Our History

SHINE for Kids was created as the Children of Prisoners' Support Group (COPSG) following the release of "The Children of Imprisoned Parents Report", commissioned by the Family and Children's Services Agency, in March 1982. In December 2004, we changed our name to SHINE for Kids.

Read all about our history since our beginnings in 1982 »

The organisation receives ongoing funding from the Department of Corrective Services, the Department of Community Services and others. SHINE for Kids head office is located in the grounds of the Silverwater Correctional Complex in Sydney. A second office was established at Bathurst in April 2000. In 2005, we opened a third office at South Windsor.

Our Service

SHINE for Kids provides advocacy and various other services for the children of imprisoned parents and their families. A core focus in providing this support is our belief in the power of early intervention to stem some of the negative effects of parental imprisonment. These negative effects can include:

• family poverty
• breakdown in family relationships
• children's inability to thrive in a social and educational setting
• discrimination faced by children and their families due to the imprisonment of a parent

These effects of imprisonment on children and their families can lead to a cycle of disadvantage for children and can also potentially result in children coming into contact with the criminal justice system themselves. Our goal is to address these issues and combat this potential cycle through:

• individual and family support
• educational and financial support for children and young people
• Groupwork programs
• transporting children and young people to visit their imprisoned parents
• occasional child care & drop-in services
• activity days both outside and within NSW Correctional Centres
• Video Visits: video conferencing visits for children and families in remote areas
• referral to other agencies
• public advocacy of children of prisoners' rights
• community education of the needs and rights of children with imprisoned parents