News and updates
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Olympic swimmer Eamon Sullivan
Making a big splash with Eamon Sullivan
2009 Barnardos Australia's Yoga
Yoga Aid founders Eriko, Clive and Mayumi
Rebecca and Peter Higgins with members of the winning team from Sydney Polo
Rachel Fairfax with her painting titled 'Swimming Wylies Baths, Coogee' donated as the first prize in the raffle
Watch Aline's promotional video
2008 Barnardos Australia's Yoga Aid Team
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Barnardos kids make a big splash with Olympic swimmer Eamon Sullivan
On Sunday, 21 February 2010, kids from Barnardos were invited to participate in an UNCLE TOBYS Big Splash fundraiser at C2K Fitness Centre in Castle Hill, where they swam with Olympic swimmer, Eamon Sullivan. Eamon donated the prize money he won in Celebrity Masterchef last year to Royal Life Saving to help disadvantaged children learn to swim.
Barnardos Australia has partnered with Royal Life Saving to deliver their Swim and Survive initiative in order to highlight the importance of water safety and to give the children they care for the opportunity to receive a course of 10 swimming lessons.
“We cannot believe that our kids are going to get 10 weeks of free swimming lessons and we sincerely thank Eamon Sullivan and Royal Life Saving for their generosity,” said Mary Haiek, program manager at Barnardos’ Auburn centre. “These kids’ families could never afford to pay for such an activity, so up until now they have never had a swimming lesson or even learnt basic water safety.
The children from Barnardos were thrilled to be part of such an exciting event, especially to receive personal swimming tips from one of Australia’s elite sportsman. As well as getting to swim with an Olympian the kids from Barnardos had a go at CPR, and experienced a full range of swimming activities.
For more information click here.
Yoga Aid Challenge 2009 raises over $50,000 for Barnardos Australia
Yoga enthusiasts from Barnardos Australia joined over 400 of Sydney’s dedicated yogis, to complete 108 challenging sun salutations in Sydney’s Royal Botanical Gardens, on Sunday, 15th November as part of the nationwide Yoga Aid Challenge 2009.
The Yoga Aid Challenge now in its third year is an international event, promoting the awareness of yoga in the community whilst raising money for local charities, of which Barnardos Australia is one of the beneficiaries.
Barnardos Australia will receive over $50,000 of the $157,000 raised Australia-wide from this year’s event, crucial funds that will contribute towards programs that aim to protect Australia’s most vulnerable children.
After last year’s unseasonal wet weather the day was spectacular and participants of all levels were led by various experienced yoga teachers through the physically challenging event – often said to be as gruelling as running a half marathon.
In addition, to the nationwide event there will be a special Yoga Aid 2009 in Melbourne on the 6th of December held in conjunction with the Parliament of World Religions Convention, that will hopefully raise additional funds this year to help Barnardos break the cycle of child abuse and neglect.
“We would like to thank Yoga Aid for again choosing Barnardos Australia as a beneficiary of this unique event,” said Bill Petch, marketing manager, Barnardos Australia. “Holding the event on a Sunday for the first time allowed more people the opportunity to participate and raise funds that will help give some of Australia’s most disadvantaged children a brighter future.”
Polo fundraising – Sydney Polo Gold Cup
On Sunday, 15 November 2009 Barnardos supporters, Peter and Rebecca Higgins held a polo tournament at their stunning Richmond property, home of the Sydney Polo Country Club.
Guests were treated to a wonderful day of competitive polo with a large number of families and children enjoying the relaxed atmosphere.
Peter and Rebecca kindly donated all proceeds from the gate entry and a raffle on the day to Barnardos.
We sincerely thank Peter and Rebecca for their passionate commitment to our work and the children in our care. For more information visit www.sydneypolo.com
Rnowned Australian artist, Rachel Fairfax, donated a painting for the first prize in the raffle. Following on from her recent highly successful exhibition at Ray Hughes Gallery, titled “Ocean Paintings by Rachel Fairfax” Rachel created a print especially for Barnardos inspired by her love of children. To view Rachel’s work click here.
No More Tears The Wiggle Giggle Bath Book
goes on sale in time for Christmas
$14.95 reduced to $9.95
(plus $5.50 standard shipping Australia Post)
Get a copy now in time for Christmas - while stocks last! limited stock
A great way to support Barnardos
In June 2009 Johnson & Johnson Pacific published a children’s book to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their “No More Tears” product range.
The NO MORE TEARS™ Wiggle Giggle Bath Book was launched by Play School legend and Barnardos Ambassador, Noni Hazlehurst AM at a Tea Party in Centennial Park on Tuesday, 2 June. Johnson & Johnson Pacific will generously donate the proceeds from the sale of this book to Barnardos.
The publication of this book is just another part of what is a very important partnership for Barnardos with Johnson & Johnson Pacific, which has been ongoing now for over five years.
