Our stories

Mackenzie* is in her last year of primary school, and after years on a waitlist to join Rise mentoring, which is in high demand on the NSW Central Coast, she’s finally in […]

Mum in custody Raegan* has spent much of her life cycling in and out of prison. But this time, something is different.    Raegan, in her mid-30s, gave birth to a beautiful […]

When mum of three Kierah* was incarcerated over ten-hours away from her children and their home in regional Queensland, it was a massive shock to the entire family.   The children had […]

Mum in custody Mandy* knew her mother was struggling with the cost of looking after her children, so she reached out to our team to help.    Mandy completed our Bringing Up […]

Jed* is three years old and lives with his Mum, Donna*, at a special ‘mums and bubs’ correctional centre in Queensland.   The two share a close bond, and he loves our […]

The difference a year can make! 11-year-old David* had a tough start in life, with both parents in custody and little contact with them. He had difficulty regulating his emotions and trusting adults. […]

When Mike started Belonging to Family, he was unsure of where it would lead him. However, in the weeks that followed, his confidence grew, and he finished the course with a newfound sense […]

For three little boys and their dad in custody, staying connected is key to their wellbeing, and dads aim to make a new life for himself when he’s released.   Mark* (8), […]

Joanna* is a mum in custody in Queensland, and when our team first met her, she was missing her 2-year-old daughter terribly.    At that point, she’d been in custody for several […]

Ruby* enrolled in our Belonging to Family program at the Mid-North Coast Correctional Centre with a clear purpose.   After years of being in and out of custody and missing much of […]

Elliot*, in year 6 at a regional NSW school, was referred to Rise mentoring by his school because his attendance was very low, with him refusing to go to school most days. […]

Playgroups across Queensland got spooky for Halloween with the kids dressing up and excited to give their mums a fright with face masks, capes, spooky headbands and lots of fun props!   […]

Child & Parent Days are the highlight of the holidays for lots of children and their parents in custody, and this one at Wellington Correctional Centre did not disappoint!   Full of […]

It’s Christmas at Macquarie Correctional Centre with dads in custody joining our ever popular Connection Activity Day arts and crafts sessions!   Excited to make presents for their families, the men got […]

Mum in custody Elina* wasn’t sure what she’d think of our parenting program, Bringing Up Great Kids, when she started it at a Queensland Correctional Centre.   However, it didn’t take her […]

Kindy student Ava* is bubbly, strong and always up for a chat! She loves her little brother and snakes and ladders and has a very positive attitude despite having experienced sadness in […]

When dad Brett* returned home after being in custody, the family was filled with excitement but also trepidation.    While he much missed, new family routines and dynamics had formed, and his […]

Eleven-year-old Alicia* has come so far. When she started with the Rise mentoring program in Victoria, she struggled on several fronts: low confidence, trouble managing her emotions, and alarmingly low school attendance. […]

Christmas crafts are underway at Correctional Centres in NSW. In a recent session at Wellington, these mums created beautiful bejewelled gifts for their children.   “The Ladies came in so excited! Choosing […]

After being in youth custody for over two years, Billy* has worked incredibly hard to change his future, and things look bright.   We started working with Billy when he was preparing […]

This year, it’s been with great excitement that our popular Storytime program is being offered to families in Queensland for the first time!   Storytime comforts children and connects them with their […]

Playgroup for mums in custody and their young children is always fun, but the last playgroup of the year was extra special because Santa paid a visit!   The SHINE for Kids […]

It’s been a difficult year for mum in custody Tara* and her children, who our team in Townville have worked hard with to keep connected.   But when the children’s carer on […]

It’s never too late to connect with your children and work towards building a strong and healthy relationship.   And that’s just what Dad in custody Jed* was determined to do with […]

It’s been tough for new dad Marc* to be away from his baby daughter, Mandy*. He missed her birth and hasn’t been home to help his partner Riva* through the first months […]

Christmas has been in full swing at the South Coast Correctional Centre with Connection Activity Days galore!   During these special arts and crafts sessions, dads in custody created festive cards and […]

