When Carlatina Urquhart moved out of home and into her own apartment at the age of 18 she had no furniture, few domestic skills and "no idea where to start".

She spent the first few months sleeping on a second-hand couch and living off two-minute noodles, fried rice and scrambled eggs while trying to study a childcare course.

Carlatina Urquhart believes young people in care should not be forced to leave home at 18. Credit:James Brickwood

"I had no idea what I was doing," she said. "I had little furniture, no washing machine and no idea where to start. I wasn't focused on my studies because I was so worried about my living situation. It just made me feel really unsettled and anxious."

Like many young people who have been in out-of-home care, Ms Urquhart left her foster family when she turned 18.