2025 ANNUAL REVIEW
OUR PURPOSE
We help keep kids safe, heal from trauma and lead happy lives.
Acknowledgement of
RESPECT, RECOGNITION, AND SOLIDARITY
Act for Kids respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work and gather. We pay our deepest respects to Elders past, present, and emerging, who are the keepers of memories, traditions, cultures, hopes, and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and families.
We further recognise the grief and loss Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities have experienced from colonisation, resulting in historical, cultural, and intergenerational trauma.
At the same time, we honour and celebrate the enduring strength, survival, and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples — the world’s oldest living culture.
Act for Kids especially acknowledges First Nations children, young people, and families with whom we walk alongside. Act for Kids is committed to listening, learning, and supporting their journey in culturally humble and respectful ways and we stand in solidarity with them now and always.
SERVICES SNAPSHOT 2024-2025
During 2024-2025 , we supported 37,171 people , including 21,788 children , across our various services.
29,548 Family Support Services (including 15,776 children)
2,517 Therapy Services (including 1,575 children)
2,500 Learn to Be Safe with Emmy & Friends
340 Individual Support Services (including 215 children)
89 SafeKIDS indigenous home environment care (in the Cape York and Gulf regions)
2,177 Youthrive Support Services (including 1,633 children)
Across 2024–2025, we saw the positive impact of our services reflected in the lives of the children and families we worked alongside.
From our Chairman Chief Executive Officer
UPDATE FROM OUR CHAIRMAN
Our more than 500 employees are deeply committed to protecting children and understand the enormous scale of child maltreatment in Australia.
The latest child protection data, showing over half a million reports of abuse and neglect made to authorities in 2023–2024, serves as a stark reminder of the work still ahead. Of these reports, 42,100 children were confirmed to have experienced maltreatment, and 179,000 children were involved in the child protection system.
Just one child experiencing harm is one too many. If we ever need a reminder of why Act for Kids exists, let these children be our “why.”
Our commitment to improving outcomes for children, young people, and families was further strengthened by the launch of our Impact Strategy 2024–2027. This blueprint outlines three key areas of focus:
♥ Delivering exceptional, evidencebased services that improve lives.
♥ Championing the rights and wellbeing of children and families through credible advocacy.
♥ Working towards a carbon-zero footprint.
Dr. Katrina Lines, Chief Executive Officer and Nigel Harris AM, Chairman
Act for Kids is proud to share that during the 2024–2025 financial year, we supported 37,171 individuals, including 21,788 children, through our vital services.
Providing this level of support to families in need has only been possible thanks to our dedicated and passionate Act for Kids team, funding partners, donors and volunteers. Their unwavering commitment helps keep children safe, supports healing from trauma, and gives them the opportunity to lead happy, healthy lives.
At the heart of this strategy is a thriving, supportive organisational culture which is essential to achieving our bold vision to support at least 90,000 people annually, operate across four states, and be recognised as a leader in driving positive social change by 2034.
Looking ahead, Act for Kids’ core focus will be to address the intergenerational nature of trauma and disadvantage through prevention, treatment, and advocacy. Central to this goal is our Generational Change Model – a whole-of-family approach that supports both children and the adults who care for them. It recognises that lasting safety, healing, and wellbeing are achieved by working with the entire family in a trauma-informed and culturally responsive way.
Our model is grounded in ecological theory and a strengths-based approach, understanding that children thrive when their caregivers are supported to build their skills, wellbeing, and financial stability.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge four remarkable individuals who were honoured as Act for Kids Lifetime Champions last financial year: The Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO, Beverley Fitzgerald, Dr Neil Carrington, and Gerry O’Shaughnessy. This special title recognises extraordinary service and long-term commitment to our organisation and its purpose.
I extend my heartfelt thanks to our Board Directors, the executive team, our dedicated staff, volunteers and funding partners. Your tireless efforts and support make all the difference in helping keep children safe and giving them brighter futures.
Nigel Harris
Nigel Harris AM, Chairman
YEAR IN REVIEW FROM OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
The past year has brought significant challenges for many children and families across Australia, reflected in the growing demand for support our teams see every day. Domestic and family violence, mental health challenges, the cost-of-living crisis and housing shortages continue to affect the families we work with and require a united community response.