Storytime is one of our most popular programs for good reason; children connect with stories and with those telling them.   So whenever the opportunity comes up to take part in our Storytime […]

Dads at Macquarie Correctional Centre enjoyed creating gifts for their own dads at our special Father’s Day activity session.   Many men applied to participate, and these days are always very popular! […]

It’s the school holidays, which at SHINE for Kids means well-deserved fun days out for the kids in our Rise school mentoring program!   These activity days are our way of saying, […]

The children in our Rise program on the NSW Central Coast were super excited when their first group event, a Rise Together Day, took place in the second half of the year! […]

Flora* is 11 years old and attends primary school on the NSW Central Coast. Kind, intelligent, and creative, she’s an asset to her school and would like to become a captain in […]

The moment every family with a loved one in custody waits for finally arrived for the Smith* family, who welcomed back dad Frank* when he was released from custody after over five […]

Silverwater’s recent Child & Parent Day was full of beautiful moments for the eight mothers and sixteen children who came together to play games, share lunch and spend precious time catching up. […]

Always popular at Wellington and Macquarie Correctional Centres, our recent Activity Connection Days and Storytime programs have produced beautiful gifts made with love for children. Dads try something new   Dads in […]

A group of happy children spent quality time with their dads at our first-ever Child & Parent Day at Clarence Correctional Centre.    The children were a little nervous at first as […]

A long, rocky road led Emmie*, a Biripi Woman from Taree, to our Belonging to Family program at the Mid-North Coast Correctional Centre.   A mother in custody, soon-to-be grandmother, a motivated […]

Jill* is only 10, but she’s already been through a lot in her short life. Her parents are in custody, and she lives in regional NSW with her Nana, Pop and little […]

When Bella*, 7, joined the Rise program in Victoria, she was a very quiet child. Now, she loves school and even joins new activities with friends outside of it!   Bella’s* father […]

By Emily Hausman   Cassie prepares herself to meet 10-year-old Lucy*. Turning the door knob to the classroom, she sees Lucy amusing herself by sprinting from the entrance to the bookshelf at […]

Nick* is a regular seven-year-old boy in year two at primary school on the Central Coast.   He loves NRL, playing outside, and being with his friends. He’s an active kid and […]

When mum-to-be Sara* was incarcerated, she was terrified about what it would mean to be not only a new mum but a mum in custody.   Luckily, she was soon connected with […]

The lengths mother Janice* went to to complete our Bringing Up Great Kids parenting course shows how useful it is to parents and how much it means to them to hold a […]

Being part of our Playgroup and taking our Bringing Up Great Kids course completely transformed the lives of Andrea*, a mother in custody, and her two-year-old daughter Meg*.   The two had […]

Child and Parent Activity Days are a great chance for children to spend quality time with their mum or dad in custody and foster closer relationships by playing together and sharing in […]

Our Cessnock drop-in centre is always a happy place for children, but recently, thanks to a CRATE-load of Cadbury chocolates donated by the local correctional centre, it’s been kid heaven! Over the […]

Nathan* grew up in a loving but disadvantaged household and became disengaged as a teenager and drawn to negative influences. At 17, he found himself in youth custody.   But this isn’t […]

Thank you to the wonderful South Coast Correctional Centre staff, the Red Cross, and The Sixth Child for coming together to make this visit with Dad extra special! Staff at the local […]

Matt* is seven years old and in year two at school. He’s a funny, energetic, and sporty kid who loves playing footy and all sorts of card and board games. He’s also […]

Ted* was missing his little daughter Rose*.   They had a close relationship and were used to seeing each other a lot, but since Ted was incarcerated months earlier, he hadn’t seen […]

On a beautiful day with the sun shining on a green grass area at Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centre, a group of excited children run into their mother’s open arms at the beginning […]

Although our youth justice mentoring program in Townsville only launched last year, lead mentor Sal* has already contributed to many successes, both big and small, and built a strong network of partner […]

