1. PwC 1
February 2015Game of Homes - Personas
Karl’s Story “I want my life to be better, but don’t tell me what to do”
Karl’s story
When Karl was 3 years old, he was removed from his home for his own protection.
His mother was single and only 19 years old. Karl had been exposed to violence and lack of
adequate care due to her alcoholism and drug abuse and ended up in hospital on two occasions.
Karl has displayed anti-social and violent behaviour since he was 5. He frequently raided his
foster families’ stores of alcohol and money and fought with neighbours and foster families. Karl
often feels angry doesn’t really trust anyone. His behaviour made it difficult to find a permanent
home, and he has been placed in 10 different homes during his 15 years in care. Karl never
completed Year 10.
Karl is so relieved he has finally turned 18 and can finally refuse to accept what his care worker
tells him he should do and where he should live. He can make his own choices and is choosing to
be angry at the world. Karl has been told about some of his options, like one-off grants but has
found it too hard to figure out what to do and assumes he won’t get the grants anyway.
Karl’s care workers sat down with him to make a “leaving care plan” a month ago which felt like
“planning to nowhere”. Karl found talking about bank accounts, finances and paying rent and bills
boring. He does remember they mentioned something about a game that he could play, but at
that point he was more interested in just saying no to everything.
Karl become homeless after leaving state care. He spent a few ok weeks living with his mum but
was kicked out after an argument with her boyfriend.
Karl is really reluctant to listen to ‘authority’ and is doesn’t want to take the advice of his care
workers about planning his future. He struggles to really trust anyone to help him and doesn’t
think he’ll ever be able to get a job. He has a couple of friends from previous care homes he
stayed in and he tries to keep in touch with them using his phone. He doesn’t like being on the
streets and tries to stay with friends if he can.
Karl has 2 passions, Carlton football club and Hip Hop music. He likes to listen to music and
follow his football team on his phone.
Karl doesn’t want to talk to anyone about getting a job or how he is feeling
at the moment but he does like the idea of playing a game on his phone and
potentially getting free stuff
Goals
• Keep in his friends’ good books
so he can keep staying with
them
• Make his mum happier so she
will talk to him
• Get his mum into a rehab
program
• Figure out whether he could
ever get paid work in the AFL
or hip hop music industry
Key info needs
• How to download and play the
game
• The relationship between the
game and what he needs to
pay for in real life
• The relationship between the
game and what he needs for
mental and medical health
support in real life
Frustration
• Confused by needing to call his
Hanover worker for a code
before he can play the game
Complex childhood
trauma:
Violence
Alcoholism
Mental illness
Age
Trust levels
Motivation to claim
opportunities
Level of financial need

2. PwC 1
February 2015Game of Homes - Personas
Karl’s Story “I want my life to be better, but don’t tell me what to do”
Karl’s story
When Karl was 3 years old, he was removed from his home for his own protection.
His mother was single and only 19 years old. Karl had been exposed to violence and lack of
adequate care due to her alcoholism and drug abuse and ended up in hospital on two occasions.
Karl has displayed anti-social and violent behaviour since he was 5. He frequently raided his
foster families’ stores of alcohol and money and fought with neighbours and foster families. Karl
often feels angry doesn’t really trust anyone. His behaviour made it difficult to find a permanent
home, and he has been placed in 10 different homes during his 15 years in care. Karl never
completed Year 10.
Karl is so relieved he has finally turned 18 and can finally refuse to accept what his care worker
tells him he should do and where he should live. He can make his own choices and is choosing to
be angry at the world. Karl has been told about some of his options, like one-off grants but has
found it too hard to figure out what to do and assumes he won’t get the grants anyway.
Karl’s care workers sat down with him to make a “leaving care plan” a month ago which felt like
“planning to nowhere”. Karl found talking about bank accounts, finances and paying rent and bills
boring. He does remember they mentioned something about a game that he could play, but at
that point he was more interested in just saying no to everything.
Karl become homeless after leaving state care. He spent a few ok weeks living with his mum but
was kicked out after an argument with her boyfriend.
Karl is really reluctant to listen to ‘authority’ and is doesn’t want to take the advice of his care
workers about planning his future. He struggles to really trust anyone to help him and doesn’t
think he’ll ever be able to get a job. He has a couple of friends from previous care homes he
stayed in and he tries to keep in touch with them using his phone. He doesn’t like being on the
streets and tries to stay with friends if he can.
Karl has 2 passions, Carlton football club and Hip Hop music. He likes to listen to music and
follow his football team on his phone.
Karl doesn’t want to talk to anyone about getting a job or how he is feeling
at the moment but he does like the idea of playing a game on his phone and
potentially getting free stuff
Goals
• Keep in his friends’ good books
so he can keep staying with
them
• Make his mum happier so she
will talk to him
• Get his mum into a rehab
program
• Figure out whether he could
ever get paid work in the AFL
or hip hop music industry
Key info needs
• How to download and play the
game
• The relationship between the
game and what he needs to
pay for in real life
• The relationship between the
game and what he needs for
mental and medical health
support in real life
Frustration
• Confused by needing to call his
Hanover worker for a code
before he can play the game
Complex childhood
trauma:
Violence
Alcoholism
Mental illness
Age
Trust levels
Motivation to claim
opportunities
Level of financial need

