haven’t regretted it for a second. 

“This Program will make you realise that you can achieve the dreams you have for yourself. You might get knocked down a few times but you’ll find the support to get up and keep going, which is so important. 

“You’re stronger than you know and the people here help you realise that.”