The NO MORE TEARS™ Wiggle Giggle Bath Book by author William Meldrum with illustrations by Hannah Robinson, celebrates the special bonding moments of the age-old ritual of bath time. It also recognises the special bond parents, grandparents, preschool teachers and other special carers create when they read to babies and toddlers.
Buy a copy online today
To buy a copy of this beautifully illustrated hardcover book by Meldrum William for only $9.95 (plus $5.50 standard shipping Australia Post) click here. ISBN 9781921263019. Subject to stock availability.
The NO MORE TEARS™ Wiggle Giggle Bath Book is also available in store now at all major bookstores including, Kmart, Big W, Myer and David Jones. RRP$14.95.
Help Aline Pascuzzo ‘Do us a flavour’
Aline Pascuzzo, a mother of two from Sydney, is currently one of the final four in Smith’s chips ‘Do us a flavour’ competition where members of the public were invited to submit new flavours of chips.
Aline has generously offered to donate $10,000.00 of the $30,000.00 prize money to Barnardos if she wins. Therefore, we have until 6 December 2009, the competition closing date, to do what we can to help Aline over the line. The competition has now entered the final stages whereby votes from members of the public will make the final decision of which is the winning flavour.
So please click here to vote now and please tell your friends, tell your family and keep your fingers crossed. You can vote as many as five times a day from any one email address.
Barnardos kids bear flags and escort players at world class sporting event
Barnardos Australia with the help of the ING Foundation, sent 40 kids to participate in a once in life time opportunity bearing flags and escorting players onto the field for a match hosted by the Football Federation Australia between Australia and Bahrain at Stadium Australia on 10th June.
Barnardos Australia was thrilled to be able to give 40 children from some of Australia’s most disadvantaged backgrounds a chance to wear the uniform and carry the team flags as they kicked off one of Australia’s premier sporting events, the 2010 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Barnardos centres in Auburn, Marrickville and Penrith approached the local families they support to offer their children a chance to participate and the response was overwhelming.
“When Barnardos Australia was approached by the ING Foundation to invite some of our kids to participate at this world class event, we were delighted,” said Bill Petch, Barnardos Australia.
“The children who participated ranged in age from 4 to 20 years and given their underprivileged background, would never have an opportunity such as this without our corporate supporter ING Foundation.
"Barnardos Australia believes in kids and it is by providing kids with these sorts of opportunities that allows them to experience the direct generosity and support offered by the community and our corporate partners.
“Sometimes all it takes is to show a child there can be opportunity to realise their dreams, which then allows them to grow and fulfill their potential” added Petch.
“Many families are struggling in these difficult economic times and ING is proud to be able to offer this special experience to children whose families may be doing it tough.” said Shannon Carruth, manager of the ING Foundation. “We were thrilled to be able to offer these children a chance to meet their sporting heroes and to give them a once in a lifetime experience they will remember for a long time to come.”
Click here to view the full media release
Urgent action needed to give NSW children a better future
Three months on from the publication of the Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in New South Wales, headed by Justice James Wood AO QC, Barnardos Australia is stepping up its campaign to see the inquiry’s critical recommendations implemented in full.
With the government’s response promised in March, Barnardos, a non-government child welfare agency delivering direct help to more than 8000 children a year, is appealing to its supporters and to all NSW voters who believe children deserve a better system of care, to write to their state government member in support of Justice Wood’s recommendations.
Commissioned as a result of shocking cases of child deaths as a result of abuse, the inquiry reports that thousands of children, whose parents are often troubled by mental illness or a history of domestic violence, are in desperate circumstances. While a limited number need to be removed from home, many more are in need of a range of services to help their families take better care of them.
In particular Barnardos wants to see urgent action on Justice Wood’s critical recommendations – limiting the requirement for mandatory reporting to the Department of Community Services (DoCS) to cases of significant risk of harm only, and the outsourcing to non-government agencies of all other cases, and of foster care services.
“DoCS has been swamped,” says Crispin Hull, chairman of Barnardos Australia, writing in the Sydney Morning Herald today. “Children about whom DoCS has been notified have died. Thousands of families in need of help, if not urgent attention, have slipped through the net.”
One death from child abuse and neglect is one death too many. Don’t miss this opportunity to join Barnardos in urging the NSW Government to implement real change for NSW children. If you are a NSW constituent write to your state member – download a template letter here, or draft your own – supporting the full implementation of Justice Wood’s recommendations. To find out the contact details for your state member please visit the Parliament of NSW website.
Yoga Aid Challenge 2008 raises over $41,000 for Barnardos Australia
A team from child welfare charity, Barnardos Australia, joined some of Australia’s die hard yogis when they participated in the wettest, coldest, though extremely rewarding, Yoga Aid Challenge 2008, in Sydney’s Royal Botanical Gardens this week.
