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Acknowledgement of
Act for Kids would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands 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.
About Act for Kids ACT FOR KIDS is a for-purpose organisation delivering evidence-led professional therapy and support services to children and families who have experienced, or are at risk of, harm through abuse, neglect and domestic violence. In 2024, we celebrate 36 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.
Contents About Act for Kids
01
Organisational information
02
Special acknowledgements
03
Introducing Angela, Act for Kids Child Therapist
04
Our Purpose and our work in 2023-2024
05
The facts about child abuse and neglect in Australia
06
Executive Report | Chairman and CEO
09
Financial information 2023-2024
12
Rob Kent | A special tribute
13
Highlights of the 2023-2024 year
14
A girl named Gabbie
16
Corporate Partner Profile | Auto & General Insurance
18
Supporter spotlight | Sarah Megginson
19
2023-2024 in pictures
20
Act for Kids ESG Framework and Report snapshot
22
Thank you to our supporters
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2024 AN N UAL R EVIEW | ACT FO R KI D S
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Organisational Information OUR PATRON Her Excellency, the Honourable Dr. Jeannette Young AC PSM, Governor of Queensland
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairman Nigel Harris AM Directors
Zoe Newbury Thomas Rice Emma Costello Simon Neill Gavin Mackey Katie Choi Paul Malt Dr. Rosemaria Flaherty Tracey Gray Katrina Parkyn Dr. Daniel Tyson
OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM
OUR AMBASSADORS
Chief Executive Officer Dr. Katrina Lines
Founding Ambassador Dr. David Wood AM
Chief Financial Officer Leah Orr
Lifetime Ambassador Kay McGrath OAM
Executive Director of Dr. Kaye Pickering Service Operations Executive Director of Fundraising, Advocacy Amanda Williams and Marketing Executive Director of Service, Strategy Thomas McIntyre and Growth Executive Director of Koni Hanlon People and Culture Chief Operating Officer Amy Turner at Youthrive
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 Volunteer Ambassador Helen McGrory Parent Ambassadors Alecia Taryn Chris Mountford Gemma Mountford School Principal Jan Maresca Ambassadors Paul Zernike
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ACT FO R K ID S | 2 024 ANNUAL REVIEW
Special Acknowledgements The Hon. Dr David Hamill AM In December 2023, The Hon. Dr. David Hamill AM concluded his six-year tenure as Chairman of the Act for Kids Board. Throughout his tenure, David’s unwavering dedication and leadership led to numerous accomplishments which were greatly valued by the organisation. He steered the Board through various challenges and successes, including navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing workforce shortages, overseeing the organisation’s expansion, and supporting thousands of children and families across Australia. Before joining Act for Kids, David held several prominent roles, including Treasurer of Queensland (1998-2001), Minister for Education (1995-1996), Minister for Transport and Minister Assisting the Premier on Economic and Trade Development (1989-1995), and served as the Member for Ipswich in the Queensland Parliament (1983-2001).
Nigel Harris AM The Act for Kids Board appointed highly-regarded non-profit sector leader, Nigel Harris AM, as its new Chairman in December 2023. Mr Harris is no stranger to the organisation, having formerly served as Deputy Chairman and Board Director of Act for Kids. He is the Managing Director of Nigel Harris & Associates, an advisory and consulting practice specialising in philanthropy and fundraising leadership. He has held executive leadership roles in non-profit organisations during a career spanning 40 years, most notably serving as Chief Executive Officer of the Mater Foundation (Qld) for more than two decades. Upon his appointment, Mr Harris said he was delighted to lead an exciting new chapter for the Act for Kids Board.
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Introducing
ANGELA I see and hear stories of children who’ve had more than their fair share of hardship. But I also get to see the other side – the stories of hope when children get to spend time with our therapists, making sense of their experience, and fulfilling their potential. One thing I know for sure – it’s crucial to get kids the help they need as early as possible. You see, when a young person doesn’t get the care they need, it can be a roadblock to their growth and development. Problems can start to compound. Speech and language can suffer, as can their ability to move and coordinate their bodies. These are the basic skills a child needs to grow and flourish. Therapy doesn’t just help a child get through a tough time, it helps them overcome hurdles and live the life they deserve as they grow up.
Working with a child who has experienced trauma or abuse is complex, but it comes down to one simple truth. The sooner we can start helping, the more chance there is that we can change a child’s life now and for the future.” ANGELA, Act for Kids Child Therapist
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ACT FO R K ID S | 2 024 ANNUAL REVIEW
OUR PURPOSE We help keep kids safe, heal from trauma and lead happy lives.
