Category: News

A special Aboriginal Children’s Day in Marrickville

Posted on by Barnardos

The Sydney Metro team recently brought local families together at Marrickville Library to celebrate Aboriginal Children’s Day.

The Pavilion was full of families and children from local early learning centres, who enjoyed arts and crafts, reading sessions and face painting throughout the day.

It was also a chance for families to connect with services, with Centrelink outreach workers, including a Revenue team member, on hand to offer support.

One young mum shared that she had accrued more than $10,000 in fines before she turned 18. After years of slowly paying them off, she was still carrying around $3,000 in debt. With children of her own, she explained how difficult it had been to keep up with the payments.

The Revenue worker was able to access the system and clear the remaining fines on the spot.

It was a wonderful example of how bringing the right people together can make a real difference for families.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the day such a positive and meaningful celebration of Aboriginal children, families and community.

A safe place can change everything

Posted on by Barnardos

When most people think of homelessness, they picture someone sleeping rough. But for many young people in Australia, homelessness is often hidden.

It can mean couch surfing between friends’ homes, living in overcrowded housing, or staying in unsafe places because there is simply nowhere else to go.

This Homelessness Week, we’re shining a light on Our Place Youth Foyer in Canberra, Barnardos Australia’s supported accommodation program for young people aged 16 to 21 who are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.

More than just a roof over their heads, Our Place provides young people with the stability, guidance and practical support they need to build brighter futures. Through education, employment support and independent living skills, young people are empowered to move beyond crisis and create lasting change in their lives.

Leading this important work is Program Manager Patrick Whitfield, who has dedicated almost 10 years to supporting young people experiencing homelessness.

“The best part of my role is seeing young people achieve their goals,” Patrick says. “I’ve seen so many young people complete their tertiary studies, gain full-time employment and grow their independent living skills.”

Patrick believes that building strong communities is at the heart of helping young people thrive.

“I believe strong communities are one of the best ways we can get positive results for the young people, children and families we work with.”

Thank you to the incredible Patrick, Saru, and the wider team who make this work possible. Your dedication, expertise, and support make a real difference in the lives of young people.

Our new community bus, thanks to our partnership with AMF-Cufa

Posted on by Barnardos

We’re thrilled to welcome our brand new community bus!

Last month Barnardos Australia celebrated the renewal of our long standing partnership with AMF-Cufa and the official launch of our brand new community bus.

For almost a decade, AMF-Cufa has been a valued partner, helping Barnardos support children, young people and families across our communities. Their continued commitment is making a real difference, and this new community bus is another exciting step forward.

The bus will help safely transport children home after attending the Wellington Learning Centre each afternoon, as well as provide transport for parents and children attending playgroups and parenting programs. It will also make it easier for our team to connect with families and communities and ensure more children and families can access the support they need.

At the launch, representatives from AMF-Cufa joined Barnardos team members and families to celebrate this important milestone together.

Our Wellington team members, Margie and Jess, shared just how much the new bus will mean for the children, young people and families they work with every day. Their stories are a wonderful reminder that something as simple as reliable transport can help create stronger connections and better outcomes for the communities we serve.

A heartfelt thank you to AMF-Cufa for your ongoing partnership, generosity and shared commitment to building safer, stronger and more connected communities.

Together, we’re creating brighter futures for children.

Thank you for making our 85th Peter Pan Op Shop a success

Posted on by Barnardos

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make our 85th Peter Pan Op Shop such a wonderful event.

From our dedicated volunteers and generous partners to our event suppliers, supporters, models and everyone who came along to shop, your support helped make the day possible.

The Peter Pan Op Shop is more than a sale. It is a community coming together to support children, young people and families, helping Barnardos create lasting change in the lives of children who need it most.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who continues to stand with us and support the work we do.

Thank you for being part of the 85th Peter Pan Op Shop. We couldn’t have done it without you. 💚

‘All In’: an artwork about coming together

Posted on by Barnardos

A big congratulations to Anna, whose artwork ‘All In’ was chosen as the winning entry in our NAIDOC Week Art Competition.

Children and young people across Barnardos programs were invited to share their creativity and reflect on what NAIDOC Week means to them.

Anna’s artwork is about reconciliation, unity and moving forward together. She explains:

“The symbols represent reconciliation. The blue hands meeting the Aboriginal hands show unity and forgiveness. The sun and direction markers represent reflection and moving forward together.”

We loved seeing the thought and creativity that went into every artwork submitted. Thank you to all the children and young people who took part and helped us celebrate the spirit of NAIDOC Week.

And once again, congratulations Anna!

Congratulations to Anna, the winner of our NAIDOC Week Art Competition, celebrating creativity, reconciliation and connection among children and young people.
NAIDOC Art Competition winner - Anna

Hiking the Great Wall for Barnardos!

Posted on by Barnardos

In June 2026, 11 incredible Barnardos Australia supporters took on the challenge of hiking the Great Wall of China, all with one goal: to help create brighter futures for children, young people and families.

Over five days, the group trekked across the iconic Great Wall, pushing through demanding conditions and temperatures exceeding 30°C. Every step was taken in support of children and families facing some of life’s toughest challenges.

Together, they raised an incredible $24,619, with every dollar helping Barnardos provide vital services that support children, strengthen families and build more hopeful futures.

Taking on a challenge like this requires determination, resilience and a huge commitment, and we’re so grateful to everyone who laced up their hiking boots and made the journey.

Interested in taking on a challenge for Barnardos like hiking the great wall of China?