The Yoga Aid Challenge promotes the awareness of yoga in the community whilst raising money for local charities. This second year of Yoga Aid raised over $130,000 dollars for charity during 15 events across Australia on Wednesday 22nd October.
Barnardos Australia will receive over $41,000 to contribute towards programs that aim to protect Australia’s most vulnerable children.
The unseasonal wet weather posed a challenge to the event program, and instead of the planned 108 sun salutations at sunrise, the over 200 yogis, led by some of Australia’s best yoga teachers, huddled together on stage to perform 108 om’s.
“The Yoga Aid Challenge continues to grow every year and demonstrates the power of community and how through yoga individuals can develop on a personal level whilst supporting charities like Barnardos,” said Bill Petch, Marketing Manager of Barnardos Australia. “It was wet, it was cold, but it was nothing short of inspiring.”
“Every two minutes or the equivalent of four om’s, an Australian child is reported as neglected or abused,” added Petch. “At Barnardos we believe that every child deserves a childhood and clearly so do all those who supported Yoga Aid. On behalf of the children Barnardos supports I would like to thank all the yogis who participated this year, and their sponsors, for their generosity in producing such an incredible result.”
“The Sydney event illustrated the giving nature of the Australian Yoga community; we had over 200 people attend on the coldest day in October in over 30 years. All around Australia the Yoga community united for the Yoga Aid Challenge, it was a delight to be part of such an occasion,” said Clive Mayhew, founder of the Yoga Aid foundation.
For further information, photos or to make a donation visit: www.YogaAid.com.au
Click here to view full media release
Barnardos' Historic Accreditation
Barnardos Australia celebrated an historic achievement this month, as the first child welfare agency in NSW to achieve accreditation at the highest level by the NSW Office of the Children's Guardian. The accreditation is given for providing out-of-home care of an extremely high standard to children and young people, and the accreditation certificate was offically presented by the NSW Community Services Minister, the Hon. Carmel Tebbutt MLC at a ceremony at Barnardos Australia's Head Office in Ultimo on 24 March 2004. The NSW Children's Guardian, Linda Mallett, also attended the ceremony.
"Barnardos is to be congratulated for showing its strong commitment to providing the best quality care it can to children and young people who can’t live with their families," Ms Tebbutt said. "This agency has achieved the highest level of accreditation for a period of five years."
"The accreditation standards developed by the Office of the Children's Guardian focus on the needs of children and young people, such as their care environment, health, education, identity and family relationships, emotional and social development and their rights. The standards also cover important aspects of care such as casework practice, care records and how agencies support their foster and residential carers in providing the best possible care that these children and young people deserve."
Louise Voigt, Barnardos' CEO, attributed Barnardos' ability to respond the accreditation process to the Looking After Children (LAC) case-management software system, Barnardos' comprehensive system of recording information and directing practice for children and young people in care.
"Barnardos believes that the simple provision of a service is not enough and that unless clear outcomes are focused on and achieved we will not be doing our best by these children.
"To this end Barnardos adapted the Looking After Children (LAC) Case Management System in Australia to provide a framework to ensure all child welfare agencies could realise high standards," Ms Voigt said.
Click here to view full media release
Barnardos Faces a Critical Shortage of Foster Carers
Thinking of volunteering as a foster carer? Barnardos’ need for carers has never been as strong as it is right now. Soaring living costs and increased career expectations for women along with other factors have taken their toll upon the traditional pool of foster carers - women who are at home during the day.
Barnardos places into out-of-home care children who have been removed from their family home for their safety, either temporarily or permanently. These children need a caring, nurturing environment so that they can begin the process of recovery from their history of abuse and neglect and the trauma of separation from their families.
Barnardos offers training and support to carers, and welcomes applicants from all walks of life: men and women, single parents, retired couples or singles and young people. You do not necessarily need to have welfare experience or experience with children, although it does help.
Barnardos is looking for people who
- are at home during the day,
- do not have young children,
- feel they have personal characteristics suitable for child care. These may be, for example, confidence in their child care skills, the ability to work cohesively with an outside organisation, flexibility, a great deal of patience and a resistance to high expectations of what can be achieved overnight with traumatised children.
With the help of the many wonderful carers who support Barnardos and our work with children, we are maintaining our fantastic success rate with foster placements. If you feel you would like to join Barnardos’ incredible army of volunteer carers and change the life of a child forever, contact us now on welfare@barnardos.org.au visit www.barnardos.org.au or call (02) 9281 5510.
Our newsletter, Barnardos News, is a great way to inform our supporters of our recent achievements and developments.
Through Barnardos News we are proud to share with all our supporters the achievements, innovations and rewards that come from bringing relief and hope to those vulnerable children and families under stress.
The Barnardos Newsletters are now available in a new electronic format. To view the online version of Barnardos Newsletter, just click on the 'Barnardos Newsletter' link to the left.
