All of Burnsides services are inclusive and based on achieving just, safe nurturing and healthy life experiences for children, young people and families.  We aim to protect children from abuse and neglect by breaking cycles of disadvantage and building on strengths.  We achieve this by providing services across the continuum of care that support healthy family relationships, encourage positive change through education and learning and build strong connected communities.  Our out-of-home care services provide children and young people who cannot live with their families, with safe and stable environments where they can flourish.

Our work is informed by research and evaluation and we actively advocate with our service users with the aim of making positive social change and influencing public and social policy.

Burnside began in 1911 when the first cottage home was opened on Pennant Hills Road at North Parramatta for orphaned and abandoned children. Since that time, over 10,000 children and young people have been accommodated and cared for by Burnside staff and foster parents. Burnsides homes for children ceased in the late 1980s, but our work today continues to provide the best possible care, protection and opportunities for vulnerable children, young people and their families.

Burnside is now one of the largest providers of child and family services in New South Wales with more than 80 programs across 27 locations in western and south western Sydney, the central and mid north coasts and the Orana Region. Many workshops and groups are also run in far reaching country towns. Each year, Burnside works with more than 5,200 children, young people and families. More than 2,000 of the people Burnside works with are under the age of 18 years.

For further information about Burnside please go to www.burnside.org.au