From no contact to a flourishing father/daughter relationship, dad in custody, Sam* could never have imagined the tremendous impact Storytime would have on him and his family.   When Sam first applied […]

Ethan* is twelve years old and every week he attends the community after-school program in Kempsey with his little sister. They have a warm meal and fresh fruit, join activities, and most […]

It’s been a difficult year for Ebony*, in year 2 at a Central Coast primary school. Her mother has been in and out of custody several times, and she’s struggled with a […]

It’s been a whirlwind start to the year for 15-year-old Mary*. With the support of her mentor, she’s gained training and a part-time job, and best of all, she has decided to […]

What a difference three weeks can make.   When Harmony* began our parenting program Bringing Up Great Kids, she’d never had support or a safe space to reflect on her childhood and […]

They say it takes a village to raise a child. In this family’s village, it’s taken one excellent foster carer, the support of SHINE for Kids, and lots of quality time with […]

With Easter approaching, our team understands that children with a parent in custody can have mixed feelings about these times of family and celebration. While everyone loves a chocolate egg, it can […]

Support during visits by children with their parent in custody can make all the difference. By providing emotional support, practical guidance, and children’s activities, visits are child-focused and a positive experience for […]

Our Storytime program is incredibly popular. Dads in custody love the chance to do something special for their children, and the children cherish the story books and recordings, often tucking them under […]

Mac*, 12 years old, has come a long way during his last year of primary school. When he started with Rise, outbursts in the classroom were common, and his behavioural issues were […]

When Delia*, 8, and Tom*, 5, went with their grandmother to visit dad in custody at Wellington Correctional Centre, they came away with memories of time with dad and also a fun […]

In 2024, our Cessnock Child & Family Centre remains a hive of activity, with families dropping in when they visit loved ones in custody at the on-site correctional centres. Carers can relax […]

We understand how daunting visiting a correctional centre can be, especially for children. That’s why our team are on hand to support families and make the experience of visiting mum or dad […]

Our Storytime program is incredibly popular. Dads in custody love the chance to do something special for their children, and the children cherish the story books and recordings, often tucking them under […]

Child & Parent Days are very special for our families, and the two recently held at Alexander Maconochie Centre in the ACT were no different. For two siblings visiting their dad for […]

Dillan*, 7, was referred to the SHINE for Kids’ Rise program in Western Sydney at the end of last year. He desperately needed support in the classroom, where he had regular outbursts, […]

Freddy* is a regular, friendly 18-year-old; he likes making jokes, being with his friends, and sharing and learning about his Māori culture. He’s doing well these days and is busy working full-time […]

Kaylee*, 16, is in our SFK Mentoring program, and while she’s faced many challenges in her life, she is currently thriving! In the past year, she’s passed her learner’s license test, started […]

This Christmas mums in custody and their children at home will still be connected by these beautiful baubles with messages of love they created for each other.   Children will have a […]

Harry* is five years old and was super excited to visit his dad, who is in custody at the Mid North Coast Correctional Centre, but his grandmother knew she’d need a little […]

It’s been a fantastic year for the Rise Clarence Valley crew, with children from six schools across the region participating in the program. Anna’s Story While Courtney says all the children have […]

Rise student Layla* has come a long way during her time with us. She has gone from not wanting to go to school and having issues in the playground to being nominated […]

Aidan* is a First Nations young person and was referred to SFK Mentoring when he was 12 years old after his dad was incarcerated. Like many children in the program who have […]

Our Playgroups for mums in custody across centres in the Greater Brisbane area are always buzzing, but lately, there’s been a significant increase in the number of children attending.   Our local […]

The energy was great as families arrived for our Child & Parent Day with their mums at Silverwater Correctional Centre. As the children came into the centre and went through the security […]

There was a real sense of achievement in the room on the day 10 mums in custody at Dillwynia Correctional Centre graduated after completing our Bringing Up Great Kids program over six […]

Luka*, 14, is in our SFK Mentoring program and finds going to school hard sometimes; he’s been bullied and has become withdrawn.   He’s faced a lot of hardship in his short […]

