Five stories of care, connection and belonging 

Posted on 13 August 2026
Category News

Every child has their own story and every experience of caring is unique. For our 2026 Carer Recognition Awards recipients, caring has meant helping children stay connected to family and culture, advocating for the support they need and encouraging them as they grow in confidence and independence. 

The impact can be seen in the everyday moments that matter: a child feeling safe enough to try something new, siblings maintaining a meaningful relationship, a young person reaching an important milestone or simply knowing they have someone in their corner. 

Each of this year’s recipients has made a difference in their own way. We are proud to celebrate their stories and recognise the dedication, compassion and commitment they bring to the lives of children and young people.

Danielle and Roxanne 
Heart of Compassion Award 

For Danielle and Roxanne, being a carer means making sure children know they have someone in their corner. 

They understand that children and young people in care may not always have people advocating for them or reminding them of their strengths, and that is where they can make a difference. 

“Kids in this situation often don’t have people rooting for them. They may not have someone willing to step in and hold their hands, tell them that they’re worthy, lift them up and help connect them to the supports and things that they need.  

“We can, so we do.” 

That commitment shapes the way they care. They’ve learned Auslan to support the communication needs of children in their care, travelled countless hours to help maintain important family relationships and worked alongside families to strengthen children’s sense of connection and belonging. 

One particularly special moment came when a child took her first steps while in their care. 

“That was a really proud moment of seeing her feel the strength in her body to be up and mobilised.” 

Danielle and Roxanne explain that moments like this are about recognising each child’s individual journey and celebrating their progress along the way.  

Their approach is grounded in patience, advocacy and a belief in every child’s potential. 

Brione 
Connections that Matter Award 

Keeping children connected to the people who matter to them is at the heart of Brione’s role as a carer. 

When siblings in her care were living separately, Brione made it a priority to help them spend time together and maintain their relationship.  

She made regular visits possible and, over time, those visits grew into something much more meaningful. 

“I used to have their sister come once a month to maintain that family connection, and in the end, she refused to leave.” 

Those connections have continued to grow over the years. Brione also developed a relationship with the children’s parents, grandparents and wider family, creating a strong network of connection around the children.  

Seven years on, those family relationships remain strong. 

“We started to develop a relationship with Mum and Dad and Nan and Pop. Now we have informal contact with families. They come to our home.” 

Brione says that supporting sibling relationships is about recognising the importance of these connections throughout a child’s life. 

“If they can have that positive connection with their siblings,  that’s really important.” 

Rebecca and Christopher 
Deadly Carer of the Year Award 

Rebecca and Christopher share how caring is deeply connected to culture, Country, family and identity. 

As Aboriginal kinship carers, they understand the importance of helping young people stay connected to who they are while supporting them to build confidence, independence and a strong sense of self. 

Some of the most rewarding moments have been watching the young people in their care reach milestones and become more independent.  

From finishing Year 12 to getting a first car and starting a job, these achievements have been moments worth celebrating. 

“She got her first car and a job – building that independence with her was exciting.” 

Their caring journey has taught them the importance of patience and persistence.  

“You must have patience and not give up. They’re used to that. They want you to give up – but they actually do need you.” 

For Rebecca and Christopher explain how helping young people understand their background is an important part of supporting their future. 

“You need to know where you’ve come from and where you’re going to be. You can’t move forward unless you know your background, and it helps build the person that you go on to be.” 

Rebecca and Christopher are helping young people stay connected to culture and identity while giving them the confidence to take their next steps. 

Sarah and Chevaun 
Stronger Together Award 

Sarah and Chevaun work closely with families, professionals and support networks, bringing people together and continuing to ask questions when something is not working for a child. 

They explain how advocating for the children in their care means making sure their needs are heard and that the right support is there when they need it. 

“We’re kind of the squeaky wheel, and we just keep pushing until we get the result that we think the kids deserve.” 

Their persistence has helped create opportunities for the children in their care and they have seen the impact that the right support can have. 

They reflect on one significant moment where they saw a young person develop a positive relationship with school. 

What had once been a significant challenge became something they genuinely looked forward to. 

“It went from a kid not going to school at all to now actually being disappointed in the holidays because she’s not at school.” 

Caring has also been a journey of learning. Patience and perseverance have become just as important as advocacy and they speak about the joy that children bring into their lives. 

“Patience, perseverance … they just bring more joy. You can’t not smile when you see them.” 

At the centre of their approach is a commitment to keep listening, keep advocating and keep looking for ways to support the children in their care. 

David and Benjamin 
Embracing Cultural Belonging Award 

For David and Benjamin, supporting a child means embracing every part of their story, including their family, culture, language and connections. 

They’ve made it a priority to support a child’s connection to his Vietnamese heritage and birth family, creating a home where these relationships are recognised, respected and celebrated. 

“There is so much joy in seeing him connected, developing well, seeing him grow –  especially with birth family.” 

David and Benjamin reflect on a special moment at daycare, when the child proudly shared his family story with friends. 

“He explained that he had three daddies and one mummy”, they share – naming both his carers and his birth parents. 

Hearing him speak so proudly about his family was a special moment. 

“It’s his family. It’s his connection.” 

Their own connection with the child’s birth family has also been strengthened through language. Being able to speak the language of his birth parents has helped them build trust and maintain a meaningful relationship with his family. 

“We speak the language of his birth parents, and that is immeasurably helpful in maintaining and building the trust and the relationship and connection.” 

Their commitment to family and culture is helping create a strong foundation for a child to grow, develop a sense of belonging and understand their own story.  

For David and Benjamin, every part of that story has a place and every important connection is worth nurturing. 

While the experiences of our 2026 Carer Recognition Award finalists and recipients are different, they share a commitment to helping children and young people feel safe, connected, supported and valued. 

We are proud to recognise everyone celebrated through this year’s awards and the difference they make in the lives of children, young people and families across NSW. 

Congratulations to all our 2026 Carer Recognition Award finalists and recipients, and thank you for everything you do. 

We gratefully acknowledge and thank the generous businesses and organisations who have donated gifts for this year’s award recipients. Your support helps us celebrate and recognise the remarkable contributions of our carers and community.