Across the year we marked several key milestones, including the opening of new centres and the expansion of services in Springwood, Nambour, Maryborough and Mackay. We also celebrated the first anniversary of our Moreton Centre and the Townsville Individual Support Service. Youthrive, our social enterprise, delivered school readiness services across North Brisbane and Moreton Bay with support from Brisbane North PHN and helped early education centres build capability through the Kindy Uplift program. We also launched a refreshed Youthrive website to improve client experience and streamlined booking.
My heartfelt thanks go to all the individuals and teams whose dedication made these achievements possible.
The meaningful contribution of our teams was reflected in our first Impact Survey, which gathered feedback from children accessing clinical therapy, specialist and individual support services.
The results were overwhelmingly positive:
♥ 97% enjoyed working with Act for Kids.
♥ 98% felt listened to.
♥ 97% felt safe.
We will continue delivering the Impact Survey every six months across all services to track progress.
Alongside our frontline work, we strengthened our advocacy focus to ensure children and families are heard on issues affecting their wellbeing. This year we launched our first Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month campaign, The Tree of Healing – an interactive activation that drew more than 400 community participants.
We also advanced key partnerships through Allies for Children (partnership across the child, youth and family sector), e-kidna (partnership against child sexual abuse), the Queensland Anti-Poverty
Week Committee, the Thriving Queensland Kids Partnership and the Raise the Age leadership group convened by the Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS). Through submissions, campaigns and collaboration, we advocated for better outcomes for children and families.
Our fundraising events grew in reach and community engagement. During Child Protection Week, we launched the inaugural Stadium of Hope campaign, bringing together Australian sporting icons and Suncorp Stadium to sell virtual seats. This initiative raised vital funds and delivered hundreds of therapy hours to help protect children and support healing. We were also thrilled to see strong support for our sold-out International Women’s Day lunch in Brisbane.
Finally, I want to acknowledge the appointment of our new Director of Cultural Capability and Strategy, Tammy Wallace, whose leadership has been invaluable. We were excited to progress our second Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan for launch in 2025-2026.
To our funding partners, including Auto & General, Morning Sunshine Foundation, Future Generation, Jibb Foundation and many more, thank you for your generous support.
To our Board, thank you for your guidance and support. To our Act for Kids and Youthrive team members, volunteers, donors, corporate partners and stakeholders - your collective commitment has made a tangible difference in the lives of thousands of children and families.
For that, I am sincerely grateful.
Katrina Lines
Dr Katrina Lines, CEO
Our Impact Strategy
2024 - 2027
In 2024, Act for Kids launched a new Impact Strategy to guide our work over the next three years toward our 2034 vision – a future where every child can feel safe, cared for and supported to thrive.
This strategy sets out how we will address the intergenerational cycle of trauma and disadvantage through prevention, treatment and advocacy. It focuses on three key areas of impact:
SERVICE IMPACT: delivering exceptional, evidence-based services that help children and families heal and grow.
ADVOCACY IMPACT: driving systemic change by championing the rights and wellbeing of children and families.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: reducing our carbon footprint and promoting sustainability to protect the world children will inherit.
To achieve these goals, we’re investing in our greatest strength – our people. By building organisational capability, supporting professional growth and strengthening collaboration, we are positioning Act for Kids to achieve lasting impact for generations to come.
OUR VALUES
We are a professional, ethical team who is caring, courageous and collaborative.
SERVICES IMPACT
Families told us they feel heard, understood and supported in ways that truly make a difference.
AT ACT FOR KIDS, our services are at the heart of how we change lives. Every day, our therapists, practitioners and support teams work alongside children, young people and families to help them recover from trauma and build safe, stable and hopeful lives.
Guided by our Generational Change model and 2024–27 Impact Strategy, we continue to strengthen the quality, reach and sustainability of our services – so that every child can feel safe, valued and supported to thrive.
Driving generational change
This year, we took important steps toward embedding our Generational Change model across the organisation. Adult therapy trials began at Youthrive Labrador and Robina, expanding our approach to supporting parents and caregivers alongside their children.
Nine leadership teams took part in our new innovation program, developing and testing low-cost ideas to align services more closely with the model. Early results show strong potential to shape future service design. Interest from philanthropic partners also grew, opening new pathways for long-term investment in whole-of-family support.
Partnering with communities for change
We continued our commitment to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to ensure services are culturally responsive and community-led.
