Our stories

A quick turnaround didn’t stop this important Child & Parent Day at Silverwater Women’s from happening.

It was a sunny day when a small group of kids and mums gathered for a special Child & Parent Day.

This particular day was organised with urgency as it would be the last chance for one of the mothers to see her baby for quite some time.

It was a great effort of collaboration between SHINE for Kids and NSW Corrections, with our team saying, “knowing how much the mothers were anticipating this day, everyone went above and beyond to ensure its success.”

The kids ran happily into their mothers’ waiting arms as they entered the grassy visiting area, and quickly started to play and run around in the shade of the trees.

Lots of fun activities were on offer, including jewellery making, creating personalised heart-shaped magnets, painting picture frames, board games and soccer.

A yummy lunch of burgers and cupcakes was shared on the grass under the trees as the kids happily chatted away to their mums.

“I do not get to see my children in school term only on AVL, but seeing both physically and getting to cuddle and give them big kisses makes my heart full.”

One mum spent precious time with her baby son, who is only two months old, feeding him, then cradling him to sleep in her arms.

She told our team how much the day meant to her, saying, “Thank you. I am enjoying my bonding with my child.”

These moments remind us of why opportunities to spend quality time together are so significant for families, especially in sad cases where a mother cannot be with her baby.

Another mother had told our team while she was setting up that she’d been watching a television program about parenting, Parental Guidance, every week and was excited to ask her children their thoughts on issues it discussed.

During the visit, our team saw her engaging her kids in great conversations about their friendships, school, and how to make decisions.

It was wonderful to see this mum so involved in her children’s lives and committed to being the best mum she could be.

“Thank you. I am enjoying my bonding with my child.”

“I look forward to every school holiday. I wait for the posters to be distributed in the wings and fill out my application form straight away! I enjoy spending time with my son and daughter,” she told our team.

“I do not get to see my children in school term only on AVL, but seeing both physically and getting to cuddle and give them big kisses makes my heart full.”

The day was a huge success, with the Corrections Activities Officer passing on the lovely feedback that “Once again SHINE for Kids pulled off an impressive day for the mums and kids. Thank you for all the hard work of getting the day organised in the short time we had.”

Thank you to all of the staff at the centre who made this day possible.