Rise helping Ebony, 8, through a very tough time in her life
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 […]
Our stories
“One more game!”: Western Sydney Rise children have a blast
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 about teamwork (… and pizza!), and our team planned lots of group activities so the children could connect with each other and gain confidence in their growing social skills, from Find the Dino to Tug-of-War.
There was also face painting, prizes, limbo … and PieFace (a game where, even though the aim was to avoid being pied, the kids thought getting a bit of extra whipped cream was actually pretty fun!). There was also silly string. So. Much. Silly. String.
Throughout the day, the children encouraged each other and shared all the goodies; even the shyest kids came out of their shells.
One boy who came along is Callum*, a Rise student in year two at school who often struggles to express his feelings and is reserved. Callum surprised his mentor by getting involved in every activity throughout the day!
This reaffirmed to his mentor the progress he’s making in class.
His teacher recently told his mentor that Callum has started contributing to class discussions and confidently raises his hand when he has questions. For a shy child who has usually never wanted to speak in group situations, it’s a huge step.
The day was also a chance to celebrate the accomplishments of the children throughout the term and reward them for their hard work.
Sara*, one of our youngest Rise students in Kindy, is a happy, energetic and sociable little girl but has had some behavioural issues in the classroom. Her father is in custody, and she’s faced complicated issues in her family life, making the transition to school challenging.
However, her mentor was overjoyed during a recent session, which are student-led, when Sara, in her words, said she had “made the decision to do my best and not get into trouble anymore.”
Her mentor believes this turnaround is partly due to their time together focussing on how she feels happy when she does her best and taking the time to really talk and understand her emotions.
Sara has even won an award in class, which she’s very proud of, and the Together Day was a chance to give her a round of applause and encourage her to keep up the great work.
The day ended on a high as parents and mentors got involved in creating a lovely group artwork with the children using hand painting.
It was a little act that reminded all the children that they were not alone and that together, they could achieve big things.
It was especially lovely to see the parents and carers have the chance to chat with each other on the sidelines, sharing stories and the joy of seeing their children having such a great time in a safe and supported environment.
For the mentors, it’s always a thrill to see children, whom they know so well through their weekly sessions, flourish.
When it was time to go home, all the children kept saying, “One more game!” but our team could reassure them that there would be many more fun times to come.
Rise is a mentoring program for primary-aged children with a parent in custody delivered in school. The program is designed to support children’s emotional and social well-being and encourage positive engagement with their school communities.
Please support Rise children so they can thrive at school; donate today.
Thank you to the Waratah Foundation and FICAP for supporting the Rise program in Western Sydney.
Other stories
2024 is looking very different, in a very good way, for student Mary
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 […]
Life-changing realisations during parenting course
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 experiences […]
Easter bunny gets ready to make some special visits!
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 […]
A first visit with mum and help with an unexpected change: Supported visits
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 […]
Storytime giggles as dads get into character
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 […]
A little encouragement (and a new hobby!) helped Mac, 12, find the confidence he needs to thrive
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 […]
Origami learnt with dad helps children at visits and at home
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 […]
Teddy bears a winner! Samaritans donate a ton of teddies
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 […]
What our families say about our visits program
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 […]
What dads in custody say about Storytime
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 […]
AMC Child & Parent day brings “pure joy” to children missing their dad
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 […]
From classroom outbursts to class awards! 7-year-old Dillan’s* big year
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, […]
How Freddy, 18, built a new life for himself after release
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 […]
“Complete turnaround”: In just one year, Kaylee*, 16, has achieved so much
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 […]
“My love is always with you”: A special Christmas playgroup in Qld
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 little […]
Kempsey team make sure Harry* has a great visit with dad
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 […]
Moving on up: Exciting new beginnings for Clarence Valley Rise kids
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 […]
Layla’s* school presentation night great way to finish a wonderful year with Rise
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*, 12, promised his mum he wouldn’t get into any more fights – and he hasn’t!
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 […]
“I have my boy back!”: Playgroup helps mum engage with her son
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 team […]
From a six-week-old baby to an excited teenager, Child & Parent Day all about having quality time with mum
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 […]
“I can tell her that today mummy got a certificate for finishing a program that is going to help us.”
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 […]
Art is helping Luka*, 14, work through his emotions
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 […]
SFK Mentoring: Siblings back at school and on track after tough year
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 […]
Magic show fun for some very excited children!
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 […]
Malakai* has come leaps and bounds from where he started
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 […]
Kids say our Rise Together Days are the best!