Get in touch

TIDES Project brings young people’s stories to the screen

Posted on by Barnardos

Young people from Warrawong took to the screen during National Reconciliation Week, premiering films they created through the TIDES Project.

Working alongside First Nations Elders and community leaders, the young filmmakers shared stories about culture, identity and belonging, exploring what connects us to our communities, our histories and each other.

Along the way, they also built new skills and confidence, using film and storytelling to share their experiences and tell stories that matter to them.

We’re proud to support opportunities like TIDES that give young people a voice and create space for their stories to be heard.

Thank you to everyone who came along to celebrate these talented young filmmakers and the communities that helped bring their stories to life. 💙🌊

Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month – Program Spotlight

Posted on by Barnardos

‘I needed to continue my life after leaving my husband and be able to talk to other women from domestic violence situations. I needed to be happy again.’ – Participant, Learn to Live Again*

Barnardos Learn to Live Again, supports women and their children who have experienced domestic and family violence (DFV). The program focuses on building social connections, supporting healing, and strengthening families. By helping women and children find safety, they feel empowered to rebuild their lives with confidence and support.

Barnardos Learn to Live Again plays an important role in recovery, particularly through the power of shared experience. Participants consistently highlight how hearing the experiences of other victim-survivors creates insight and understanding:

“to hear some of the stuff that they had been through, even though I had gone through almost the same, for some things in particular, hearing it come from somebody else, gives you a different kind of empathy to reflect on yourself.” – Participant 1 (online)*

Through the sessions provided, women can relax, reflect, and process their experiences in a safe and supportive environment. Building connections and knowing they aren’t alone can be just as important as practical support.

DFV often leaves victim-survivors’ with diminished self-esteem, making self-reflection and recovery challenging. With time, patience, and skilled support, women can begin to shift their thinking:

“. . .it really helps when you’re stuck in a mindset, and someone will say something or bring it out in a different way and change the way you think about it” – Participant 3*

Strengthening self-esteem not only benefits the mothers themselves but also supports them in being the parents they want to be.

Barnardos walks alongside women as they rebuild confidence, recongise their resilience and strengthen their relationships with their children. We couldn’t be prouder of our teams delivering this vital service.

 

*Learn to Live Again: A Pilot Study to Support Women Experiencing Domestic Violence, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2025

A little more colour, joy and hope at Ultimo

Posted on by Barnardos

Our Ultimo office has had a colourful makeover, thanks to Swedish-Australian illustrator and designer Elin Matilda.

Elin brought her vibrant style to life in a beautiful mural, which later inspired the artwork she generously donated to this year’s Unbound Art Show.

At the heart of the artwork is a message of hope for every child, something that means a lot to us at Barnardos. Elin was also inspired by her daughter and the way she can “see and find joy in the littlest things”.

It’s a lovely reminder that hope can start with the small things, a moment of creativity, a smile or simply seeing the joy around us.

Thank you, Elin, for bringing so much colour and joy to our office and giving us all a reason to smile when we walk through the door.

We’d also like to thank Jacky Winter for their support and Resene Australia for providing the paint that helped bring this beautiful artwork to life.

Peter Pan Literary Lunch supports Beyond Barbed Wire

Posted on by Barnardos

A huge thank you to the Peter Pan Committee for hosting their annual Literary Lunch in support of Barnardos’ Beyond Barbed Wire program.

We were delighted to have Kate McClymont host a thoughtful conversation with journalist and novelist Geraldine Brooks. We’re incredibly grateful to Geraldine for sharing her time, stories and support for our work.

Our CEO, Dr Kate Alexander, also spoke about the difference Beyond Barbed Wire makes for mothers and their children, helping families reconnect and giving mothers the support they need to feel more hopeful about the future.

Many women in Australian prisons have experienced domestic and family violence. Beyond Barbed Wire helps mothers build connections with other women, find stable housing, access childcare and navigate social security, helping create stronger foundations for themselves and their children.

Thank you to everyone who made this special afternoon possible and helped us continue supporting more women and families. 💚

WHAT WE SEE

We see beyond the sleepover in cars and understand the underlying issues.

After escaping family violence, a parent and their child have nowhere safe to stay and are
currently waiting for refuge accommodation.

We see beyond the sleepover in cars
and understand the underlying issues.

After escaping family violence, a
parent and their child have nowhere
safe to stay and are currently waiting
for refuge accommodation.

HOW BARNARDOS HELPS

We understand that families and children who have experienced domestic and family violence need more than just a safe place to stay. At Barnardos, we work closely with children to identify their unique needs and provide tailored support for each family member.   

Safe accommodation

Support with transitional accommodation

Safety Planning

Providing safety planning
so that families can leave violence for good

Counselling icon

Access to counselling services

Children who have survived domestic and family violence often experience long-term impacts into adulthood. Our caseworkers recognise the importance of specialist support to help them recover and thrive. 

HOW BARNARDOS HELPS

We understand that families and
children who have experienced domestic and family violence need more than just a safe place to stay.
At Barnardos, we work closely with children to identify their unique
needs and provide tailored support
for each family member.   


Support with transitional accommodation
♡
Providing safety planning so that families can leave violence for good
♡
Access to counselling services

Children who have survived domestic and family violence often experience long-term impacts into adulthood.
Our caseworkers recognise the importance of specialist support to
help them recover and thrive. 

You can help too! A simple gift today can support a child who has experienced
domestic and family violence to recover and heal.

close