From community gatherings to local celebrations, Life Without Barriers staff and the people we support came together across the country to celebrate the holiday season.
Image: Five staff members in festive outfits standing in a group, smiling at the camera at Bundoora Farm.
The holiday season has been full of joy at Life Without Barriers! Across our communities, staff, participants, and carers have come together to share the festive spirit.
The season has been a time of connection, laughter, and celebration full of delightful gatherings with the people we support, our carers, children and young people, and staff.
Celebrations with genU
The people we support, and our staff joined genU at the Boathouse Centre in Launceston to celebrate both International Day of People with Disability and the festive season.
A photobooth, prizes, music and a delicious lunch made it a lively and welcoming celebration, one that highlighted the value of inclusion and the strength of connection.
Bunnings Family Fun Christmas Event
The Midwest Team took part in the annual Bunnings Family Fun Christmas Event, connecting with a range of community organisations and families across Geraldton.
During the event, they raised more than $200 to purchase Christmas gifts for children and young people in out of home care across the Midwest.
In a wonderful show of support, Bunnings also offered our Midwest Family-Based Care Team a permanent space for fundraising and promoting foster care opportunities in the region. This partnership highlights the vital role of strong community connections in supporting children, young people, and carers in regional areas like Geraldton.
Image: Danica and Ange, stand behind the Life Without Barriers stall at the Bunnings Family Fun Christmas Event.
Operation Sunshine WA
Every Christmas, Operation Sunshine WA runs the Sunshine Santa Christmas drive for children and young people in out of home care. This year, we were delighted to receive a generous donation of 156 gifts for the children and young people we support.
Our young people wrote letters to Santa, and Operation Sunshine donated these gifts wrapped and labelled for each of them with Santa delivering the gifts at our annual children and carers Christmas party.
Image: Natalie Young, Executive Support Officer, and Claire Boardman, Regional Director Child, Youth and Family, WA, stand amongst a number of gift bags donated by Operation Sunshine WA.
These thoughtful, personalised gifts helped to make the festive season a little brighter for the young people in our care, acknowledging their individuality and expression with a gift that was exactly what they had wished for.
Donations like this remind the children and young people in our care that they are celebrated, valued, and supported by their wider community.
"We are grateful to Operation Sunshine WA for their support in providing presents for children in Out of Home Care," said Helen Nys, Director Child, Youth and Family, Western Australia.
Christmas at Bundoora Farm Barn
Image: A group of staff members in festive outfits standing around Santa, smiling at the camera at Bundoora Farm.
The Victorian team’s Christmas party at Bundoora Farm Barn was a special day for more than 80 children, young people, foster carers and staff who came together to celebrate.
Festive outfits helped set the tone, while a visit from Santa, hands-on crafts, fun games and plenty of delicious food kept the energy high throughout the day.
It was wonderful to see young people enjoying themselves and carers connecting with one another, while also taking the opportunity to share feedback and reflections with staff in a relaxed, welcoming setting.
"It was a real highlight to hear first hand from our carers how happy they are with the level of support they are receiving from the team. One carer in particular said that this was the best Christmas party she has been to in over 17 years of being a carer!" said Wendy Hazeldene, Regional Director Child, Youth and Family in Victoria.
Image: A young girl looks at the blow up Christmas decoration at Bundoora Farm Christmas party.
As the year draws to a close, we thank you for being part of our journey and the Life Without Barriers community in 2025.
It’s been a joy sharing stories from the people we support and our staff and celebrating the many moments of connection with you throughout the year.
Life Without Barriers wishes you a joyful holiday season and we look forward to sharing more stories with you in 2026.
