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Visit us

The SHINE for Kids Child/Family Centre
Cessnock Correctional Centre
1 Alunga Avenue, Cessnock NSW

SHINE for Kids is situated within the grounds of the prison. We're open Saturday, Sunday & public holidays, 9.30am–3.00pm.

There are two prison visit sessions:
Morning: 9.30am–11.30am
Afternoon: 1pm–3pm

Drop-in is 11.30am–1pm.

The Invisits Program runs in the prison's main visiting area when the Centre isn’t operating.

Getting there

Public transport

From the station an hourly bus service operates to Cessnock shopping precinct with a journey time of 45 minutes. Bus services also operate from Sydney and Newcastle.

The Community Restorative Centre (CRC) runs a bus every fourth Sunday to this prison. For further information call (02) 9288 8700 9am–5pm, Monday to Friday.

From the main Cessnock shopping precinct it is a half-hour walk or a five-minute taxi ride to the prison.

Private transport

From Sydney take the Cessnock turnoff on the F3 freeway and follow the signs to Cessnock. Turn right at the first set of lights into Vincent St and follow it to the end. Turn left at the lights into Wollombi Road. Proceed through the small roundabout and take the next right into Mount View Road (following the sign marked "Correctional Centre"). Take the third right into Nelson Street; turn right into Lindsay Street, which leads to the Centre.

From the New England Highway, travelling south from Singleton, turn off at Branxton and follow the signs to Cessnock. Stay on Allandale road until it ends and turn right onto Wollombi Road. Proceed through the small roundabout and take the next right into Mount View Road (following the sign marked "Correctional Centre"). Take the third right into Nelson Street; turn right into Lindsay Street, which leads to the Centre.

From Maitland turn left at the roundabout near Maitland station on the New England Highway. Follow the signs to Cessnock through Kurri Kurri, Weston, Abermain and Neath continuing on the same road through to Cessnock. Pass through two sets of traffic lights and you are on Wollombi Road. Proceed through the small roundabout and take the next right into Mount View Road (following the sign marked "Correctional Centre"). Take the third right into Nelson Street; turn right into Lindsay Street, which leads to the Centre.

About this Centre

SHINE for Kids started at Cessnock in early 2008 with an in-prison visits table where children could paint and do craft while visiting their loved one in prison.

There is now a Child and Family Centre where children are invited to come and interact with other children under the same circumstances, while being in the comfort of a supporting environment.