Our recent Barnardos Trek brought together an extraordinary group of supporters who pushed themselves physically and mentally to raise funds for children in crisis.
The landscapes were breathtaking — but the real beauty was in the solidarity, teamwork and purpose behind every step.
If your organisation is looking for a team‑building experience we want to hear from you.
In May, Eighty8 Fitness joined forces with Barnardos Canberra to raise awareness for youth homelessness through their amazing initiative called, NightShift.
The team at Eighty8 Fitness identified a group of people who were shift workers or first responders who typically exercise at odd hours. They decided to put this incredible runner’s group together called NightShift, where anyone can join in and run, walk, or cycle a loop of 5-7km. The intention is to bring people together, exercise in a group, and bring that sense of community together.
This round, Eighty8 Fitness partnered with Barnardos Canberra through its NightShift initiative to raise awareness of youth homelessness and mental health, demonstrating how businesses and community organisations can work together to create meaningful impact.
Watch the video below to hear from Sophie from the NightShift team and Pat from Barnardos Canberra about the importance of connection, community, and supporting young people to build on their strengths.
Inspired by NightShift? If you’d like to explore how your organisation can partner with Barnardos Australia, get in touch with Beverly at partnerships@barnardos.org.au or call 02 9218 2161. We’d love to hear from you.
Your support as a matched funding partner creates immediate and measurable impact:
Your colleagues can be part of the movement. We can offer:
Your partnership does not just fund programs, it sends a message that children’s safety is non‑negotiable. Every child deserves to feel safe and cared for. Download the flyer below for more information.
Raising children is challenging enough, but when you add poverty, homelessness, family violence, and mental illness families can fall apart. Sadly, it is often the children who suffer the most.
In 2024-25, 78,800 children and young people aged under 18 were assisted by specialist homelessness services (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – Homelessness and homelessness services 2025).
On the 10 September 2026, during National Child Protection Week, we will shine a light on this reality and host The Big Give, a powerful opportunity for the community and corporate Australia to unite in protecting children. Every dollar raised will support the issues that matter most to your organisation — whether that’s domestic and family violence, homelessness, poverty, or strengthening families before crisis escalates. Together, we can help children feel safe, supported, and seen.
Become a BIG GIVE Match Partner
We are seeking to secure $100,000 in matched funding by EOFY. Match Partners are the driving force behind the campaign — doubling donations on the day, inspiring greater generosity, and significantly increasing the overall impact.
In return, we offer genuine engagement opportunities for your organisation – from campaign visibility and brand alignment during National Child Protection Week to meaningful ways to involve your staff.
At Barnardos, we are a bunch of passionate people committed to making children and young people visible – we’d love to have a chat with you and explore how we can partner together.
Stay tuned!
The Unbound Art Show has quickly become one of Barnardos most exciting and inspiring events attracting extraordinary artistic talent and a passionate, sold-out audience.
In 2027, Unbound is set to be bigger and brighter than ever.
What we need now is a visionary corporate partner ready to stand alongside us as Principal Partner, helping ensure that every single dollar raised goes directly to protecting children and strengthening families.
By partnering with Unbound, your organisation can:
This is more than a sponsorship – it’s a leadership opportunity; the chance to visibly stand for something meaningful, in a way that hasn’t been done before.
If your organisation is ready to combine brand impact with real social change, we’d love to start the conversation with you.
Contact partnerships@barnardos.org.au to explore becoming the 2027 Unbound Art Show Principal Partner.
We are thrilled that YSG Studio has signed another three-year agreement with Barnardos to support the Aboriginal Early Years Program.
This program plays a vital role in providing culturally responsive early childhood support, ensuring Aboriginal children have access to safe, engaging learning environments that nurture development, identity, and wellbeing.
A big thank you to Tom and Yasmine and the whole YSG team, we are excited to continue this meaningful partnership.
Barnardos is proud to continue our partnership with Yancoal, who has generously provided a $25,000 grant for a second consecutive year.
The funding will support our Domestic & Family Violence (DFV) Caseworker in Mudgee, enabling tailored, hands-on support for families experiencing DFV.
With Yancoal’s ongoing commitment, Barnardos can continue to deliver safety planning, advocacy, and case management for children and non-offending parents, helping reduce risk and strengthen family wellbeing in the local community.
We look forward to attending the Yancoal’s morning tea and meeting in March.
With only 14 days left until Christmas, Barnardos is working hard to ensure that every child in our care feels the joy and excitement of the festive season. For many families, Christmas can be overwhelming and financially difficult. Our Gifts for Kids Appeal helps provide toys, books and gift cards, which are delivered directly to our children and family centres, just in time for Christmas.
We’ve partnered with Simply Giving, an online toy warehouse that allows supporters to browse, purchase and donate gifts directly. Every gift you choose is delivered straight to the children in our care.
🎁There’s still time to get involved
Corporates can sign up and create their own company-branded giving page, complete with a QR code that can be shared around with their team and community. It’s an easy way for staff to select the toys they wish to donate!
Our 2025 Annual Review is now live and available, capturing a year of progress, resilience, and meaningful change for children and families.
The review highlights the breadth of our work, including a message from our CEO, Deirdre Cheers, who will be retiring this year. We thank Deirdre for over ten years of leadership as CEO and her unwavering dedication to building a future where every child can thrive.
We have just two weeks left to lock in our inaugural Unbound Art Show event partners. We offer bespoke sponsorship packages to suit any sized business. If you’d like to align your company with a one-of-a-kind special event that showcases the best emerging and established artists in Australia, please contact us at partnerships@barnardos.org.au.
All proceeds from this event will support our services through the Bundaleer Community Centre in Warrawong.
All proceeds support Barnardos Australia’s safety and prevention programs. This year, we’re funding a Community Development Coordinator to expand Bundaleer Community Centre from two to five days a week. This role will provide consistent drop-in support, organise parenting programs and partner with local groups to deliver cultural and community events.
Warrawong is Wollongong’s most disadvantaged suburb—73% of residents faced food insecurity last year, 72% have safety concerns, and rates of domestic violence and property crime are above average. That’s why Bundaleer is so vital. It offers a “place to belong”, where children and families are seen, heard and connected. With your support, we can keep the Centre open, amplify residents’ voices and create a safer, stronger community.
After a recent community consultation, it was highlighted that there is an urgent need to extend our focus beyond early childhood, addressing entrenched cycles of disadvantage across all age groups. Children and young people’s well-being depends on multiple, interconnected domains* — being loved and safe, having material basics, being healthy, learning, participating, and having a positive sense of identity and culture. Bundaleer’s community-led approach strengthens these conditions, ensuring that children and families not only have their immediate needs met, but also the foundations to thrive into the future.
Bundaleer Community Centre
Bundaleer Community Centre kids at the
2025 Unbound Art Show
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.
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.
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.
Our centres
