Acknowledgement of Country Act for Kids would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land where our Australian offices are based. We would also like to acknowledge Elders past, present and emerging. We seek to foster a culture of friendship and partnership between Act for Kids and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, organisations and communities.
Inside Organisational information
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The hard truth about child abuse
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Australian Child Maltreatment Study
03
Chairman and CEO Report
04
Our DNA – Act for Kids credentials
07
Financial information
08
Our special tribute to Robyn and Jill
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Highlights of the 2022-2023 year
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Thomas – a case study of hope
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Act for Kids – the year in pictures
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Supporter spotlight
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Act for Kids ESG Report
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Thank you to our supporters
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Organisational Information
Annual Review 2022-2023
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
About Act for Kids
Chairman Deputy Chairman
The Hon. Dr. David Hamill AM Nigel Harris AM
Directors Thomas Rice Zoe Newbury Paul Malt Gavin Mackey Dr. Rosemaria Flaherty Simon Neill Katie Choi Emma Costello Tracey Gray Katrina Parkyn
OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM
Act for Kids is a for-purpose organisation that delivers evidence-led professional therapy and support services to children and families who have experienced or are at risk of harm through abuse, neglect and domesic violence. In 2023, we celebrate 35 years helping many thousands of children and families throughout Australia to overcome the trauma of abuse and neglect. Through our range of targeted child and family services, our purpose is to help keep kids safe, heal from trauma and lead happy lives.
OUR AMBASSADORS
Chief Executive Officer Dr. Katrina Lines
Founding Ambassador
Dr. David Wood AM
Chief Financial Officer Leanne Dreves
Lifetime Ambassador
Kay McGrath OAM
Executive Director of Dr. Kaye Pickering Service Operations
Ambassadors
Anomi Bruynius Bruce Morcombe OAM
Executive Director of Amanda Williams Fundraising
Denise Morcombe OAM Kim Skubris
Executive Director of Service, Strategy Thomas McIntyre and Growth
Jon Rouse APM Lesley-Anne Houghton
Executive Director of Koni Hanlon People and Culture
Maxine Horne Pedro Gondim
Chief Operating Officer Amy Turner Youthrive
Quentin Flannery Ram Kangatharan Sascha Chandler Volunteer Ambassador
Helen McGrory
Parent Ambassadors
Alecia Taryn Chris Mountford Gemma Mountford
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this Annual Review contains the name and image of a deceased Indigenous person.
OUR PATRON Her Excellency, the Honourable Dr. Jeannette Young AC PSM, Governor of Queensland ACT FOR KIDS
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THE HARD TRUTH ABOUT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT 1
177,556 children were receiving child protection services in 2021-2022.1
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 2023. Child Protection Australia 2021-22. Cat. no: CWS 92. www.aihw.gov.au
OVER 470,000 REPORTS In 2021-2022, there were 470,538 reports made to child protection authorities in Australia.1
45,548 CHILDREN
IN ONE YEAR
confirmed to have experienced abuse and neglect throughout Australia.1
CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
Breakdown by state and territory. NSW
15,582
SA
2,227
VIC
15,307
NT
1,447
QLD
6,249
TAS
391
WA
3,992
ACT
353
MOST COMMON SOURCES OF CHILD PROTECTION NOTIFICATIONS1 Police | 22.7% School | 19.2% Health Professional | 11.6% Non-Govt Organisation | 11.5% Family | 9.0%
INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS 57,795 INDIGENOUS CHILDREN received child protection services during 2021-2022.1
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8.0% | Social Worker 5.5% | Department Officer 2.4% | Friend or Neighbour 1.7% | Child Care Personnel 0.2% | Child Involved
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are 8 times more likely to receive child protection services.
IN
April 2023, a landmark study was released into the prevalence and impact of child maltreatment in Australia. The Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS), which surveyed 8,500 Australians aged 16 and older, is the first nationally representative study of the five types of child maltreatment…the results are truly alarming!
For information about the ACMS and support services visit www.acms.au
Among all Australians:
32.0% 28.5% 30.9% 8.9% 39.6%
experienced
physical abuse
experienced
sexual abuse
experienced
emotional abuse
experienced
neglect
Child maltreatment is
strongly associated
with mental health disorders in Australia.
