Our stories

For first-time mum Tara*, the earliest days of motherhood have been marked by separation.

Shortly after giving birth, she was incarcerated, leaving her with little to no contact with her newborn son. In those first weeks, when bonding moments are so important, she found herself worrying about everything she was missing.

Wanting to support her through this, the SHINE for Kids team introduced her to Storytime. The program offered a simple but powerful way to stay connected: recording herself reading and singing so her baby could hear her voice, even while they were apart.

She embraced the opportunity.

Through Storytime, her son can listen to his mum reading to him, her voice offering comfort, familiarity and connection.

This has also opened the door to precious face-to-face time by leading to Tara’s application to join our Playgroup program. Our team is helping the family step through this process so that hopefully soon, those first cuddles can be had.

Tara shared how grateful she was to take part in Storytime, describing the sessions as “calming and reassuring.”

As a new parent, she is navigating unfamiliar territory, and she is open to any support that can help her along the way.

For the team supporting her, these moments mean a lot as well, with our team saying, “I felt grateful that Storytime could be the first step toward mum and her newborn reconnecting.

“Even when the progress feels small, it’s meaningful to be able to support her on the journey toward reunification. Being part of that process, and supporting mum as she works with Child Safety, is incredibly rewarding.”

Even across distance, connection is still possible and it makes all the difference.

*Names and images changed