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 […]
‘Remember you are awesome’: Rise kid’s mission to put a smile on every face
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 […]
“You made my children feel confident and that they belong”: Family Centre touching lives
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 […]
Belonging to Family Elders celebrate NAIDOC across NSW
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 […]
Cessnock families grateful for food relief during tough times
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 […]
Storytime gift from dad makes little girl’s day
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 […]
“I never thought I’d amount to anything other than a criminal”: Youth mentoring turned Ben’s life around
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 […]
She’s been invited to her classmates birthday parties for the first time: Rise student Carly’s wellbeing improving in leaps and bounds
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 […]
Outing brings young people together to share a laugh and make connections
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 […]
Meet our Change Makers!
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 […]
Rise mentoring: Little kid with a big future
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 […]
Playgroup bringing little kids closer to Mum
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 Summa […]
Easter surprise for kids missing dad
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 […]
“You’re the best dad in the whole world!”: AMC Child & Parent Days a huge success
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 […]
Mentees make us proud in joyful celebration
“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 […]
Child & Parent Day “Like a dream come true” for very excited kids
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 […]
Dads in custody create magical Christmas presents for their kids
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! […]
“I choose to be the best mum I can be”: What Becky* gained from parenting program, in her words
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 […]
Central Coast kids mentoring success in 2022
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 […]
“This helped me feel closer to them”: Mums in custody create hand made gifts
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 […]
Wellness Day helps kids learn techniques to stay healthy & happy
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, […]
Seven year old Len* loves visiting his dad, with a little support from SHINE
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 […]
Precious time being ‘just a mum’ at Child & Parent Day
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, […]
Storytime dads overcome challenges to create books for their children
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 […]
Life is looking up for this mum in custody after visit with kids
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 […]
“Listening and Showing Up”: Mentors making a difference for young people in juvenile justice
To mark International Volunteer Day 2022, we spoke with Rachel, one of our wonderful volunteer mentors working with a young person in juvenile justice in Western Sydney. Rachel has been a volunteer […]
Robots, AI and Virtual Reality : Technology Day inspires kids
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 […]
Mums and bubs celebrate Diwali at Playgroup!
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 […]
“My son and I have a stronger bond”: Mums graduate KUT
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 […]
A Tee-Ball captain and increased school attendance: Wins for our Frankston kids
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 […]
Special weekly visit to Baryulgil Public School: “When mum comes back we’re going camping”
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 […]
RISE Together Day – Western Sydney
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 […]
RISE Together Day – Kempsey
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 […]
RISE Together Day – Goulburn
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 […]
“Can you come back tomorrow?”: Clarence Valley RISE visit Baryugil
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 […]
Young people in juvenile justice work with mentors at Cobham
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 […]
“I tell him RISE is coming to school today and he is happy to go”: Little boy thrives with RISE
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 […]
Love at first sight for dad meeting newborn daughter
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 […]
Missing milestones with dad is really hard, but we can help
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 for […]
“I’m going to see my mummy!”: Kids see mum for first time in two years
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 […]
And the winner is ….
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 […]
A dad and daughter back together at last
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 […]
Two young men’s strong bond, in good times and bad
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 […]
Proud day for family and their SHINE For Kids volunteer
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 – Meet Debbie!
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 – Meet Dennis!
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 – Meet Stephanie!
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 – Meet Andrew!
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 – Meet Helen!
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 […]
Keeping a family connected, any way we can
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 […]
Easter brings hope to the men at Macquarie
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 […]
How my mentor helped me get through a hard time
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 […]
Birthday Program makes missing mum or dad on a special day a bit easier
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, […]
Kids the winners as Rugby team play for SHINE
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 […]
A fresh start for mum Sierra
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 […]
New experiences and confidence building for SHINE’s Townsville kids
“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, […]
A very special visit for mums at Broken Hill
“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 […]
Dad’s voice and a Christmas delivery make the holidays apart a little easier
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’s year of kicking goals
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 […]
Let’s give dad the biggest hug ever
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, […]
Christmas Magic with The Sixth Child
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 […]
Storytime helped Timothy repair his relationship with his sons
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 […]
A very special new bedtime routine for three kids missing dad
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, […]
Playgroup helped Aaron get ready to learn at child care
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 approached […]
Our partnerships stopped Meg and Sam be evicted
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 […]
I feel like a father again
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 […]
Tracey and Millie are building a bright future together
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 in […]
Keeping connected to mum during the toughest of times
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 […]
Tamara’s RISE sessions are the highlight of her week
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 […]
Henry was able to tell his daughter to believe in herself through Storytime
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 […]
Dad is still there: A big year for Robyn and her family
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 […]
Dominique’s positive relationship with her mentor continued to grow this year, despite COVID moving their sessions online
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 is determined not to make the same mistakes as his dad
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 […]
A year of community building and looking to the future
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 […]