Progress continued on transitioning residential care to community control in Doomadgee, supported by the First Nations Working Group and partners including Mithangkaya Nguli, Gunawuna Jungai and the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak (QATSICPP).
While some timelines were affected by external factors, our focus on selfdetermination and safe, community-driven transitions remains unchanged.
Expanding our reach
As a national service provider, Act for Kids continued to broaden access to essential therapeutic services. Work progressed on Victorian accreditation under the state’s revised framework.
We secured two new child sexual abuse counselling services in Cairns, commencing in July 2025, and remained active in tenders in New South Wales. We also advanced partnership discussions with similar providers to explore new joint service opportunities across states.
Growing our social enterprise
Youthrive and Individual Support Services (ISS) continued to grow as sustainable, high-performing parts of our organisation. ISS expanded contracts across South-East, South-West and Far North Queensland, while the creation of a new Director of ISS position helped drive national growth and innovation.
At Youthrive, we continued to strengthen service quality and financial sustainability, including streamlined systems and improved productivity. Adult psychology services also launched at Labrador and Robina.
Building for the future
We continued to strengthen our service foundations, appointing a Director of Clinical Services Growth and Partnerships to lead future expansion.
The Nambour therapy service became fully operational and continues to grow its clinical team. Our Safe Families program received excellent feedback from clients and stakeholders and gained attention from government Ministers for its trauma informed, whole-of-family approach.
We also secured grant funding to evaluate interventions for harmful sexual behaviours, further strengthening our evidence base.
Looking Ahead
In 2025–26, we will:
Education: protecting children
Through Learn to Be Safe with Emmy and Friends, we are helping children build personal safety skills and giving adults the confidence to start important conversations. More than 2,500 children participated in direct delivery sessions across 100 classrooms. We delivered 30 coaching sessions to 35 early years educators through the Victorian School Readiness Menu, supported by a new Learn to be Safe website offering songs, animations and practical resources for children, parents and educators.
We also finalised and printed 5,000 copies of our new Child and Parent Book for national distribution, launched our partnership with Early Childhood Australia, and contributed to the National Rapid Response Taskforce responding to child sexual abuse in early education settings.
♥ expand the Generational Change model through new family-focused service trials.
♥ continue transitioning residential care to community control with First Nations partners.
♥ strengthen national accreditation and secure new service contracts.
♥ grow Youthrive and Individual Support Services as sustainable social enterprises.
♥ complete evaluations of Safe Families and other key programs.
♥ extend Learn to be Safe through digital tools and educator partnerships.
♥ grow Integrated Therapy Services through sustained, strategic fundraising.
Understanding our service impact
This year, Act for Kids completed its first Impact Survey with children and families accessing our clinical therapy, specialist and individual support services. Using the Socialsuite platform, we gathered feedback from children to understand the difference our services are making in their lives.
The survey was designed around the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) Nest domains and our own Impact Framework, measuring the skills, behaviours and wellbeing indicators our interventions aim to build. Of the children old enough to complete the survey, 183 shared how things have changed for them since starting with Act for Kids.
IMPACT SURVEY RESULTS
Children reported positive change across our Safe, Heal and Happy pillars.
SAFE: On the Safe measures, they told us they felt protected, knew who they could turn to and had a better understanding of personal safety, with average scores above 4.2 out of 5.
HEAL: Heal indicators also showed progress, with children reporting improvements in learning, emotional regulation and coping.
HAPPY: For Happy, children described feeling more connected, included and proud of who they are, with participation and identity scores at 4 out of 5.
Families told us they value our caring, nonjudgemental approach, personalised support and the emotional and practical help they receive. Kids also highlighted the fun games, activities and snacks.
Areas for improvement included shorter wait times, more time with practitioners, additional service locations and, unsurprisingly, more snacks.
We will now run the Impact Survey every six months. Over the year ahead, we’ll extend participation to include our early intervention and family support services and continue developing tools to capture the experiences of younger children, helping us build an even clearer picture of our impact.
ADVOCACY IMPACT
We use our voice to influence change and create safer, fairer futures for children.
ADVOCACY is central to our work at Act for Kids. Guided by our vision to 2034 and embedded in our 2024-27 Impact Strategy, we champion the rights and wellbeing of children and families through credible advocacy and policy influence.
Through strategic campaigns, national policy engagement and strong partnerships, we seek to drive systemic change and ensure safe, thriving futures for children and young people.
