Leaving home

Many people will eventually leave the home they grew up in and find a home of their own. However, everyone is different. Some people leave home when they are very young, others wait till they are in their thirties, and some people live with their family all their lives.

Why you might be moving out of home

There are many reasons why people think about moving out of home. Often people first think about leaving home if they are in conflict with their parents. Sometimes the thought of leaving seems easier than resolving the conflict.

Sometimes young people may be told to move out because for some parents it may seem easier than resolving the conflict.

For others it may be the need for more space or privacy that makes them think about leaving.

Sometimes people move away from home in order to go to school, to TAFE or university, or for a job.

Some families believe that their children should only move out when they are married or have their own property. Some parents often feel rejected or even embarrassed about what other people may think of them as parents. For example, the idea that people will think they are 'bad parents' or that there is conflict within the household, all ideas that might have nothing to do with the real reason for moving out. 

Questions to ask yourself when moving out of home

When you begin to plan leaving home it is a good idea to think through the consequences and your needs. Some things to think through before deciding to leave home may include:

Do I have somewhere safe to live?

If you are over 18 and have a stable income you can probably either move into shared accomodation with friends or look to renting your own place. If you are under 18, you may find that it is difficult to rent a house or sign a lease because of your age. You can check with a local community legal centre or a tenants' rights organisation about your rights in regard to this.

If you are leaving home because of family conflict or abuse, then there are refuges and supported accommodation services that may be available to you. Ring a local community welfare or health organisation to find out more about services available in your area. Go to the Who can help you section for more info. Try calling Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 to get some advice about leaving home due to conflict. They may be able to reccommend some places near to you. Kids Helpline is free from a landline, it's open all the time and it won't show up on your home phone bill.

Do I have enough money to support myself?

Try working out a budget to see how much money you need each week to pay the rent and buy what you need.

If you do not have a job or are still studying you may be eligible for social security payments. Contact your nearest Centrelink officer to find out what benefits you are eligible to receive.

Who would support me in making the move?

Often leaving home is easiest if your family will assist and support you in making the move. If your immediate family will not support you, you may have friends or relatives who will. 

There may also be services available that provide assistance with moving, material goods, and food vouchers in your local area. Contact your local community centre for further information or Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800). 

 

Acknowledgement:

Thanks to NSW Transcultural Mental Health Centre and members of the Transcultural Youth Mental Health Network for preparing this factsheet.