OUR VISION All kids have a safe and happy childhood.
OUR VALUES We are a professional, ethical team who is caring, courageous and collaborative.
During 2023-24, we supported 36,771 people, including 21,111 children, across our various services.
28,956 Family Support
Services (including 15,718 children)
2,033 Therapy Services (including 1,305 children)
2,775 Learn to be safe with Emmy & friends
329 Individual Support
Services (including 201 children)
68 SafeKIDS home
environment care in the Cape York and Gulf regions
2,610 Youthrive Support
Services (including 1,044 children)
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2022-23 The facts about child abuse and neglect across Australia today. 1
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 2024. Child Protection Australia 2022-23. Cat. no: CWS 95. www.aihw.gov.au
28.2%
experienced physical abuse
The Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS) surveyed 8,500 Australians aged 16+ about the five types of child maltreatment, and the results are truly alarming! Of the 3,500 young people aged 16 to 24 surveyed, the findings showed:
25.7%
experienced sexual abuse
34.6%
experienced emotional abuse
10.3%
experienced neglect
For information about the Australian Child Maltreatment Study and support services, visit www.acms.au 06
ACT FOR K ID S | 2 024 ANNUAL REVIEW
43.8% exposed to domestic violence
25.4%
experienced 3-5 types of abuse
45,424
Substantiated cases of child maltreatment in Australia during 2022-2023.1
180,125
Children were receiving child protection services in Australia during 2022-2023.1
501,196
Reports made to child protection authorities in Australia during 2022-2023.1
13,703
Indigenous children
Of the 45,424 substantiated cases of child maltreatment during 2022-2023, more than 30% were of Indigenous status.1
Child Abuse and Neglect Substantiated cases of child maltreatment by state and territory.1
New South Wales
13,444
Victoria
15,422
Queensland
6,869
Western Australia
4,950
South Australia
2,845
Northern Territory
1,082
Tasmania
500
Australian Capital Territory
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Dr. Katrina Lines, Chief Executive Officer and Nigel Harris AM, Chairman
Act for Kids has developed a strategy with a ten-year vision to adopt an intergenerational approach to addressing disadvantage, trauma and maltreatment.
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F R O M
O U R
C H A I R M A N
A N D
C E O
Every child in Australia deserves to be happy, safe and loved, with the potential to thrive as they grow into adulthood. During the 2023-2024 financial year, Act for Kids supported 36,771 individuals, including 21,111 children, through its services. This achievement reflects the unwavering dedication of the Act for Kids team, partners, and volunteers, who work relentlessly to fulfill the organisation’s purpose of helping keep kids safe, heal from trauma, and lead happy lives.
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UPDATE FROM THE CHAIRMAN In December, we said farewell to The Hon. Dr David Hamill AM, who served as Chairman of the Act for Kids Board for six years. David guided the Board through numerous challenges and achievements, from navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and workforce shortages to overseeing the organisation’s growth and supporting thousands of children and families across Australia. His tireless and exceptional leadership during his tenure was deeply appreciated by the Board. I am honoured to step into the role of Chairman after being elected by the Board, ushering in a new and exciting chapter for Act for Kids. Having previously served as Deputy Chairman and Board Director, I bring a long-standing and valued connection to the organisation. I also serve as Managing Director of an advisory and consulting practice specialising in philanthropy and fundraising leadership. With over 40 years of executive leadership experience in non-profit organisations, including more than two decades as CEO of the Mater Foundation (Qld), I aim to continue building upon the outstanding work David accomplished for the organisation.
Over the five-year period between 2018-19 and 2022-23, the rate of children involved in child protection notifications rose from 48 to 51 per 1,000. Additionally, more than 500,000 reports were made to child protection authorities in 2022-23, with 45,400 children confirmed to have experienced abuse and neglect. To address this deeply entrenched societal issue, Act for Kids has developed a strategy with a ten-year vision to adopt an intergenerational approach to addressing disadvantage, trauma and maltreatment. Further details of this long-term strategy will be shared in the coming financial year. In closing, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all staff, volunteers, and partners of Act for Kids and Youthrive for your unwavering commitment to this remarkable organisation and its purpose. Special thanks goes to our volunteer Board of Directors for your outstanding dedication and leadership.
The critical importance of our work is underscored by the latest child protection figures released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Their annual report revealed that the number of children receiving protection services increased to 180,125 in 2022-23, up from 177,556 the previous year.
