A very special milestone was celebrated recently at the Townsville Women’s Correctional Centre, a little girl’s very first birthday!
Living with her mum in custody, the SHINE for Kids team have had the joy and privilege of watching her grow and thrive over the past year.
From tummy time to crawling, from her first steps to now happily running around, her development has been a delight for everyone to witness. The facilitators, officers, and all the women have loved sharing in her little achievements.
To mark her big day, the SHINE for Kids team organised to bring in a chocolate cake for her to enjoy and share with the other children in our Stay Together, Play Together playgroup.
This program provides high-quality play experiences designed to nurture the bond between children and their parent and provide support to parents in custody.
We all gathered to sing “Happy Birthday”, filling the space with laughter, and a real sense of community.
It was incredibly heart-warming to see this little girl celebrate her first birthday with her mum by her side.
Moments like these remind us just how important it is for families to have the chance to stay connected, make memories, and share joy even in challenging circumstances.
*Names and images changed to protect participant privacy.
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