We prioritise upholding the voice of the child - ensuring that children’s experiences, needs and perspectives are heard in the conversations and decisions that affect them. Through strategic campaigns, national policy engagement and strong partnerships, we aim to drive systemic change and create safer, more hopeful futures for children and young people.
Raising awareness and inspiring action
Child Protection Week campaign
Act for Kids delivered a nation-wide campaign for Child Protection Week 2024 with a strong focus on raising awareness about the impacts of emotional abuse on children. The campaign was woven into the broader Stadium of Hope fundraising initiative, which used the image of a packed Suncorp Stadium crowd to highlight the scale of the issue – nearly 50,000 children are confirmed to experience abuse or neglect every year in Australia.
The message centred on hope – hope for a brighter future for children who have experienced trauma, through providing the opportunities and support they need to thrive.
The campaign’s reach was extensive, engaging audiences across metropolitan, regional and remote communities through digital and social media. Over Child Protection Week, the campaign reached more than 55.7 million people, sparking valuable national conversations about an issue that is often overlooked or misunderstood. Coverage through national media stories helped keep children’s safety on the public agenda.
Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month
In 2025, Act for Kids partnered with Moreton Bay Regional Council to launch the Tree of Healing campaign, designed to build community awareness and engagement during Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month. The campaign brought together more than 400 community members, who actively participated in creating a public art installation and pledging their support to end domestic and family violence.
Driving policy change and system reform
Anti-Poverty Week
During Anti-Poverty Week, Act for Kids encouraged Australians to join the campaign to end child poverty by signing a national pledge and petition. The initiative was supported by a media release – Confronting the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on kids – and formed part of our broader effort to draw attention to the growing financial pressures on families.
We also joined the Make Queensland Fair campaign with QCOSS, advocating for cost-ofliving relief for families ahead of the Queensland state election.
Harmonising Working with Children Checks
Act for Kids continued to lobby for harmonised national Working with Children Checks across Australia — a reform that would ensure consistent, child-centred protection standards in every jurisdiction.
Our approach combined advocacy led by people with lived experience, alongside direct engagement with decision makers. Specifically, we wrote to political leaders seeking their support for stronger vetting and monitoring systems in education and childcare settings. We also advocated publicly for mandated protective behaviours education programs in early childhood education through national media interviews and multiple government submissions.
These efforts led to ongoing meetings and discussions with policymakers.
Building stronger voices through partnership
Allies for Children
Allies for Children continues to strengthen its collective voice to achieve better outcomes for children and families. In September 2024, the seven founding organisations released a Commitment Statement pledging to work in partnership with First Nations peoples and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to support the transition and reunification of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in their care.
In 2025, Allies also committed to actively model anti-racism by increasing efforts to collaboratively establish, share and implement anti-racism programs and initiatives across the alliance.
e-kidna
In October 2024, Act for Kids formalised its partnership with Bravehearts and the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, publicly launching e-kidna — a collaborative initiative to promote shared resources, raise awareness, and strengthen advocacy to better protect children from sexual abuse.
ADVOCACY IMPACT
Looking Ahead
In 2025–26, we will:
♥ deliver a refreshed national Child Protection Week campaign that tracks awareness and attitude change.
♥ build on aligned campaigns, such as domestic and family violence prevention, and strengthen partner collaborations.
♥ build our capacity to influence social policy through research and strategic advocacy.
♥ advocate for nationally consistent child protection laws and policies.
♥ support calls for a National Minister for Children and a national measure of child wellbeing.
♥ evaluate our advocacy strategy and report on progress against our goals.
ENVIRONMENTALIMPACT
Every small change helps protect the future we’re working to give children.
AT ACT FOR KIDS, we believe protecting the environment is part of protecting children’s futures. A healthy planet underpins the wellbeing of future generations – the air they breathe, the water they drink, and the communities they grow up in. That’s why we’re committed to reducing our environmental footprint and embedding sustainable practices across everything we do.
In 2024-25, we focused on establishing a strong baseline of data and developing the roadmap that will guide us toward achieving carbon net zero. These efforts mark an important step in aligning our work with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and helping to secure a safer, healthier world for children today and tomorrow.
Building the foundation for change
In line with our Impact Strategy, we undertook a comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) and waste assessment to establish our organisation’s environmental baseline.