Nigel Harris
Nigel Harris AM, Chairman
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YEAR IN REVIEW FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER We’ve had another busy year, with our teams working tirelessly to support tens of thousands of children, young people and their families. There were many highlights through the year including the introduction of the Safe Families program at the Moreton Centre – a pioneering pilot offering holistic support to families facing domestic and family violence. We also launched new programs across Queensland, including Functional Family Therapy in Townsville, an Intensive Family Support service in Mackay, and a Family and Child Connect service at the Fraser Coast. In our advocacy efforts, we saw great success with the 2023 Child Protection Week campaign, encouraging adults to ‘Get Comfy Switching On by Switching Off’ for the kids in their lives. This important message resonated nationwide, reaching millions of Australians. The campaign was launched in response to research showing that many young people feel unheard and hesitant to seek support when worried, based on insights from over 300 young participants who shared their primary concerns. This year, we also strengthened our alliances with key organisations to drive change, partnering with groups like the Thriving Queensland Kids Partnership, Allies for Children, e-kidna, Thrive by Five, and the QCOSS Make Queensland Fair election campaign. Through these collective efforts, we achieved significant goals, including free kindergarten for fouryear-olds, the creation of the State Government’s Putting Queensland Kids First framework, and bipartisan election promises to tackle cost of living and social issues. Additionally, we advocated for constitutional recognition of the First Peoples of Australia through the establishment of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament, although this unfortunately did not come to pass. Our commitment to reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in care and promoting self-determination for First Nations peoples remains a core focus. We continued our partnership with Gunawuna Jungai, a community-controlled company representing the Doomadgee community in North West Queensland.
I would especially like to recognise Kieran Smith, who became the inaugural CEO of Gunawuna Jungai in July 2023 after an impressive 16-year tenure with Act for Kids. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to our former Chief Financial Officer, Leanne Dreves, who retired in August 2023 after more than 15 years of dedicated service. Leanne played an integral role in shaping Act for Kids into the organisation it is today. We were pleased to welcome Leah Orr as our new CFO. Leah, a chartered accountant with over 20 years of experience, has already proven to be a valuable asset to our team, focusing on enhancing governance, operational performance, and financial outcomes. The Executive Team worked closely together to guide the delivery of our operational and strategic goals. We finalised the 2021-2024 Strategic Plan in June this year and I’m pleased to say that we fully achieved 81% of our goals, partially achieved 9% and changed direction on a further 10%. This is only possible through the dedication of all our leaders and front-line team members. I also want to thank the Board for their continued support of the complex and rewarding work our teams do every day, across all areas of Act for Kids and Youthrive. To all team members, corporate partners, donors, volunteers and stakeholders – thank you for your unwavering dedication and generosity in supporting our purpose to help keep kids safe, heal from trauma and lead happy lives.
Katrina Lines
Dr Katrina Lines, CEO
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FINANCIAL INFORMATION 70.39%
85.16%
Government Grants
Services directly relating to children and families
Revenue 2023-2024*
Expenses 2023-2024
0.08% Community Grants
11.04% Administration Costs
0.99% Interest Received
1.01% Fundraising Prizes
9.53% Fundraising Income
2.79% Marketing & Fundraising Costs
18.74% Fee for Service Income 0.27% Other Income
REVENUE*
2022-2023
2023-2024
EXPENSES
2022-2023
2023-2024
Government Grants
$37,242,302
$41,108,450
$43,142,035
$48,415,398
Community Grants
$24,998
$49,072
Services directly relating to children and families
Interest Received
$314,702
$579,534
Administration Costs
$4,789,619
$6,277,665
Fundraising Income
$4,406,020
$5,563,167
Lottery Expenses
$500,963
$570,537
Fee for Service Income
$9,372,612
$10,943,772
Marketing and Fundraising Costs
$1,243,318
$1,586,011
Other Income
$218,809
$160,572
Total Expenses
$49,675,935
$56,849,611
Total Income
$51,579,443
$58,404,567
*Revenue excludes value of donated services.