Australians who experience maltreatment are more likely to have mental health disorders:
2.8x 4.6x 3.1x 2.6x
experienced
exposure to domestic violence
3.2x
more likely to have any
mental health disorder more likely to have current
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
more likely to have current
generalised anxiety disorder
more likely to have current severe alcohol use
disorder
more likely to have had
major depressive disorder
All percentages relate to maltreatment in childhood up to age 18.
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The Hon. Dr. David Hamill AM Chairman
Dr. Katrina Lines Chief Executive Officer
We’re pleased to have supported more than 40,000 people, including almost 23,000 children, through our services in 2022-2023.
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“Our purpose is to help keep kids safe, heal from trauma and lead happy lives.”
It is with great pride Act for Kids shares that it supported 40,292 people, including 22,869 children, across its services during 2022-2023 financial year. This is a true testament to the dedication of the Act for Kids team, our partners and volunteers who work tirelessly towards delivering the organisation’s purpose to help keep kids safe, heal from trauma and lead happy lives. INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT SERVICES
YOUTHRIVE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
Act for Kids saw incredible growth in its bespoke Individual Support Services (ISS) program with the opening of new sites in Rockhampton and Gladstone.
This financial year also marked a significant milestone for Youthrive, Act for Kids’ social enterprise, which has been delivering paediatric allied health services to children across South East Queensland for a decade.
Demand for the service also grew substantially in Cairns, where we opened a new separate building space to ensure more kids received the holistic vital support they deserve. Overall, we supported 177 children and 125 adults through ISS during the financial year. The program continues to receive positive recognition from government stakeholders for its effectiveness and positive outcomes for kids. The team is exploring opportunities to expand the highly sought-after program in interstate regions including Victoria and New South Wales.
The profit-for-purpose organisation was established in 2013 to help children experiencing a range of developmental challenges, while generating profit to support the work of Act for Kids. Incredibly, Youthrive has delivered more than 106,000 hours of therapy services and helped over 7,900 kids and their families over the past decade.
We also closed our Helensvale clinic in June, however we continue to deliver services after moving to the nearby Act for Kids Labrador therapy centre. Despite the location changes, the team proudly delivered 18,373 hours of therapy to 1,377 children and young people across its five clinics during FY 2022-23.
MORETON CENTRE In June, Act for Kids officially opened its Moreton Centre following a special collaboration between long-term corporate partners Auto & General, the Property Industry Foundation, and the Caboolture Sports Club. The region has some of the highest rates of vulnerable children and domestic and family violence in Australia with limited trauma-informed services available to support families. The major refurbishment unveiling was an example of how significant collaboration can meet the needs of the community.
Unfortunately, a strategic financial decision was made to not renew the Springfield lease and operations ceased in September 2022 due to increasing costs.
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SUPPORTING FIRST NATIONS PEOPLES
CELEBRATING 35 YEARS
Support for First Nations children and their families remains a key priority for the organisation, including its efforts to support the transition of the Act for Kids Doomadgee safehouse to be a communitycontrolled service endorsed by the Queensland Government.
Finally, 2023 marks 35 years of Act for Kids delivering vital services to children who have experienced trauma or are at-risk of harm across Australia. The organisation continues to go from strength to strength through invaluable guidance from the Board, dedicated leaders, support teams and highly skilled specialists working on the frontline to support children who have experienced trauma.
Act for Kids also continued providing on-going support to Gunawuna Jungai Ltd, which has a purpose to represent the collective voice of Aboriginal families in Doomadgee. The establishment of Gunawuna Jungai Ltd was supported by Act for Kids and key long-term partners King & Wood Mallesons and Auto & General. Act for Kids continues working in partnership with the Queensland Government and through Gunawuna Jungai to ensure a cohesive transition of the safehouse service that puts the needs of the community first.
The organisation cannot continue to grow without the generosity of its long-term and new corporate partners, donors and stakeholders who support our work. We sincerely thank them for being part of the Act for Kids extended team and their ongoing commitment to children in need. We look forward to continuing our work supporting children and their families in the new financial year and delivering the organisation’s purpose to keep kids safe, heal from trauma and lead happy lives.
