Asked by acting host Hamish Macdonald what happened there, White said, "All the bad things.
"Lots and lots of rapes. Got a PhD in getting raped and the foster mother was absolutely awful."
White was responding to a question from a woman who had been ejected from out-of-home care aged 18 and struggled in "unsafe traditional housing" while trying make it to university.
Corey White’s story is horrific. Why don’t we start to rebuild a culture of marriage & family? “Solutions” should not go to sustaining people in their addictions. #QandA
A QandA viewer tweets support for Corey White (above with Monday's fellow panellists) after he reveals his horrific childhood. Photo / ABC
QandA's debate then moved on to the economy and "trickle-down economics".
Corey White quipped, "oh golden shower economics", the comment inspiring further support on Twitter.
"It's not about Corey White's intellectual domination of all the arguments. It's his honesty, comprehension and caring. Respect," tweeted @call_me_tomasso.
"Rest of the panel are ethical slugs and shills for their parties by comparison. Amazing Corey White. #qanda".
Monday's QandA panel also followed up the current row between senators Sarah Hanson-Young of the Greens and David Leyonhjelm.
Leyonhjelm is accused of making sexist remarks about Hanson-Young who he claimed had implied all men were rapists, which she denies.
On QandA, Shadow Health Minister Catherine King called Leyonhjelm "a complete and utter d**k".
Australian Conservatives leader, Cory Bernardi, was asked if Donald Trump should be invited to address the Australian Parliament given allegations of sexual misconduct.
Bernardi said he wanted to "note all of these accusations were levelled at Donald Trump before he was the President of the US, unlike Bill Clinton, unlike JFK if you want to go back that far.
"You can continue to delve into the character issues and failings of politicians.
"In reality, he is the president of the most powerful country in the world.
"If he comes to Australia he should be invited to dress a joint sitting of the Parliament, just like we've done for other world leaders, many of whom have character issues themselves.
"There's a courtesy in politics if a man is the head of one of your great allies, and they occupy the most powerful political position in the world, that you'd expend the courtesy to the position."
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