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ROB KENT
e t bu i r t l a i c e p As
09 July 1957 – 28 January 2024
In this year of review, we sadly farewelled highly-respected former Act for Kids Director, Rob Kent. Rob’s involvement with the organisation spanned over two decades, dating back to when it was known as the Abused Child Trust. His significant contributions, including the renaming and rebranding of Act for Kids, will remain a legacy for a man greatly missed by many throughout the organisation. Rob joined the Board of the Abused Child Trust in 2001 and played a key role during its transition to Act for Kids in 2008. At the time, he was Managing Director of Mojo and was instrumental in the renaming, rebranding, and designing of the new logo. Throughout his tenure, Rob served on various committees and continued to be involved in the Marketing Committee even after stepping down from the Board in late 2012. One of his major contributions was the creation of our lottery, which continues to this day. He maintained a close connection with the Act for Kids family, and our relationship with Publicis (formerly Publicis Mojo/Mojo) remains strong. His passing has deeply saddened former Directors and team members who had the privilege of knowing and respecting him. Rob will be remembered as an exceptional person who had a deep, genuine care for vulnerable children. With his vibrant and larger-than-life presence, Rob made significant contributions to the businesses he was involved in and everything he took part in.
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Programs expand and evolve.
e-kidna joins fight to protect our kids.
Safe Families, an innovative new pilot program offering holistic support to families facing domestic and family violence, was launched at the Moreton Centre in partnership with Auto & General in Morayfield, Queensland.
Act for Kids joined forces with Bravehearts and the Daniel Morcombe Foundation to create a powerful alliance in the fight against child sexual abuse.
Safe Families works within an ecological model to deliver a structured program, group programs, community education sessions, focus groups and evaluation activities. Individual Support packages have seen growth this year in the Queensland areas of Townsville, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Logan and the Gold Coast.
The advocacy group, called e-kidna, launched during Children’s Week with the goal to empower Australians to recognise, react and report child sexual abuse. e-kidna’s mission is to loudly advocate to all levels of government for the protection of kids, and offer an online resource hub for those with children in their lives to gain understanding, tools, and information.
The service continues to support children to remain in the care of their families, return to the care of their family or create a safe and nurturing environment in their out of home care placement.
ACT FOR KIDS Moreton Centre, Morayfield
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KATRINA LINES with ALISON GEALE, Bravehearts CEO, DENISE MORCOMBE OAM and BRUCE MORCOMBE OAM, Founders of Daniel Morcombe Foundation
International Women’s Day lunch is a sell-out success.
“Get Comfy” back for Child Protection Week campaign.
Gender equality advocate Chloe Shorten joined Act for Kids lifetime ambassador, Kay McGrath OAM, as special guest speakers at the sold-out Act for Kids International Women’s Day event.
During Child Protection Week 2023, Act for Kids continued its highly successful Get Comfy advocacy campaign by encouraging adults to ‘Get Comfy Switching On by Switching Off’ for the kids in their life.
The lunch held at Waters Edge, Portside, was attended by more than 170 like-minded people who shared a common vision for all children to have a safe and happy childhood.
The campaign was launched in response to research showing that many young people often felt unheard and were not reaching out for support when worried. Over 300 young people participated in the study, sharing their most pressing concerns.
Funds raised from the event supported Integrated Therapy Services, which provide therapy to children who have experienced trauma from abuse, neglect and violence.
The results were heartbreaking, with 66% of the respondents saying they were worried about how they looked and 64% worried about school. This important message resonated nationwide, achieving an incredible media reach of more than 53.3 million people.
DR KATRINA LINES, Act for Kids CEO (centre) with CINDY BATCHELOR, Board Chair at Auto & General and KENNETH GOT, Dealer Principal at Mercedes-Benz Brisbane
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Gabbie* was just seven years old when the sexual abuse, inflicted by two of her family members, began. This was just one form of extreme trauma Gabbie experienced through her young life – continuing for several years. Gabbie experienced significant domestic violence from an early age, and impacted physically and emotionally by those closest to her. That continuous trauma led to multiple events, including attempts at taking her own life. Understandably, Gabbie had a fractured relationship with her family due to the shame and secrecy surrounding the sexual abuse. In Gabbie’s world, trust with others simply didn’t exist and she certainly didn’t feel safe or happy. When Gabbie first came to us at Act for Kids, she was a traumatised 12-year-old who was living with her mother and a sibling.
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Our role in helping Gabbie on the road to recovery would take more than 12 months. We’re still working alongside Gabbie as she continues to repair.
Helping Gabbie. For Gabbie, opening up about the trauma she had experienced was difficult. Because sitting in a therapy room was triggering for Gabbie, our therapists began simply by walking and talking. Over time, Gabbie and her family began deeper work with our family support service and were referred for specialist therapy.
ACT FOR K ID S | 2 024 ANNUAL REVIEW
The breakthrough. Gabbie began to do much better in the classroom and with her grades. Meanwhile, Gabbie’s mother has made changes to the family environment, acknowledging the harm from other family members, no longer keeping the sexual abuse hidden. Being believed and supported is often a turning point for many young people.