Professional GHG assessment: We worked with external consultants who analysed the result of a six-month internal audit of our emissions across Act for Kids and Youthrive, producing our first full emissions profile. The report identified total net emissions of 4,099.6 tonnes of CO₂-e for FY22–23.
Electricity consumption: Our operations used 1,106,388 kWh of electricity, generating 858 tCO₂-e – our largest 'singular' emissions source. About 18.8% of this energy came from renewable sources such as green energy programs and solar installations.
We continued strengthening our environmental commitments by engaging expert partners to guide our decarbonisation work. This included beginning the development of a net zero roadmap that will map out clear milestones and emissions-reduction pathways.
These steps lay important groundwork for reducing our environmental footprint in the years ahead.
Reducing waste and rethinking resources
We continued to expand and refine our recycling efforts across our centres, ensuring compliance with local council guidelines and contributing to global sustainability goals.
♥ 25 Act for Kids locations were included in this year’s reporting.
♥ 20 locations recycled paper and cardboard.
♥ 17 locations recycled plastics through commingled systems.
♥ 18 locations recycled e-waste.
♥ 14 locations participated in Containers for Change recycling of metal cans.
♥ two locations recycled batteries, and one location expanded to include soft plastics and coffee cups through the RecycleSmart program. This program alone diverted 19 kilograms of waste from landfill, saving an estimated 38 kilograms of CO₂ emissions.
Staff also reused paper and other materials for creative activities with children, helping to reduce waste in meaningful, hands-on ways.
Engaging the Act for Kids team in sustainability initiatives
Engaging our team has been key to building momentum. This year, we began laying the groundwork for an internal Connection Community – a staff-led sustainability group.
♥ An initial meeting was held with four participants, followed by a survey that saw 17 sites express interest in joining future initiatives or receiving learning materials.
♥ These early conversations will help shape our organisation-wide education and engagement program for 2025–26.
Tracking our staff travel and transport emissions
We continued monitoring and managing emissions from vehicle use and travel.
♥ Fleet vehicle emissions for 2024–25 totalled 258 tonnes of CO₂-e (a 17.8% increase from the previous year).
♥ Travel-related emissions, including flights and accommodation, decreased by 43% to 157.5 tonnes of CO₂-e.
♥ We are working with external consultants to identify accredited offset options as part of our broader sustainability plan.
Looking Ahead
In 2025–2026, we will:
♥ finalise our carbon net zero roadmap with clear targets and milestones.
♥ establish a staff sustainability working group to lead and champion initiatives.
♥ begin developing internal and external communications detailing our environmental sustainability progress.
♥ develop our next three-year ESG Plan and measurement framework.
♥ improve data collection to strengthen our reporting and guide emissions reduction.
By the numbers (2024–2025)
♥ 4,099.6 tCO₂-e total emissions baseline established.
♥ 18.8% energy from renewable sources.
♥ 25 locations reporting on recycling.
♥ 19 kg waste diverted from landfill via RecycleSmart.
♥ 17 sites expressed interest in joining sustainability initiatives.
Helping Ollie find his calm.
The other kids at Ollie’s* school only saw him as mean and angry.
But little did they know that deep down, Ollie was a scared little boy crying out for help.
In the classroom, he was prone to angry outbursts and would often be sent to the principal’s office for yelling at his teacher.
In the school yard, he was easily provoked by other children and would lash out at them.
By the time he was referred to Act for Kids, Ollie’s caregivers were emotionally exhausted and growing increasingly concerned about his behaviour.
Before he was even old enough to walk or talk, his home life had been marred by family violence and instability.
The trauma specialists at Act for Kids understood that years of chronic abuse and neglect had left the young boy in permanent “fight or flight” mode.
At just a few years old, he was removed from his parents and placed in the care of his grandparents, who did their best to nurture and protect him, but had growing concerns about their own safety due to Ollie’s behaviour.
* Name and image have been changed to protect the individual's privacy.
“Ollie struggled to tolerate even small transitions, found unpredictability unbearable, and could not yet trust that the world could be safe.”
During the first few sessions, the Act for Kids trauma specialists approached Ollie through a compassionate lens.
“He sat in the corner, his small hands clenched, shoulders tense, and eyes scanning the room, as though ready to defend himself from an invisible threat,” one specialist observed.
“Every sound, every movement, was a potential danger. His nervous system, shaped by chronic exposure to violence, remained in a constant state of alert.