ADVOCACY Act for Kids’ advocacy efforts increased further this year, including the organisation’s presence in the public domain during Child Protection Week. As part of the advocacy strategic plan to speak up for kids, the organisation launched its first ‘Get Comfy’ campaign in September 2022. The campaign was developed from research the Act for Kids advocacy team commissioned to find out about Australians’ sex education experiences and heard directly from young people about their sex education experiences. The campaign achieved 28 million views during Child Protection Week 2022 and received a Queensland Child Protection Week Award for its impact in improving sex education for kids and young people.
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David Hamill Chairman
Katrina Lines CEO
OUR PURPOSE We help keep kids safe, heal from trauma and lead happy lives.
OUR VISION All kids have a safe and happy childhood.
30,887 Family Support (including 16,884 children)
OUR VALUES We are a professional, ethical team who is caring, courageous and collaborative.
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During 2022-23, we supported 40,292 people, including 22,869 children, across our various services.
5,935 Therapy Service (including 2,680 children)
THERAPY CENTRES
3,100 Learn to be safe
DEDICATED + 450 STAFF
302 Individual Support
Including Cape York Safe Houses and Youthrive Centres
YEARS HELPING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
with Emmy & friends
Services (including 177 children)
68 SafeKIDS home
environment care in the Cape York and Gulf regions
Over the past 6 years, Act for Kids has delivered services to more than
1/4 of a million (252,559) children and families in need. ACT FOR KIDS
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FINANCIAL INFORMATION
72.20%
Government Grants
REVENUE 2022-23* 0.05% Community Grants 0.61% Interest Received 8.54% Fundraising Income 18.17% Fee for Service Income 0.42% Other Income
86.85%
Services directly relating to children and families
EXPENSES 2022-23 9.64% Administration Costs 1.01% Fundraising Prizes 2.50% Marketing & Fundraising Costs
REVENUE*
2023
2022
Government Grants
$37,242,302
$36,227,374
Community Grants
$24,998
$253,685
Interest Received
$314,702
$20,038
Fundraising Income
$4,406,020
$4,484,172
Fee for Service Income
$9,372,612
$7,109,373
Other Income
$218,809
$126,472
Total Income
$51,579,443
$48,221,114
2023
2022
Services directly relating to children and families
$43,142,035
$41,827,963
Administration Costs
$4,789,619
$4,353,823
Lottery Expenses
$500,963
$647,264
EXPENSES
Marketing & Fundraising Costs Total Expenses *Revenue excludes value of donated services. 08
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$1,243,318
$1,578,058
$49,675,935
$48,407,108
A special tribute to Robyn and Jill In this year of review, we sadly farewelled two of our finest contributors in Robyn Moylan (our Cultural Practice Quality Consultant) and Jill Cavanagh (Milton Office Volunteer). Robyn and Jill had an impact on the wider Act for Kids network and those we help that will last well beyond their time, and their loss has been deeply felt across the organisation.
Robyn Moylan
Jill Cavanagh
(15 Sept 1956 – 21 Feb 2023)
(16 Apr 1954 – 11 May 2023)
Robyn Moylan worked with Act for Kids almost from the time we opened our doors in Cairns. She came to us with many years of experience working with families experiencing stress, poverty and intergenerational trauma.
For over two decades we had the privilege of Jill’s time and dedication as a volunteer at Act for Kids. At the time of her passing, Jill’s work with us at our Milton Corporate Office was longer than any paid employee.
Robyn was particularly skilled using narrative therapy and in those early years at Act for Kids, she published academic papers about the power of a narrative approach to healing for Aboriginal people. She successfully applied those skills to working with folk in Yarrabah in particular. Robyn was especially generous in sharing her knowledge and skills, supporting others to learn. She was so passionate about cultural safety and cultural approaches to healing, making the world a better place for Aboriginal youth. Our Act for Kids teams across the country consulted regularly with Robyn and in her role as Cultural Practice Quality Consultant, she developed our draft Cultural Practice Framework. We will be forever grateful for her dedication to her work, her leadership and knowledge and for the many thousands of hours she spent with families supporting them to care for their kids.
Jill came into the office each week happy to do any job that needed doing. Document filing, archiving, scanning, uploading – from small jobs to big, Jill provided wonderful support to out teams. Jill knew that small things added up to big things. She absolutely knew that her work helped to free up our frontline practitioners to work with kids and families. In her own way, Jill knew that she was helping to keep kids safe, heal from trauma and lead happy lives. We will always remember Jill as caring and kind, down-to-earth, calm and positive. She was always happy to say hello, have a chat, to listen, and to learn new skills. Quite clearly, her volunteering contribution with Act for Kids kept her connected and feeling valued. In one of life’s dark ironies, Jill passed doing what she loved doing –snorkelling off the Queensland Coast. Jill was, and always will be, a big part of Act for Kids.
