HEALING LITTLE HEARTS TAKES A LOT OF CHANGE WHICH IS WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP...
CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
THE FACTS
was the most common primary type of abuse suffered by children.
OVER 451,000 REPORTS In 2019-20, there were 451,184 reports made to child protection authorities in Australia.
47,516 KIDS CONFIRMED In that same 12 months, 47,516 children were confirmed to have suffered abuse or neglect. That’s 130 kids every single day.
MOST COMMON SOURCE OF CHILD PROTECTION NOTIFICATIONS Police
School
Medical professional
21%
20%
12%
Social worker
Non-Goverment Organisation
8%
10%
Family
10%
Nationally, only 0.2% of notifications came directly from the child involved.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2020. Child Protection Australia 2018-19. Child welfare series no.72. Cat. No. CWS 74. Canberra: AIHW. Source: Act for Kids study surveying 2,015 participants aged over 18 years of age. Conducted as a National Representative survey.
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NATIONALLY, EMOTIONAL ABUSE
Emotional
Neglect
54%
21%
Physical
Sexual
15%
10%
CHILDREN UNDER 12 MONTHS
were most likely to suffer abuse or neglect. The number of children receiving child protection services in the last 5 years.
RISEN BY 12%
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children remain
8X MORE LIKELY to have received child protection services.
2 THIRDS of parents are not confident their child knows what to do if they feel unsafe.
94% OF PARENTS whose children have done a Protective Behaviours program said they found it was effective in helping their children identify safe and unsafe situations.
ABUSED OR NEGLECTED breakdown by state VIC NSW QLD WA
18,883 14,131 6,047 4,717
SA NT TAS ACT
1,745 1,167 578 248
ABOUT US Since 1988 Act for Kids has been delivering lifesaving Integrated Therapy Services and awardwinning Early Education Programs, to empower kids and break the cycle of abuse in Australia. Our dedicated team of psychologists, speech therapists, early education specialists, counsellors, occupational therapists and family support workers help children and families overcome trauma by providing support to the most vulnerable.
SECOND CHANCE AT CHILDHOOD: At Act for Kids, we have a very clear and deliberate strategy in the way we can best support the children and families we work with, as well as the wider community. We operate under our Three Pillars of service – PREVENTION, TREATMENT and EDUCATION, with a commitment to minimising the instances and impact of child abuse and neglect. Underpinning our Three Pillars approach, Act for Kids delivers a range of support services to children and families in need through our 30 centres throughout Australia.
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OUR VISION IS FOR ALL KIDS TO HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY CHILDHOOD, FREE FROM ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
”Together we can make a positive change to the lives of at-risk and vulnerable children throughout Australia.” DR KATRINA LINES, ACT FOR KIDS CEO
HOW WE HELP In 2019-20, over 450,000 cases of child abuse and neglect were reported in Australia, with over 45,0000 cases confirmed. That’s one child every 11 minutes suffering from physical, sexual or emotional abuse or neglect often at the hands of people they know and should be able to trust, and most often in their own home. Some of these children end up with serious problems that affect them their whole lives. Act for Kids provides intensive therapy to help them overcome their trauma and claim a second chance at the happy, healthy childhoods they deserve. We also provide a range of preventative, wrap-around support services for vulnerable families at risk of abuse and neglect. Our dedicated team of psychologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, early education specialists, counsellors and family support workers help thousands of kids and families each year. But unfortunately there are no quick fixes. Most of our children will spend between 6 and 18 months with us. True healing takes time, which is why we need your help. Becoming a regular donor is about making a meaningful commitment to long-term support. With your help we can continue providing the specialised treatment and care needed to heal little hearts. *Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
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WE WORKED WITH 44,894 PEOPLE DURING 2019-20
13,349
15,868
21,698
34,324
40,128
46,084
2013-14
2016-17
2014-15
2017-18
2015-16
2018-19
ACROSS THE PAST 7 YEARS, WE HAVE HELPED 164,617 KIDS
11,519
14,595
24,597
24,597
31,039
29,135
2014-15
2017-18
2015-16
2018-19
2016-17
2019-20
(covid-impacted)
HOW YOU CAN HELP TRUE HEALING TAKES TIME, WHICH IS WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP. Becoming a regular donor is about making a meaningful commitment to long-term support for abused aussie kids. With your help we can continue providing the specialised treatment and care needed to heal little hearts.
By simply donating the change in your pocket, you can significantly change the lives of kids across the nation.
HOW WILL YOUR DONATION HELP? As a regular giver, your kind donation can have a profound affect of the lives of young Australians. How will your donation help?
What is Regular Giving?
Donating regularly is an exceptional act of kindness. Your gifts will help us plan and deliver life-changing services long into the future.
Our regular giving program allows you to give generously to Act for Kids. Instead of donating as a once-off cash gift, you can establish a regular recurring tax-deductible monthly donation.
Regular tax-deductible monthly donations ensure that Act for Kids can continue to fund ongoing programs that meet the needs of the communities they serve and support. Your donation will help us to provide life-changing therapy services to children suffering from neglect, sexual, physical and emotional abuse.
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From as little as $5 a week, your donation can provide the resources needed to deliver therapy services. $50 per month can provide a family with access to an intense family support program. $100 per month can provide up to a years’ worth of therapy for a trauma affected child. Your donation truly can make a difference to the lives of aussie kids who have suffered from neglect, sexual, emotional and physical abuse.
AIDEN’S STORY For the first six years of his little life, eight-yearold Aiden was beaten, burned, threatened and degraded. He was sexually abused by his older step-brother from the time he was four, and when Aiden reported the abuse, he was abused more by his own parents. For years he tried to care for and protect his younger sibling from the daily abuse he experienced. Aiden was removed from his parents and is now living with his Aunty Donna. Life with Aunty Donna is safe, but he struggles with nightmares, cannot sleep independently, soils himself, is scared, becomes easily angry, doesn’t cope with change and having friends is hard. The trauma Aiden has endured will significantly affect his future. However, with the vital trauma-informed support and therapy from Act for Kids, Aiden is starting to heal. After seven months, Aiden is now sleeping and toileting independently, and is concentrating better at school. He understands his feelings better and has learnt to use various strategies for coping and to selfregulate his angry outbursts. Social situations are still a struggle, but he is trying to use his new skills. Aiden is being supported to make sense of all the ‘bad’ things that have happened to him in his short life.
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Act for Kids therapists, together with Aunty Donna, are working hard to create a safer environment for Aiden to ensure he will continue to grow and develop, and have a brighter and happy future.
Learn more at actforkids.com.au
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On behalf of the kids and families you’re supporting, thank you. Donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible. Your tax-deductible receipt will be issued at the end of each financial year. Payments can be cancelled at any time, simply contact Act for Kids on 1300 228 000. On completion of this form please: Email to donations@actforkids.com.au Post to Act for Kids, PO Box 1844, Milton Qld 4064
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For more information please call 1300 228 000 or visit our website actforkids.com.au mail@actforkids.com.au PO Box 1844, Milton, Qld 4064 ABN 98 142 986 767 8
ACT FOR KIDS