<p>The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child affirms children’s right to participate in decisions that affect their lives and to maintain connections with their birth families and cultures. Despite over three decades of this recognition, which is embedded in policy and practice standards globally, there is a dearth of research providing an understanding of whether and how children’s rights are enacted in practice for children from culturally diverse backgrounds in statutory out-of-home care. This article presents four case studies, drawing on the perspectives of children, carers, caseworkers, and a birth family member. One key theme was highlighted in each of the four case studies to capture critical issues within the field. These include: contested motherhood in shaping identity and belonging; fitting in and navigating cultural tensions; competing perspectives on culture and stakeholder roles; and intentionality in nurturing bicultural identity. Findings underscore children’s capacity to develop meaningful relationships, cultural connections, and a healthy sense of belonging and identity with both their carer and birth families and cultures. While implementation challenges remain, this study emphasises the significance of intentional and collaborative care approaches that recognise the complex circumstances and interdependence of children and their families, and prioritise the rights, participation and agency of key stakeholders, particularly children, as active agents in their cultural care and identity construction.</p>