Category: News

Barnardos is bringing children’s needs to the forefront of the public conversation with their new campaign launching today. Against the backdrop of a cost-of-living election campaign, Barnardos places children’s experiences at the centre with the proposition ‘A child doesn’t choose poverty, but you can choose to change their life.’

The campaign features insights from Barnardos team members who witness first-hand the impacts of hunger, homelessness and social isolation on children, as well as the transformation that becomes possible when they are able to move beyond the poverty trap.

“We have seen a significant rise in the number of families in crisis approaching our centres. These are people who have never asked for help before. One centre in Western Sydney has seen a 300% rise in families needing food assistance,” said Barnardos CEO Deirdre Cheers.

“While this problem can feel overwhelming, we need to remember that we have the solutions, and Barnardos is here to walk that journey with families.”

Deirdre continued, “The cost-of-living has been the centrepiece of the Federal election campaign, but the long-term impacts on children have been largely absent from this debate. Children are our future, and these economic impacts could shape their lives, but it doesn’t have to be this way.”

Long-time Barnardos team member Anna, who features in the campaign, speaks about how crisis support is so much more than just putting food on the table. It’s about “understanding that kids do need birthday presents and they do need to have a good school uniform.”

But crisis support needs to be more than just a band aid approach. Sharon, another team member, talks about working with families until they have the confidence to move forward. “You don’t need to hold their hand forever. You just need to help them through their little challenges in life.”

Deirdre Cheers added, “As a country, we have taken bold measures to secure the future of our children. Over 100 years ago Australia was a world leader in providing free public education. This was a game changer for our families and communities across generations. I believe now is another important opportunity to change our trajectory and ensure that children have everything they need to thrive.”

Barnardos Australia is delighted to announce the return of The Unbound Art Show on March 20, 2025, at the National Art School’s Cellblock Theatre in Darlinghurst! With incredible artists donating never-before-seen pieces, you won’t want to miss out.

This year’s theme, ‘Horizons of Hope’, embodies Barnardos passion to provide support in the present so that we can shape a brighter future for children and young people facing homelessness. Through combining art and the support of our community, we are committed to creating a lasting impact that opens the door to a limitless potential for those we support.

All proceeds from the exhibition will go towards Barnardos safety and prevention programs that support children and young people at risk of homelessness. Together, we can turn a night of creativity into a lifeline.

Florals for the event thanks to Flowers Across.

Buy tickets

Barnardos Australia is pleased to announce the appointment of Liesel Wett OAM to the position of Chair. Liesel joined the Barnardos Board as a Director in January 2025 and we welcome her skills, expertise and knowledge, having over two decade’s experience operating at Board level both as a Non-Executive Director and CEO.

Liesel is CEO of Australian Pathology, the national peak body and industry association for private pathology in Australia and previously held the role of Chair of the Board of Goodwin Aged Care, the largest Aged Care provider in the greater Canberra region, and non-executive role on the Board of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Liesel was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2022 for her contribution to medical administration and is a Member of Chief Executive Women, International Women’s Forum Australia and the Co-Chapter lead in the ACT for the Minerva Network.

Liesel succeeds Ms Janett Milligan who retires as Chair after her appointment in July 2019.

“I am truly privileged to take on the role of Chair of Barnardos Australia and look forward to working with my fellow Directors, along with Barnardos Executive Leadership Team to continue to achieve best outcomes for the children and families we support,” Ms Wett said.

“Barnardos is known for our commitment to vulnerable children and families, uniting around a child because they should never have to overcome challenges alone.

“The dedicated team at Barnardos, along with our valued carers and supporters, is focused on improving the wellbeing and safety of those most vulnerable, addressing the challenges faced by an increasing number of Australian children, young people and families.

“We are led by a strong Executive Team and supported by a dedicated, highly skilled Board of Directors. We value the strong partnerships that have been made with government, organisations and peak bodies over the years, and appreciate our passionate donors and supporters, enabling us to continue the important work of Barnardos.