“Ollie struggled to tolerate even small transitions, found unpredictability unbearable, and could not yet trust that the world could be safe.”
The team of specialists worked together to conduct a full assessment of Ollie, developed a personal treatment plan and provided ongoing therapeutic support to him, which included play therapy.
Ollie’s grandparents were educated about trauma responses in children to better understand their grandson’s perspective and potential triggers.
The Act for Kids team worked closely with his school, family, and other support workers to ensure a consistent, trauma-informed approach across all settings.
The team’s occupational therapist was able to identify sensory triggers and introduce strategies that supported emotional regulation for Ollie.
After several months, Ollie’s behaviour significantly improved both at home and at school.
His teachers noted he was far less disruptive in class and had even started to make friends with some of the other students.
At home, his grandfather described the difference as being “night and day”.
“His tantrums and outbursts are much less frequent, and we no longer feel like we’re walking on eggshells when he’s at home,” Ollie’s grandfather remarked.
“Overall, he is much happier and calmer. We feel like this is a fresh start for our family.”
Act for Kids Therapist
FINANCIAL Information
2024-2025 Expenses
2024-2025 Revenue
Organisational Information
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chairman Nigel Harris AM
Directors Zoe Newbury
Thomas Rice
Emma Costello
Simon Neill
Gavin Mackey
Katie Choi
Dr. Rosemaria Flaherty
Tracey Gray
Katrina Parkyn
Dr. Daniel Tyson
OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM
Chief Executive Officer Dr. Katrina Lines
Chief Financial Officer Leah Orr
Executive Director of Service Operations Dr. Kaye Pickering
Executive Director of Fundraising, Advocacy and Marketing
Executive Director of Service, Strategy and Growth
Amanda Williams
Thomas McIntyre
Executive Director of People and Culture Koni Hanlon
Chief Operating Officer at Youthrive Amy Turner
OUR PATRON
Her Excellency, the Honourable Dr. Jeannette Young
AC PSM, Governor of Queensland
OUR AMBASSADORS
Founding Ambassador Dr. David Wood AM
Lifetime Ambassador Kay McGrath OAM
Ambassadors Angie Asimus
Anomi Bruynius
Bruce Morcombe OAM
Denise Morcombe OAM
Kim Skubris
Jon Rouse APM
Lesley-Anne Houghton
Maxine Horne
Pedro Gondim
Quentin Flannery
Ram Kangatharan
Sascha Chandler
Our people are the heart of everything we do. Their passion, expertise and care make it possible for children and families to feel safe, supported and hopeful about the future. This year, we focused on nurturing our positive culture, supporting wellbeing and building the skills that help our teams thrive.
Building a connected and committed team
Every two years, Act for Kids and Youthrive invite all team members to take part in our Culture Survey. This year, 72% participated, showing strong engagement in shaping our workplace.
Highlights
♥ 87% would recommend Act for Kids as a great place to work – nine points above the industry average.
♥ Above-industry results for collaboration, commendation, learning and development, and work–life balance.
♥ Diversity and inclusion, collaboration, and wellbeing stood out as key strengths.
The Culture Survey also provided valuable insights to guide ongoing efforts to make Act for Kids an even more supportive and inspiring place to work.
Launching our new Organisational Induction
In 2024–2025, we launched a new online Organisational Induction Course to create a more engaging and consistent onboarding experience for new team members. The course introduces who we are, how we work and what we value, covering topics like learning and development, wellbeing, inclusion and safety.
Anecdotal feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with team members praising its clarity and relevance. This initiative ensures every new starter begins with a shared understanding of our purpose and culture.
"I love working with people who care deeply about helping kids thrive - Act for Kids really does feel like a family."
Emily, Financial Accountant at Act for Kids
Supporting the wellbeing of our people
We partnered with Acacia EAP to deliver a refreshed Employee Assistance Program offering free, confidential counselling and wellbeing services for team members and their immediate families.
We also introduced new leave benefits –Wellbeing Leave, enhanced Employer Paid Parental Leave and Pet Bereavement Leave –to support rest, family time and self-care.
Together, these initiatives reflect our commitment to creating a compassionate, flexible and supportive workplace.
Investing in professional growth for staff
Our Professional Development Fund continued to help team members expand their skills through financial support towards advanced training, research and innovation.