Raymond*, an upbeat 14-year-old boy, and his twin sisters, Megan* and Alix*, 17, have been through some tough times but are working hard to get things back on track with the support […]

A group of excited children from our Rise school mentoring program had THE BEST time at the ‘World Festival of Magic’ show! Rise on the Central Coast was lucky to receive free […]

A group of nine excited children joined their Rise mentors and the SHINE for Kids team for a sunny day of fun and games at the local park. The day was all […]

Malakai* is a bright young Aboriginal teenager and was referred to the Stand As One Mentoring Program in early 2023. Spending most of his early life living with his mother and younger […]

Children with a parent in custody too often feel isolated. Embarrassed or worried about talking about what they are going through, children will often withdraw from their school friends and communities. This […]

Sometimes the little acts show our team how much their support is helping. Bernie* is six years old and has had a rough start to the year. Her dad was taken into […]

Our Cessnock Child & Family Centre is always buzzing with activity! On the weekend, families visit their loved ones in custody at the nearby Hunter, Cessnock and Shortland Correctional Centres and pop […]

Elders who work with our Belonging to Family program in Kempsey and our team celebrated the week across the whole state this year!   Belonging to Family is an intensive, culturally appropriate […]

With families struggling as groceries become more expensive, our Cessnock Child & Family Centre is very grateful for its long-standing partnership with local community service SOUPZ ON. Families dropping into our Cessnock […]

Ivan* is a dad in custody. Despite coming up against obstacles, including being transferred twice, he had his heart set on completing a SHINE for Kids Storytime recording for his young daughter […]

Our youth justice mentoring program pairs a young person in custody, soon to be released, with a dedicated mentor to support their journey and create new hope for their future. One of […]

Rise in Western Sydney is off to a wonderful first half of the year! We are so pleased with the achievements of all of our kids. Here’s just one of the many […]

The feeling that no one understands what they’re going through comes up time and time again with the kids and teenagers we work with. So opportunities for them to meet others in […]

This National Volunteer Week (NVW), we are SHINEing a light on a few of the amazing volunteers working with us to make positive change in young people’s lives in keeping with this […]

Keiran*, one of our youngest Rise mentees in Year 1, is bright and confident and loves school! His mentor knew that with Mother’s Day approaching, Keiran might feel a little sad as […]

Our Playgroup program, Stay Together, Play Together, plays a vital role in keeping mums connected with their kids and improving outcomes and well-being for young children.   SHINE for Kids staff member […]

Excited kids received a surprise this year after our South Coast Correctional Centre craft session allowed dads to make gifts and let their kids know they are thinking of them. “We received […]

Our first Child & Parent Days at Alexander Maconochie Centre since the pandemic were a resounding success as children from all over the state enjoyed precious time with their mums and dads […]

“I have always hoped and prayed my son would connect to his Culture through dance.” Five of the young people from our Stand As One mentoring program recently took part in a […]

A group of VERY excited children of all ages hugged their dads, some for the first time in years, at our Macquarie Correctional Centre Child & Parent Day. These special days are […]

The dads who take part in our Storytime program at Clarence Correctional Centre surprised themselves with how much they loved making these colourful placemats for their children in our Christmas craft workshop! […]

Mum Becky* has completed our Keeping Us Together program at Dillwynia Correctional Centre. Here she reflects on what she’s gained from the program and the future she wants to build for her […]

In 2022, our SHINE for Kids school Mentoring Program was launched on the Central Coast to support local kids facing the hardship of having a parent in custody. Our team has been […]

The mums at Clarence Correctional Centre were thrilled to hear that our Storytime program this month would include a special Christmas craft workshop! The workshop gave mums the opportunity to create handmade […]

A group of very calm SHINE kids in Victoria have taken part in our first Wellness Day, learning techniques to help them manage stress and anxiety. Everyone sometimes feels overwhelmed, especially children, […]