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Celebrating our new
Act for Kids’ new Moreton Centre opened its doors in June, the result of a special community collaboration to support vulnerable children and young people in the Moreton – Caboolture region. This purpose-built facility is designed as a safe and welcoming environment, delivering therapy and family services in a region where the rates of vulnerable children are twice the national average, yet support services are limited.
The Moreton Centre is the culmination of a significant partnership between several organisations and individuals, including Auto & General, The Property Industry Foundation, the Caboolture Sports Club, and the dedicated effort of the Hon. Mark Ryan, State Member for Morayfield. Act for Kids extends its heartfelt gratitude to all those who have played a role in making this significant project a reality.
Jahmarley Dawson
Cultural Tutor, Wajji-Walu Dreaming
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Youthrive delivers a decade of service
Our award-winning Child Protection Week education campaign
Youthrive, Act for Kids’ social enterprise, marked 10 years of supporting children and young people across South-East Queensland. Since 2013, Youthrive’s team of experienced allied heath professionals has helped more than 6,100 kids and young people to thrive, offering integrated therapy including psychology, speech pathology, dietetics, and occupational therapy. Every dollar of profit from Youthrive goes back to Act for Kids to provide life-changing therapy to kids who have experienced or are at risk of harm.
During Child Protection Week 2022, Act for Kids launched the Get Comfy campaign, encouraging parents and carers to start talking to their kids about important topics like sex, consent, relationships, and their bodies. Act for Kids commissioned its own research, which revealed 79% of Aussies say the sex education they received at school did not prepare them for real life experiences, and only 19% learnt about consent. The highly-successful 2022 Get Comfy campaign shared resources to help parents start the conversation and went on to receive the Queensland Child Protection Week Media & Communications Award.
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At only four years old, Thomas is feeling totally lost and isolated in his world of trauma. At school he struggled every day to feel safe and included with classmates.
Helping Thomas to heal. “I distinctly recall these big blue eyes, searching my space and probing me as a therapist, was this a safe place?” Act for Kids Therapist
When four-year-old Thomas* first came to Act for Kids, our therapist team met a frightened and scared little boy. Thomas and his mother, Lisa* had lived through the trauma of domestic violence for three years at the hands of her ex-partner. Thomas had seen his mummy subjected to physical and emotional abuse – an experience no child should endure. He was living in a state of constant fear. Sadly, this domestic violence occurred while Lisa was also undergoing cancer treatment. Thomas saw his Mummy’s whole appearance change, with hair loss and sickness post-treatments. In short, this little boy was struggling to comprehend his life.
Grief. Loss. Anxiety. Anger. Thomas was first referred to Act for Kids by Lisa, desperately seeking help for his anger management issues and emotional outbursts. Thomas began replicating some of his stepfather’s behaviours standing over Lisa, attempting to intimidate her, and getting angry. This escalated at school with friendship issues, anger outbursts and running away.
“I used to be in control of my life, but I just lost all my selfworth…I now have a sense of guilt around the relationship and the long-term effects on Thomas.” Lisa, Mum to Thomas
After the relationship breakdown, Thomas and his mother relocated to a women’s shelter for their own safety. Understandably, the sudden departure from home added to Thomas’ confusion.
Meeting Thomas: A therapist’s perspective. Thomas was accepted to our Flourish and Family Therapy program in October last year, attending 10 sessions over eight months. Priority one for our therapist was to reassure Thomas he was in a safe space. At the start, Thomas was extremely anxious. His first question was “do you know my second dad, and does he know I am here?” Thomas feels that he is not a good person, claims that his peers are mean to him, and believes that people hate him. His apprehensions drive his anger outbursts and then he feels shamed and runs away.