3. PwC 1
February 2015Game of Homes - Personas
Karl’s Story “I want my life to be better, but don’t tell me what to do”
Karl’s story
When Karl was 3 years old, he was removed from his home for his own protection.
His mother was single and only 19 years old. Karl had been exposed to violence and lack of
adequate care due to her alcoholism and drug abuse and ended up in hospital on two occasions.
Karl has displayed anti-social and violent behaviour since he was 5. He frequently raided his
foster families’ stores of alcohol and money and fought with neighbours and foster families. Karl
often feels angry doesn’t really trust anyone. His behaviour made it difficult to find a permanent
home, and he has been placed in 10 different homes during his 15 years in care. Karl never
completed Year 10.
Karl is so relieved he has finally turned 18 and can finally refuse to accept what his care worker
tells him he should do and where he should live. He can make his own choices and is choosing to
be angry at the world. Karl has been told about some of his options, like one-off grants but has
found it too hard to figure out what to do and assumes he won’t get the grants anyway.
Karl’s care workers sat down with him to make a “leaving care plan” a month ago which felt like
“planning to nowhere”. Karl found talking about bank accounts, finances and paying rent and bills
boring. He does remember they mentioned something about a game that he could play, but at
that point he was more interested in just saying no to everything.
Karl become homeless after leaving state care. He spent a few ok weeks living with his mum but
was kicked out after an argument with her boyfriend.
Karl is really reluctant to listen to ‘authority’ and is doesn’t want to take the advice of his care
workers about planning his future. He struggles to really trust anyone to help him and doesn’t
think he’ll ever be able to get a job. He has a couple of friends from previous care homes he
stayed in and he tries to keep in touch with them using his phone. He doesn’t like being on the
streets and tries to stay with friends if he can.
Karl has 2 passions, Carlton football club and Hip Hop music. He likes to listen to music and
follow his football team on his phone.
Karl doesn’t want to talk to anyone about getting a job or how he is feeling
at the moment but he does like the idea of playing a game on his phone and
potentially getting free stuff
Goals
• Keep in his friends’ good books
so he can keep staying with
them
• Make his mum happier so she
will talk to him
• Get his mum into a rehab
program
• Figure out whether he could
ever get paid work in the AFL
or hip hop music industry
Key info needs
• How to download and play the
game
• The relationship between the
game and what he needs to
pay for in real life
• The relationship between the
game and what he needs for
mental and medical health
support in real life
Frustration
• Confused by needing to call his
Hanover worker for a code
before he can play the game
Complex childhood
trauma:
Violence
Alcoholism
Mental illness
Age
Trust levels
Motivation to claim
opportunities
Level of financial need

4. PwC 1
February 2015Game of Homes - Personas
Karl’s Story “I want my life to be better, but don’t tell me what to do”
Karl’s story
When Karl was 3 years old, he was removed from his home for his own protection.
His mother was single and only 19 years old. Karl had been exposed to violence and lack of
adequate care due to her alcoholism and drug abuse and ended up in hospital on two occasions.
Karl has displayed anti-social and violent behaviour since he was 5. He frequently raided his
foster families’ stores of alcohol and money and fought with neighbours and foster families. Karl
often feels angry doesn’t really trust anyone. His behaviour made it difficult to find a permanent
home, and he has been placed in 10 different homes during his 15 years in care. Karl never
completed Year 10.
Karl is so relieved he has finally turned 18 and can finally refuse to accept what his care worker
tells him he should do and where he should live. He can make his own choices and is choosing to
be angry at the world. Karl has been told about some of his options, like one-off grants but has
found it too hard to figure out what to do and assumes he won’t get the grants anyway.
Karl’s care workers sat down with him to make a “leaving care plan” a month ago which felt like
“planning to nowhere”. Karl found talking about bank accounts, finances and paying rent and bills
boring. He does remember they mentioned something about a game that he could play, but at
that point he was more interested in just saying no to everything.
Karl become homeless after leaving state care. He spent a few ok weeks living with his mum but
was kicked out after an argument with her boyfriend.
Karl is really reluctant to listen to ‘authority’ and is doesn’t want to take the advice of his care
workers about planning his future. He struggles to really trust anyone to help him and doesn’t
think he’ll ever be able to get a job. He has a couple of friends from previous care homes he
stayed in and he tries to keep in touch with them using his phone. He doesn’t like being on the
streets and tries to stay with friends if he can.
Karl has 2 passions, Carlton football club and Hip Hop music. He likes to listen to music and
follow his football team on his phone.
Karl doesn’t want to talk to anyone about getting a job or how he is feeling
at the moment but he does like the idea of playing a game on his phone and
potentially getting free stuff
Goals
• Keep in his friends’ good books
so he can keep staying with
them
• Make his mum happier so she
will talk to him
• Get his mum into a rehab
program
• Figure out whether he could
ever get paid work in the AFL
or hip hop music industry
Key info needs
• How to download and play the
game
• The relationship between the
game and what he needs to
pay for in real life
• The relationship between the
game and what he needs for
mental and medical health
support in real life
Frustration
• Confused by needing to call his
Hanover worker for a code
before he can play the game
Complex childhood
trauma:
Violence
Alcoholism
Mental illness
Age
Trust levels
Motivation to claim
opportunities
Level of financial need