A break for families, a day of joy for kids: Inside the Vinnies Buddies Day program

“Weekends can be a really critical time. For a mum in a refuge, it might be her only chance to inspect permanent housing, attend counselling, or do a TAFE course to upskill. Buddies Day gives her a safe, trusted space for her kids—and a moment to focus on herself.”

“We get the students involved, and they love it. It becomes this beautiful community effort. We’ve done days with face painting, treasure hunts, sock puppets, dance parties… the kids don’t miss out on anything.”

“It gets hectic—especially for the big ones like Halloween—but that just shows how much it means to people. It's not just a fun day out. It’s something they look forward to. It’s something they remember.”