In 2024–2025, 15 team members received support through the fund, and three were awarded Carrington Scholarships, providing support towards a professional development activity of high value for the team member and organisation.
These opportunities continue to build capability and strengthen the expertise that underpins the work of our people.
"Helping people reach their potential, in big and small ways, is what keeps me motivated."
Fostering diversity, equity and inclusion
We’re proud to be recognised by the Diversity Council of Australia as an Inclusive Employer –a testament to our commitment to a workplace where every team member is celebrated for their unique qualities.
This year, we launched two key initiatives:
1. the Recognising Inclusion Program, which celebrates inclusion champions through Supporter and Champion badges, and
2. Connection Communities, team member–led groups that foster belonging across areas such as culture, mental health and LGBTIQA+ inclusion.
Together, these initiatives strengthen our culture of respect, inclusion and unity.
Strengthening leadership foundations
Our ongoing Leader Induction Program helps leaders build the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead effectively. It focuses on practical leadership tools - from recruitment and supervision to wellbeing and safety - while strengthening peer connections across the organisation.
Across four sessions this year, the program achieved an excellent 4.8 out of 5 satisfaction rating, reinforcing its value in developing capable, confident leaders.
"Every day I’m reminded of what a privilege it is to support kids, young people and families as they heal from trauma."
Hannah, Occupational Therapist & Team Leader at Youthrive Wesley, Social Worker at Act for Kids
Our People In Profile
Emily, Financial Accountant at Act for Kids
Being part of Act for Kids for the past five years has shaped how I see my work as a Financial Accountant. My focus is giving our teams the financial support they need to deliver the best outcomes for children and families.
I love working with people who care deeply about helping kids thrive - Act for Kids really does feel like a family. Knowing that every budget or report represents real support for a child or caregiver gives my work genuine purpose.
I’m excited to keep strengthening the financial guidance we provide to our frontline teams and supporting the growth of our programs.
Hannah, Occupational Therapist & Team Leader at Youthrive
I’m an Occupational Therapist and Team Leader at our North Lakes clinic, and I’ve been with Youthrive for ten years. My days are a mix of therapy, team support and program work, which keeps things interesting.
The best part of my job is watching kids and families grow in confidence and seeing my team develop their skills. Helping people reach their potential, in big and small ways, is what keeps me motivated.
For me, making a difference shows up in the everyday moments. It’s about working with care, staying grounded in best practice, and always putting kids and families at the centre of what we do.
Wesley, Social Worker at Act for Kids
I’ve been a Social Worker in the Sexual Abuse Counselling Service for almost ten years, and every day I’m reminded of what a privilege it is to support kids, young people and families as they heal from trauma.
For me, making a difference means helping people see their own value, reconnect with hope and feel less weighed down by what they’ve been through. Moments like that stay with you.
In the year ahead, I’m looking forward to growing my professional skills, taking up more leadership opportunities, and continuing to walk alongside children and families as they rebuild their lives.
From left: Emily, Hannah and Wesley
We remain deeply committed to reconciliation, and this year we worked closely with our teams and communities to shape our next Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan for launch in 2025–2026.
Youthrive in review
As a social enterprise of Act for Kids, Youthrive once again played a vital role in supporting children, young people and families through high-quality allied health services including psychology, occupational therapy, and speech pathology. Our teams work closely with families to build confidence, strengthen skills, and create meaningful change in children’s daily lives.
This year saw diversification in services across Youthrive, including new school readiness support via funding from Brisbane North PHN and deeper collaboration with early education centres through initiatives like Kindy Uplift – State Government funding for Queensland kindergarten services to improve children's learning and development. Adult psychology services also commenced at our Labrador and Robina clinics, offering more holistic support for caregivers alongside their children.
We also launched a refreshed Youthrive website to make it easier for families to access information, book appointments and connect with the right support. Behind the scenes, we strengthened the way Youthrive delivers services by improving systems and processes and enhancing access to data to help our teams spend more time doing what matters most – supporting children and families.
Through every service and every session, Youthrive remained focused on one goal – helping children reach their potential and giving families the support they need to thrive.
Amy Turner, Youthrive Chief Operating Officer
Equipping kids and young people to thrive.