*Names and image have been changed to protect each individual’s and the family’s privacy. 12
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Using play therapy, Act for Kids gradually helped Thomas work through his feelings of underlying anxiety. Our therapist helped him understand what being anxious looks and feels like, exploring his triggers and providing reassurance that it’s okay to be afraid and to speak to an adult. An important part of our therapy program with Thomas was psychoeducation around how to regulate his emotions, self-care, and implementing strategies to build his self-worth. A therapist worked separately with Lisa to recognise Thomas’ symptoms of trauma and she joined a support group for women who had experienced domestic and family violence. Lisa now recognises the importance of building therapeutic, positive relationships and cultivating resilience for them both.
Significant and positive change. While Thomas and his mother are slowly discharging from our services; he is still excited about visiting his therapist and sharing his week - like a normal five-year-old. He is now loving school and has not run away. Through reflective practices, Lisa demonstrates an insight and an understanding of the emotions that drive Thomas’s behaviours and can support him in making safe choices and responses.
Both Lisa and Thomas have come a long way, reconnecting with family and growing positive relationships. Thomas feels safe at school, establishing close connections with his teacher, the principal, and his peers. He says even the naughty boys in the class don’t bother him now! In a happy moment, Thomas was excited to tell his therapist:
“Mummy has now got a job and we are going away with friends to see the snow for the first time ever and build a snowman, like in the picture books.”
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Ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open Moreton Centre. Celebrating Speech Pathology Week 2022 at Youthrive. Group photo time at our 2023 International Women’s Day lunch. Mental Health Week 2022, with Pedro Gondim, was another huge success. Volunteers prepare for our 50/50 raffle at the Broncos v Dolphins match. Our Townsville team partnered with the North Queensland Cowboys NRL Club for Child Protection Week 2022. 7. Jess Mumme, Director Communications and Advocacy, filming “The Story of Dumaji. Kids In Culture.” documentary. 8. Tamara and Cara, Act for Kids volunteers, at our North Lakes Christmas Wrap. 9. Our Youthrive North Lakes team celebrate World Autism Awareness Day. 10. Receiving the Queensland Child Protection Week Media & Communications Award for our 2022 ‘Get Comfy’ campaign. 11. Indigenous artists Jimmy Priestley and Patience Link at our Moreton Centre opening celebrations. 12. Stepping out at the 2023 Bravehearts Ball. 13. Our wonderful volunteers at our International Women’s Day fundraising lunch. 14. Raising money at the Villaworld Homes by AVID Property Group Golf Day.
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Supporter Spotlight “I know I’ll never see these kids, but I just hope they can grow up better than they’ve got it now.” Meet Cara – a proud wife, wonderful mother, qualified accountant, and Act for Kids supporter who first learned about Act for Kids through her employers. “Act for Kids has long been a charity partner where I work and soon after I started, we had a staff morning tea and Act for Kids was our charity of the month.” “I remember one of the Partners saying the number of children in Australia experiencing abuse and neglect in just one year could almost fill Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane – that’s nearly 50,000 kids. That statistic has stayed with me ever since.” Reflecting on her support of Act for Kids, Cara told us she feels proud and enriched through her giving back.
“I really do feel like I’m donating with some sort of purpose – not just a token gesture.” “Volunteering is the same feeling. I joined in on the Act for Kids Christmas Gift Wrap at North Lakes Shopping Centre and the community spirit was really quite overwhelming.” “The volunteers and the customers having their gifts wrapped almost had this unspoken understanding that what we were doing would help one, two, however many children.” Cara knows her contributions are making a difference - not just through donations and volunteering, but also in talking to family and friends about Act for Kids’ work.
“The way I look at it – my donations aren’t massive, but surely one hour of therapy is better than another hour of sadness for these kids.” Cara’s story shows that every dollar donated counts. Together, we can tackle child abuse and neglect to create better futures for OUR kids.
Act for Kids recognises the importance of our ethical development under the principles of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals framework. Throughout 2022-2023, we began working towards developing processes and actionable goals in support of 14 of the 17 universal Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Sustainable Development Goals. 16
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The positive outcomes achieved by Act for Kids throughout 2022-23 could not have been possible without
thank you.
the generous support of sponsors and partners, who provided so much more than just financial support, but also pro-bono, in-kind and volunteer services. We are deeply grateful…
Major Partner
Supporters
Saywell Foundation
Fitzpatrick Family Charitable Trust
Pro-Bono Supporters
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For more information, please call 1300 228 000 or visit our website at actforkids.com.au mail@actforkids.com.au PO Box 1844, Milton QLD 4064 Act for Kids Limited. ABN 98 142 986 767.