Every weekend, Ben*, 12, Sharee*, 10* and Len*, 7, travel with their mum to Bathurst from Sydney to visit dad in custody at Bathurst Correctional Centre. The family have a strong connection […]

Diana*, a mum in custody at Dillwynia Correctional Centre in Sydney, wants nothing more than to do everyday mum things again with her two children. At our recent Child & Parent Day, […]

The first group of dads in custody at Acacia Prison in Perth, WA has graduated from Storytime! SHINE for Kids’ Zoe said that the WA team met “some fabulous dads who love […]

We recently supported one of our mums in custody at Clarence during her first visit in 13 months with her son and daughter. The occasion was even more special because it was […]

Our kids in Melbourne had an amazing experience thanks to the team at Deloitte Digital who volunteered their time to help us deliver our first Technology Day! A group of very excited […]

At the Helana Jones Centre in Brisbane, our mums and bubs celebrated Diwali during playgroup with some Rangoli-inspired art! Diwali, also known as the ‘festival of light’, celebrates the triumph of light […]

By staff member Abbey Kenaly Over the past six weeks, seven mums have been participating in Keeping Us Together at Dillwynia Correctional Complex. The most rewarding part of facilitating Keeping Us Together is seeing the […]

Our mentoring team in Frankston, Victoria have reported some big wins for their kids this past year! While the team say all of the kids in Victoria have shown admirable growth, they […]

Every week our Clarence Valley RISE team makes a special trip. They load up the car with activities and worksheets and drive about 75 km northwest of Grafton to visit Baryulgil, a […]

Over the school holidays, SHINE for Kids teams across the country held special RISE Together Days for children in the program. The days were an opportunity for kids to meet others going […]

Over the school holidays, SHINE for Kids teams across the country held special RISE Together Days for children in the program. The days were an opportunity for kids to meet others going […]

Over the school holidays,  SHINE for Kids teams across the country held special RISE Together Days for children in the program. The days were an opportunity for kids to meet others going […]

Every week our Clarence Valley RISE coordinator makes a special trip. They load up the car with activities and worksheets and drive about 75 km northwest of Grafton to visit Baryulgil, a […]

In 2022, SHINE for Kids in partnership with CONFIT, launched our mentoring program for young people in juvenile justice at Cobham Correctional Centre in Sydney. While there have been challenges, we’re really […]

Our team in Queensland have been supporting this dad to connect with his newborn daughter. As he says, the support has completely changed his family’s life. Thank you to this father for […]

Our RISE Clarence Coordinator has been connecting with incredibly resilient children and their families across the Clarence Valley. One of these students is Adam*, who is 9 years old. Adam was referred […]

Charlie* is in custody at Parklea and is dearly missing his 4-year-old daughter Amelia*. Before he was incarcerated, Amelia and Charlie would read together every night at bedtime.   He approached SHINE […]

By our Windsor Child and Family Worker  I’ve worked with a family with mum in custody at Dillwynia for over two years. When I first met the family, the children were six […]

During the week of the 15th-21st of May, we celebrated National Families Week with our children and families. One way of connecting with families was through a drawing competition and the winner would […]

Aaron*, a dad in custody at Parklea, recently approached us about our Storytime program. He has a four year old daughter Chloe* who he hadn’t seen face to face for over two […]

Mason* has spent most of his teenage years going between out-of-home care and custody. He’s no longer in contact with his family and finds it difficult to maintain positive relationships. Mason was […]

One of our wonderful long time volunteers Dennis recently reached out to us to pass on some lovely news. He and his wife had just attended the graduation of a young woman […]

National Volunteer Week is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering. This year’s theme is ‘Better Together’, and appropriately so, as together we accomplish so much more. At this time of year, we […]

National Volunteer Week is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering. This year’s theme is ‘Better Together’, and appropriately so, as together we accomplish so much more. At this time of year, we […]

National Volunteer Week is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering. This year’s theme is ‘Better Together’, and appropriately so, as together we accomplish so much more. At this time of year, we […]