1. Miranda Bain at the Build-a-Bike event on the Gold Coast
2. Guest speakers at 2025 International Women's Day lunch: Kim Skubris, Maxine Horne, Ram Kangatharan, Sarah Megginson, Tracey Spicer AM
3. Emmy in the spotlight at our Tree of Healing activation in support of Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month
4. Welcoming The Hon. Amanda Camm (right) to our new Mackay centre
5. Dr Katrina Lines speaking on behalf of the Make Queensland Fair campaign with QCOSS
6. Auto & General leaders join the Act for Kids Board at our Moreton Centre
7. Celebrating Child Protection Week 2024 in Cairns
8. Our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Working Group on Stradbroke Island
9. Teeing off at the Auto & General Charity Golf Day at Virginia Golf Club
11. Celebrating the opening of our second therapy centre in Maryborough
10. Dr Katrina Lines thanks John Fairfax AO, Chairman of Jibb Foundation
12. QCoal Foundation visit to our Townsville Centre of Excellence
13. Volunteer wrappers at Toowong Village
14. The sporting stars of our Stadium of Hope television commercial with Dr Katrina Lines
15. Christmas Givewrap billboard at Toowong Village
16. Mental Health Academy wins SME Philanthropist of the Year in the 2025 Queensland Gives Awards
17. Tammy Wallace at one of our RAP Working Group sessions
18. Kay McGrath OAM and Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO at the Summer Soiree
19. Ram Kangatharan, Group MD & CEO Asia Pacific, Auto & General with Dr Katrina Lines at our 2025 International Women's Day lunch
Act for Kids is committed to operating ethically and sustainably, guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In 2024–25, we continued strengthening our ESG Framework, ensuring we monitor and improve our environmental and social performance in meaningful ways.
Our focus on sustainability sits alongside our purpose. Climate change, rising inequality and social instability are already shaping everyday life for many families, affecting health, wellbeing and the communities children grow up in. These pressures make it even more important that organisations like ours act responsibly and contribute to long-term solutions.
By reducing our environmental footprint, improving our systems and making thoughtful, ethical decisions, we help support a safer and healthier future for the next generation. Step by step, we’re working toward positive change that complements the support we provide to children and families every day.
ESG Targets and Measures (A SNAPSHOT)
Environmental
Target: WASTE
GOAL: Increase recycling across all Act for Kids and Youthrive centres (SDG 6, 12 and 14).
Social Target: CLIENTS
GOAL: Improve safety, health, opportunities, material basics and wellbeing for children, young people and families (SDG 1, 2, 4, 5, 11 and 16).
(Increase due to enhanced measurement of impact)
Social Target: TEAM MEMBERS
GOAL: Improve safety, health, opportunities, material basics and wellbeing for Act for Kids and Youthrive Team members (SDG 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10 and 16).
Wellbeing leave Introduced Continued 1 day per quarter
Sexual harassment policy Introduced Training implemented Ongoing
Governance Target: ALL DOMAINS
GOAL: Ensure responsive, inclusive and participatory and representative decision making at all levels (SDG 12 and 16).
Alex has a voice.
OVER TIME, ALEX BECAME MORE CONFIDENT AND SELF-AWARE. SHE LEARNED WHAT HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS LOOK LIKE AND HOW TO SET BOUNDARIES WITH OTHERS. BY THE END OF THE PROGRAM, ALEX HAD BUILT RESILIENCE AND SELF-WORTH.
When Alex* was referred to the Act for Kids Re-ACT CQ Program, she was struggling with big emotions and finding it hard to cope.
Living between two homes, Alex had started refusing visits with one caregiver – a sign of the anxiety and distress she was experiencing.
Through regular sessions with her therapist, Alex learned to identify and name her feelings, understand where they came from, and find safe ways to express them. Using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), the therapist also worked with both caregivers to strengthen the support around Alex.
Over time, Alex became more confident and selfaware. She learned what healthy relationships look like and how to set boundaries with others. By the end of the program, Alex had built resilience and self-worth.
Alex found her voice, and the courage to use it.
The Re-ACT CQ partnership between QCoal Foundation and Act for Kids is helping transform support available to children and families impacted by trauma in Central Queensland.
Thank you!
The positive outcomes and impacts achieved for children and families by Act for Kids throughout 2024-2025 could not have been possible without the generous support of sponsors and partners, who provided so much more than just financial support, including pro-bono, in-kind and volunteer services
MAJOR PARTNERS and SUPPORTERS
Saywell Foundation
Fitzpatrick Family Charitable Trust