“I look forward to working together to continue Barnardos essential vision and purpose in creating a brighter future for all children, young people and families.”

The next Amazing Race is:
Thursday 22nd of May 2025

Looking for the ultimate team-building and employee engagement event for your workplace?

The Barnardos Amazing Race is coming to Sydney, Wollongong, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane with all proceeds go towards helping vulnerable children and families thrive!

Race with your department, colleagues or teammates against other organisations, solving problems and completing tasks to progress to the next checkpoint.

The Barnardos Amazing Race will conclude at a secret venue, giving your team to network with other teams and celebrate the winners!

Learn more

ACT Together Media Release || DECEMBER 2024

In 2016, as part of the ACT Government Out-of-Home Care strategy, A Step Up for Our Kids, the ACT Together consortium (Barnardos Australia, the Australian Childhood Foundation and OzChild) formed to provide all out-of-home care services for children in the ACT. ACT Together’s contract expired 31 December 2024. This marks a transition to a new service system, without the consortium.

Under the ACT Government’s new strategy, Next Steps for Our Kids, a Children, Young People & Families Panel has been established. Each organisation within the ACT Together consortium has been successfully appointed as a panel provider but will now operate independently.

The establishment of a consortium to deliver out-of-home care services was an innovative and bold approach, unprecedented anywhere else in Australia. By uniting three organisations with extensive expertise, the consortium provided seamless therapeutic care for children and families involved in out-of-home care. This collaborative model significantly reduced systemic barriers to meeting the needs of children throughout their time in care. It also brought about a marked improvement in compliance and oversight functions, enhancing safety and outcomes for vulnerable children.

Throughout the lifespan of the ACT Together consortium, countless lives have been transformed. With the invaluable support of our foster and kinship carers, ACT Together has facilitated the safe reunification of children with their parents, connected children with extended family through family finding, matched children with their forever families, and supported pathways to Enduring Parental Responsibility (EPR) or Open Adoption.  ACT Together also established a Community Adolescent Program focussing on ensuring that young people have the independent skills, resources and support to transition out of care successfully.

Penny Ball and her family became foster carers in 2017. Since that time, they have supported the restoration of 13 children to their parents or family. Penny says ‘fostering babies involves giving your whole heart in an expression of unconditional love and compassion. The heartwarming joy of experiencing and documenting their milestones like first smiles, giggles or steps fills our hearts with joy and a deep sense of fulfilment. There’s pride in knowing we are making a significant difference in a child’s life, but also humility in recognising the role we play in a much larger picture. Our family has grown much larger because of the new relationships we have formed with the families of children who have been in our care.‘

Where restoration is not possible and the courts determine a child to be subject to a care and protection order until they are 18 years of age, where appropriate we seek to exit them out of the out-of-home care system through EPR or Open Adoption. Over the course of the consortium, ACT Together achieved 39 Adoption orders and 109 EPR provisions.

As the General Manager for ACT Together, Kate Buckmaster reflects that she is proud of the many accomplishments achieved by the consortium. While there are many, her top four are:

• Significantly enhanced the experience of kinship carers ensuring equal access to the same support provided to foster carers.
• The introduction of the Community Adolescent Program to cater to the needs of young people 16 years of age and over to successfully transition to independence.
• The genuine integration of trauma-responsive therapeutic care across all programs in the consortium and provision of high-quality therapeutic supports and services to children, and their families and carers.
• At the commencement of the consortium there were 43 children and young people living in residential care. At the time the consortium ceased providing residential care we had reduced that number to 28 by supporting transitions to home-based care or supported independent living arrangements.

From 1 January 2025, the Australian Childhood Foundation, Barnardos Australia and OzChild will continue their work, improving the lives of Canberran children, independently.

To learn more about the work of Barnardos Australia in Canberra or to become a foster carer with Barnardos Australia click here https://www.barnardos.org.au/

To learn more about the work of the Australian Childhood Foundation click here   https://www.childhood.org.au/

To learn more about the work of OzChild or to become a foster carer with OzChild click here https://www.ozchild.org.au/