On the 11th December 2024, staff from Australian Mutual Bank attended the Sydney Special Children’s Christmas Party held at Rosehill Garden to accompany underprivileged children, supported by Barnardos Australia, and help them enjoy a day of festive fun.
The children chaperoned by our staff volunteers Tania, Therese, Glen, and Faye were treated to a special day of live music, yummy food, fun rides, interactive games, face painting and many more fun activities. There was a special appearance from Santa and each child went home with a show bag filled with lots of treats and more.
The Special Children’s Christmas Parties aim to give marginalised children the chance to enjoy the magic of the festive season in a safe and welcoming environment. The event provides a unique experience for children with special needs or those from disadvantaged circumstances who may otherwise miss out at Christmas time.
While the focus of the event is to provide a fun day out for the children and their families, it’s also a heartwarming and rewarding experience for the volunteers and supporters who make a real difference and help entertain the children who attend. Each year, volunteers who participate continue to provide feedback on the benefits of attending, and their satisfaction to see their contributions make a positive impact to the lives of the children in their care.
After having a wonderful time at the event last year, Tania was excited to put her hand up to volunteer again this year. “For me, this was the third year in a row I have volunteered for the Rosehill Special Children’s Christmas event. It’s always a great opportunity to give back something which is really nothing to us but means a lot to the kids”.
Therese, who also enjoys these opportunities to give back, echoed this sentiment. "Being able to give back and put smiles upon children's faces allows one to feel so much joy that cannot be expressed. It was a privilege to feel such emotion. I hope to be able to attend again next year and look forward to seeing new faces joining in the Christmas Spirit for the children".
For Faye, the opportunity to attend the event and see the smiles and Christmas cheer made the experience worthwhile. "My experience was just priceless, heartwarming and very uplifting to see the joy in the kids’ faces throughout the Christmas party. I have shared my experience with other colleagues who will also volunteer attend next year".
The Special Children's Christmas Parties have been running for almost 30 years, and the children that are invited to attend are those experiencing serious illness, intellectual or physical impairment, or living in underprivileged circumstances. The opportunity to be involved with such an event is an amazing opportunity to give back to those in need during the festive season and to help support the work of Barnardos Australia.
