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“60 Years On: The more things change, the more they stay the same”
1964-1965 Annual Report (for Dr Barnardo’s Homes Australian Branch as it was then known) offers a fascinating snapshot of how our work looked six decades ago, compared with our 2024/25 Annual Review.
While the services we deliver and the way our organisation operates have evolved significantly, our purpose remains the same: supporting children experiencing disadvantage to grow up safe, supported, and thriving
As a branch of Dr Barnardo’s Homes in England, it is unsurprising that the report should begin with a quotation from Her Majesty The Queen’s 1964 Christmas message. At that time, Barnardos cared for 270 children—56% of whom had migrated from the UK, with 44% Australian-born.
The report also details “migration by air,” describing the first group of children transported from the UK by plane. Ironically, this would be one of the final such journeys, as Barnardos ended its child migration program by the close of 1965.
Another prominent feature of the report is the Tooloogan Vale Farm School at Scone in the Upper Hunter Valley of New South Wales. The farm provided boys with practical agricultural training before they were supported into employment—an approach reflective of the era and its understanding of care and opportunity.
There are many obvious differences between Barnardos then and now: the number of children supported (270 compared to more than 7,500 today), the services we deliver, and the policies and safeguards that guide our work. Yet some things have remained remarkably consistent.
In 1965, donations from everyday Australians were a vital source of income—and bequests were the single most significant contributor to that support. Sixty years on, bequests continue to play a crucial role in sustaining Barnardos work, helping ensure we can be there for children not just today, but for generations to come.
Most enduring of all are the values that underpin everything we do: an unwavering commitment to children’s wellbeing, a belief in their potential, and the dedication of the people who care for and support them. These qualities were fundamental to Barnardos then, and they remain so in 2026.
Perhaps this is best illustrated by a quotation included in the 1964/65 Annual Report from a 25 year old man, Terry Smith who had been cared for by Barnardos from when he was two months old. He said, “I would like to pay tribute to Dr Barnardo’s Homes for bringing me safely through many difficulties, and for giving me a good standard on which to build my life”.
Sixty years on, that sentiment continues to reflect the heart of Barnardos—and the lasting impact made possible through the generosity and foresight of our supporters.
