News

Our Rise students, siblings and parents living on the NSW Central Coast were invited to The Benevolent Society’s school holiday community event!

The sunny afternoon reptile show was a huge success! Snakes, lizards and frogs were introduced to the transfixed group of children, followed by some crafts and afternoon tea.

These are not only fun outings for the children, but also a chance for families to meet others who are in a similar situation and form a community network in a judgment-free environment.

One of the new families to join Rise spoke with another about how great the holiday activities were and said, “It’s a time for my kids to spend time with others and know they’re not alone.”

Families chatted about past events and how much fun they had, as well as how much they looked forward to them each term.

“It’s a time for my kids to spend time with others and know they’re not alone.”

In our recent Children’s Voices research project with Monash University, one of the key findings was how important it is to children with a parent in custody that they still get opportunities to ‘just be kids’ and have fun, regardless of what their families are going through.

Families with a parent in the custody often withdraw from social activities or give up hobbies and sports for multiple reasons, including financial difficulties, logistics with only one carer at home, and stigma.

Days like these certainly prioritise fun and are a nice way for children and their families to enjoy the holidays together and take some time out from dealing with heavier issues they often do during the school term and at home.

Our lead mentor said, “I’m proud to be part of such a caring, child- and family-led community.”

SHINE for Kids thanks The Benevolent Society for including our students in this wonderful day. We also thank Mosaic: Multicultural Connections for offering activities.