National Volunteer Week is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering. This year’s theme is ‘Better Together’, and appropriately so, as together we accomplish so much more. At this time of year, we […]

National Volunteer Week is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering. This year’s theme is ‘Better Together’, and appropriately so, as together we accomplish so much more. At this time of year, we […]

This month our teams have been connecting with families and seeing how they’re doing and what their needs might be while also letting them know that their Family Connection Packs are on […]

Some special Easter deliveries were made to excited children over the long weekend this Easter! The men at Macquarie Correctional Centre recently participated in a special craft workshop as a way to […]

To celebrate National Youth Week at SHINE, we are sharing the voice and experience of a young person we supported through our mentoring program Stand As One. This is his story. “When […]

Our new Birthday Program is in full swing as our teams purchase specially requested gifts on behalf of a parent in custody, pack and deliver them to many happy children! So far, […]

Recently one of our fabulous citizen fundraisers Ryan got together a group of Bathurst rugby playing friends and acquaintances for a fun day and a good cause to play in the Annual […]

Sierra has two daughters, aged 12 and 9, and when she went into custody a few years ago it was the first time in their lives they’d been separated from her. It […]

“Days like today are tiring but boy are they worth it. I travelled to the outing with a car full of silent children, the return trip was anything but silent.” – Priscilla, […]

“I made gifts for my four children for Christmas because I wouldn’t have gifts for them any other way.” – Mum from Broken Hill Correctional Centre Just before Christmas our crafting expert […]

By a SHINE team member I met Marty*, a dad in custody, one day at the Parklea complex while I was collecting referrals. He asked about our Storytime program and what was […]

Sam, a young Aboriginal boy in the Stand As One mentoring program, was just 15 when he went into custody at Frank Baxter Youth Justice Centre. Sam was the youngest person at […]

This April in Victoria, after a year of restricted access due to COVID, the SHINE for Kids team arranged a very important Ride By Your Side visit for two brave little girls, […]

Wow. Our Victorian team have been blown away by the incredible donation of Christmas gifts from The Sixth Child and Creating the Magic! Last year, thanks to The Sixth Child, we gave […]

Timothy had been in custody at Clarence Correctional Centre for eight months when he joined the Storytime program. It was his first time in custody and he was really struggling with missing […]

The day before the ACT went into lockdown, our team sat down with dad Fred* to complete a Storytime recording for his youngest child. Fred is working to improve his literacy skills, […]

Aaron is three years old and attends the SHINE for Kids playgroup every week with his mum Carly.   They live together at Numinbah Correctional Centre while Carly is in custody. Carly […]

Meg and her 4 year old son Sam live in Werrington in western Sydney. The family first started engaging with SHINE for Kids through the Parklea Child and Family Centre as Sam’s […]

Jason was transferred to Clarence Correctional Centre as soon as it opened in July 2020. Unfortunately his wife is also incarcerated and her parents have custody of their two young children and […]

Eight months ago, Tracey was referred to SHINE for Kids and began attending our weekly playgroups so that she and her two year old daughter Millie could reconnect.   Millie had been […]

Mia, Declan and Timmy have been living with their grandmother since their dad was incarcerated four years ago. Their mum was also sent into custody two years after dad while she was […]

Every week Tamara spends an hour at school one-on-one with her RISE mentor. They work through any issues Tamara is having with her schoolwork, maths in particular has been a focus, and […]

When Henry came to Storytime he was full of excitement and said he already knew the book he wanted to make for his daughter Alana. It had been forming in his head […]

Robyn and her four children have been working with SHINE for several years but this year was a special one as they prepare for dad to return home in February 2022 after […]

Nine year old Dominque moved in to live with her grandparents two years ago following her dad’s incarceration. While she was able to make friends at her new primary school, she appeared […]

James was set on making a fresh start at being a parent when he signed up for Keeping Us Together and Storytime at Parklea Correctional Centre. He had been in and out of […]

This year the Belonging to Family team at Kempsey have had a homecoming of sorts with the return of Karen Rhodes. Karen was one of the original creators of the Belonging to […]