Jean Carter lived at Peakhurst and La Perouse Mission with her family. She was removed from her family and sent to Bidura state government children's shelter and then to Cootamundra Aboriginal Girls' Home which was managed by the Aborigines Welfare Board.
Carter last saw her mother at the age of twelve or thirteen when she came to visit her at the Home. Soon after, Carter was informed by staff at the Home that her father and then her mother had died.
Carter was reunited with her older sister Sal and then in 1985, after twenty-seven years, she was reunited with her sister Ruth. Carter later lived at Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community in New South Wales and was very active in community life including acting as Secretary for the Progress Association and working in the preschool.
Carter was the founder and a coordinator of Jilimi Women's Centre in Nowra and won an award for Services to the Community from Warragul Aboriginal Association.
