Our stories

When a parent is taken into custody, a child’s world can change overnight. When this happened to Sally*, Year 4 became a year of uncertainty, and new responsibilities. But with support from our mentoring program, she is finding stability, building confidence and staying connected to the dad she loves.

When everything changed

Sally is in Year 4 at a primary school in NSW. This year, her life changed suddenly when her dad, her primary carer and the person she looks up to most, was taken into custody.

Now living with her stepmother, Sally is adjusting to a new home life while counting down the months until her dad can come home.

Finding someone in her corner

At a time when Sally needed stability and reassurance, her school referred her to our Rise mentoring program for our specialised support. The school could see that Sally and her family needed help navigating the systems and community services, and emotions that come with having a caregiver incarcerated.

Building trust took time but Sally’s mentor persevered and focused on bringing everyone together to make sure Sally’s family felt comfortable and respected. With patience, a shared plan was put in place and Sally and her family felt ready for her to take part.

Preparing for an important visit

The impact has already been remarkable.

Sally’s mentor has been by her side as she prepares for her first visit with her dad at a correctional centre. For any child, this can feel overwhelming and unfamiliar. But with preparation, practical guidance and plenty of reassurance, Sally now feels ready. Her relationship with her dad means everything to her, and she is making the most of every opportunity to stay connected, from regular phone calls to this important first visit.

SHINE for Kids draws on deep knowledge of the justice and corrections systems to help children understand and navigate places and processes that can otherwise feel confusing or frightening. We also support families with practical ideas and guidance for maintaining strong connections when they cannot be together.

Building confidence at home

Alongside preparing for her visit with her dad, Sally has been adjusting to another big change at home: welcoming a new baby into the family. Since moving in with her stepmother, she has spoken excitedly with her mentor about life with a newborn and the pride she feels in helping care for the younger children in the household.

These small, age-appropriate responsibilities are helping Sally feel needed, capable and valued and she is clearly relishing the chance to show that she can be reliable and helpful.

Growing confidence at school

As Sally and her mentor have settled into an easy routine and trusting rapport, Sally has begun to speak more openly about what she needs. When her mentor asked if there was anything else she would like to work on together, Sally eagerly asked for extra help with her reading and sight words during their sessions.

Her mentor is incredibly proud of Sally for recognising where she needs support and showing such enthusiasm for learning. Together, they have set a meaningful goal: for Sally to read aloud with confidence in class.

Looking ahead with support

SHINE for Kids has also provided practical support for Sally and her family, including new school uniforms, a lunch box and school bag, and payment for school camp. With this support around her, Sally is looking ahead with excitement, ready for her visit with her dad, prepared for the school year, and holding her head high knowing she has people beside her helping her be the best she can be.

Thank you to The Benevolent Society for supporting Rise mentoring. 

*Names changed