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1982–1999 | 2000–2005 | 2006–present
2000
SHINE for Kids opens in Bathurst
Many families follow an incarcerated parent, sometimes from jail to jail. This, of
course, adds to a child’s feeling of isolation and dislocation – especially as fellow
students will have a good idea of why they have suddenly appeared in class.
In Bathurst, teachers reported that children of prisoners were turning up for school
hungry on Monday mornings – food restrictions in prison meant they rarely ate
proper meals during weekend visits. Feuds ignited in the boring and claustrophobic
prison environment were exploding in the playground.
Although a pilot Child & Family Centre program had been trialled at Bathurst
in 1998, prison renovations had left us without an onsite operational base.
ATSIC granted funding in 1999 for the construction of a building adjacent to the
prison which in 2000 opened as our Child and Family Centre Bathurst.
Silent Victims
COPSG’s Silent Victims reported on the needs of children
of prisoners who are also victims of violent crime. Author Judy Kell concluded that the needs of children of prisoners who are also direct and secondary victims were not well researched and resourced:
This report has identified a number of important themes and issues
affecting these children. It has also recommended a diverse range of
strategies designed to address these children’s needs to ensure that
this group within our society can develop to their full potential and
overcome many of the challenges they have been forced to face.
These strategies cannot be implemented without the commitment
and financial support of a range of organisations identified in this
report. It is imperative that they give priority to this group of children
who have few options currently available to them.
What changed in 18 years?
Commissioned by COPSG, a 1999 survey of New South Wales prisoners with
children under 16 years of age was compared with an identical survey undertaken
in 1981. The findings were disappointing. In his introduction, Dr Derek R. Brookes wrote:
It is heartbreaking to work through these stories [written by prisoner parents],
piecing together what has happened to each child as a result
of their parent’s imprisonment. One after another, they describe the
kind of suffering and anguish that would shock the conscience of the
public.
... Eighteen years is long enough. It is time for serious and genuine
reform in the policies and procedures of those institutions and
agencies involved with children of prisoners and their families.
2001
 Our first bequest
COPSG was barely established when Cath
Gissane read an article in her local paper
which moved her to volunteer.
Over the next 17 years, she took children to
visit their parents in jail, served as a member
of the management committee and was a
formidable advocate.
Using only public transport, she covered the state with her charges. Grafton,
Cessnock, Goulburn ... nowhere was too far, no child too demanding, no problem
too difficult to solve. She could always be relied on to provide support and
encouragement to workers, volunteers and clients and was well loved in return.
Cath was not a wealthy woman; she brought up her three children alone on a war
widow’s pension. Yet when she passed away in 2001, she left $10,000 to SHINE – our first bequest.
We named the Cath Gissane Child Care Centre at the Silverwater Complex in her
honour.
14,500 children with a parent in prison
Simon Quilty’s research showed that, during 2001 in NSW, 14,500 children had a
parent in prison. Of these, 2250 were left without their mother.
60 per cent were under five years of age when they experienced a parent being
incarcerated for the first time.
 It’s the kids that do the time
Compiled by Denise Blackett, this book shares the
many stories from the volunteers about their time at
SHINE for Kids. The volunteers – who give their time
freely without asking for anything in
return – describe
how their experience has a remarkable positive
influence on their lives.
It’s the kids that do the time was funded by The
Department of Family and Community Services
Small Grants Projects to commerate the International
Year of the Volunteer 2001.
 2002
The Space In Between
Between ‘before’ and ‘after’ there is a space – the space in
between. When a parent goes to prison, the effects on children
are traumatic, infiltrating every part of their lives.
Directed by Rebecca Barry of the Australian Film,
Television and Radio School, this documentary explored
the instability, alienation and social discrimination that
families and their children experience when a parent is
incarcerated.
The law is that you can only take
into account the effect on children in the most
exceptional circumstances.
Judges have been counselled to be very careful not to become over-sympathetic in sentencing prisoners bearing in mind that they have
dependent children.
There’s not much compassion in the world today – it’s all an eye for
an eye and a tooth for a tooth and demands that judges sentence
prisoners to greater and greater terms of imprisonment.
I observed the turmoil and the distress on children when their father
or mother was being sentenced. I felt quite deeply that they were the
neglected part of the population. No one seemed to worry too much
about what happened to them, and that motivated me to speak out at
the time of my retirement because it did affect me a great deal.
– Peter McInerney, QC, retired Supreme Court Judge,
interviewed on The Space In Between
Bathurst expands its reach
This year a grant was received from Department of Community Services to expand
services and provide outreach services to children and families. Initially this is
established in a rented office in the Bathurst Aboriginal Lands Council, however in
2004 the Bathurst Correctional Centre would provide a new operational venue to
be shared with Justice Health, located in Vittoria Street, a short distance from the
prison.
 2003
NSW NAB Volunteer Award
The NAB Volunteer Awards recognise
organisations which create a positive
environment for their volunteers.
SHINE for Kids received the NSW
State award.
Video Visits program
launched
Video Visits began linking families
with their imprisoned parent
through state-of-the-art video conferencing technology.
Originally, Video Visits were offered at only three Correctional Centres: Cessnock,
Bathurst and Mulawa. In January 2007 the service would expand to all Correctional
Centres across the State.
 A sea of children
At this year’s SHINE for Kids AGM, we
initiated a project which had more impact
than we’d planned. Dozens of paper dolls
decorated by children of prisoners greeted
attendees of the meeting as they walked to our
Silverwater offices. That evening, many of
the ‘kids’ disappeared – only to be discovered
in Correctional Centre offices all over the
State – being conversation pieces!
2004
Getting to be a father
Toddler Groups for kids aged from 0 to 5 years started at Silverwater Men’s
Correctional Centre. These playgroups were initiated in an effort to familiarise the
child with the parent before his release, consequently making the transition for the
child and parent easier.
 We decide to change our name
Some parents and carers felt that ‘Children of Prisoners
Support Group’ was an inappropriate name.
Not all carers
tell their children that their parent is in prison; many children
don’t want their peers to know. And, while the acronym COPS
has unfortunate connotations,
COPSG is meaningless and
unpronounceable.
There was also concern about the logo – a
child with a ball and chain. Whilst it carried
a powerful message about the impact of
incarceration on children, some felt that it
also communicated a sense of hopelessness
and despair.
We looked for a name that was uplifting, positive and child-friendly and decided
on SHINE for Kids which, with its sunny logo, was officially launched at our 2004
Annual General Meeting.
 NSW Premier’s Public
Sector Award
SHINE for Kids shared the
2004 silver award for its category with
the Department of Corrective
Services.
2005
SHINE for Kids opens in Windsor
On Saturday 13th August 2005, the Governor of NSW, Marie Bashir AC, opened the SHINE for Kids Windsor office on the John Morony Correctional Complex.
Commissioner Ron Woodham of the Department of Corrective Services
was instrumental in the estblishment of this Child & Family Centre.
At the same event, the newly appointed Justice Minister, Hon. Tony Kelly launched the Corrective Service Industry’s Children’s Activity Packs.
A small step towards alleviating boredom, frustration and anger, the Packs are
now available to all children who visit a correctional centre anywhere in the State.
Our brochures reach out in four languages
To feature the name change to SHINE for Kids, our brochure was reprinted not only
in English but also in Spanish, Arabic and Vietnamese.
1982–1999 | 2000–2005 | 2006–present
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