Reception in support of The Pyjama Foundation

Chair of The Pyjama Foundation, Ms Fiona Murdoch and Members of the Board; Founder and CEO, Ms Bronwyn Sheehan OAM; General Manager, Ms Alison Gosper; Pyjama Angels and supporters; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

I begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to any First Nations people here this evening.

I am delighted to welcome you to Government House and take great pleasure in hosting this reception to thank the volunteers and supporters of such a wonderful Foundation that is in the business of creating opportunities for children in care.

It is obvious that all children have a right to live, love and learn, regardless of family background. The family into which a child is born is not subject to choice but thanks to those in the community such as the Pyjama Angels in the room today, some degree of choice is given back to those children who have had a more fragile start to life.

With children in foster care experiencing the lowest education outcomes nationally, the need for volunteers to intervene and break the cycle is paramount. It is wonderful to see the empowering impact that Pyjama Angels have on their charges, both educationally and of course, relationally.

The huge numbers involved in The Pyjama Foundation, both mentors trained, and children cared for through learning programs is astounding.

Since 2004, over 10,000 mentors have been trained and almost 20,000 children and young people mentored. I am in absolute awe of what you do daily for disadvantaged children and youth. Your hearts are big, and full of compassion, and as a community we are so grateful that they are.

Difficult beginnings do not always have to assume difficult ends. By imbuing a love of learning, you are improving so much more than a child’s educational outcomes, you are also building a self confidence that imparts itself in so many other areas of a child’s life, improving their experience of the world, and their place in it.

You are the people who help these children shine brighter, try harder, see further, and with that, your own cup runs a little fuller too, I imagine.

Making a positive impact on any life is an extremely rewarding outcome.

To the Board and Executive, congratulations on the work you have done, and continue to do, in keeping The Pyjama Foundation thriving for 20 years now. And to the volunteers and supporters we celebrate today, a heartfelt thankyou from all of us. Through the early intervention, support and mentoring of young people in care, you really are changing lives for the better.

Thank you.