Kids don't ask to be born. Some who have been taken from neglectful or abusive parents and thrown into the foster care system likely wish on occasion they never had been. Because these unlucky children – and that is the only difference between them and us, luck – are cruelly abandoned at least twice in life.

Foster kids are dealt a bad hand at birth. Credit:istock

The first time is by their parents, be it through force or tragedy. And it is likely that within the system they will be moved around like unwanted flotsam from home to home, encountering challenges and dangers no kid should have to.

But it appears the most tragic abandonment of foster children encounter comes at the tender age of 18. And this time, it's implemented by our governments.

At this perilous age, when other kids are considering tertiary education or travel, all funding to foster children is cut off and these teens find themselves broke and homeless. This is some 3000 kids each year out of the 47,000 in state and territory foster care once again given the message they are unworthy and unwanted, that they don't warrant what other kids have - nurturing and able parents who will help them transition in to the next vital phase of their lives.