Together, we can help more kids like Gabbie. Gabbie’s story is no fairy-tale ending, but the progress she and her family have made is quite astonishing and maybe, just maybe, she has another chance of a normalised teen and adult life. Kids like Gabbie, and their families, rely on the professional therapy support provided by organisations just like Act for Kids.
With access to professional therapy as early as possible, we can help prevent possible issues such as depression, alcohol and substance abuse, incarceration and suicide attempts.
*Names and image have been changed to protect individuals’ and family’s privacy. 2024 AN N UAL R EVIEW | ACT FO R KI D S
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CORPORATE PARTNER PROFILE
This year marks more than 15 years of partnership between Australian insurance company Auto & General and Act for Kids. Ram Kangatharan
Group Managing Director and CEO Asia Pacific Auto & General Insurance Company Ltd
Auto & General (A&G) has been a proud supporter since 2008, formally naming Act for Kids as their major community partner in 2012. Over the past 15 years, the organisation has donated an incredible $6.3 million to Act for Kids, which has helped fund vital Integrated Therapy Support, among other services. A&G Group Managing Director & CEO Asia Pacific, Ram Kangatharan, explained that the partnership had grown beyond a financial contribution to a strong and interconnected partnership between the business, employees and customers.
To put the partnership into perspective, in 2023 alone, A&G donations enabled 2,834 hours of one-on-one therapy to 447 children who experienced harm. Not only has A&G supported our services, they were also a key partner and contributor in the build of the Moreton Centre in the Moreton Bay region.
This facility is where Act for Kids run their Safe Families Pilot which provides a ‘child-centred, whole of family approach’ “Our employees are passionate when engaging families about the partnership with experiencing domestic Act for Kids. This is evident and family violence with through their generous workplace safe, responsible and giving contributions, willingness respectful practice. This to volunteer and provide in-kind pilot wouldn’t be possible without A&G’s support.
“Our employees are passionate about the partnership with Act for Kids. This is evident through their generous workplace giving contributions, willingness support when possible.” to volunteer and provide in-kind support when possible.“ The 15-year partnership was publicly recognised In 2023-2024, team members supported when A&G was named the 2024 Queensland Act for Kids with over 630 volunteering hours Corporate Philanthropist of the Year at the across a range of opportunities. We also hosted Queensland Philanthropy Awards, after being our ninth annual Charity Golf Day in partnership nominated by Act for Kids. with Act for Kids, in May this year - raising money The long-standing partnership with A&G has been and awareness for the charity. invaluable and ensures that Act for Kids can plan “In addition, team members have provided skilled ahead and continue to formally help reduce the volunteering through in-kind services across impact of childhood trauma in Australia. information technology, call centre management, sustainability management and governance.”
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Supporter Spotlight
n so n i g g e M h a r Sa
Sarah Megginson wears many hats: personal finance expert, media commentator, writer, mum. But for the past eight years, she has added ‘Act for Kids supporter’ to her busy schedule as a long-term donor to the Flourish – Child and Family Therapy program on the Gold Coast. Sarah first heard about the work of Act for Kids when she donated socks to families in need. Since then, the Gold Coast mum has regularly volunteered with Christmas charity gift wrapping and even recruited a tribe of other women to help across various shopping centres. Shortly after COVID-19, she organised a Burgers for Change fundraising event, which saw 100% of proceeds donated to Act for Kids. From a humble donation of socks to families in need, Sarah’s dedication to the cause has resulted in eight years of unwavering commitment to Act for Kids and a financial contribution of more than $46,000. She said her desire to help children and families was the driving force behind her support. “All children deserve to have a safe, healthy and happy childhood. I’m so grateful we have Act for Kids to help the community, giving resources, help and hope to families that need it. “Being able to contribute in a small way makes me feel like I’m able to have an impact, too. “More donations mean more interventions and support, paving the way for children to overcome trauma and embrace new possibilities.”
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01
1.
Staff and volunteers roll up their sleeves for a a tree planting event at Ringtail Creek on Kabi Kabi Country. 2. The Auto & General team at our 2024 International Women’s Day lunch. 3. Teeing off at the 2023 KIA Charity Golf Day at Gainsborough Greens Golf Club. 4. Dr Katrina Lines interviewed at the launch of the ‘Thrive by Five’ Queensland Alliance Early Years Action Plan. 5. Bravehearts CEO Alison Geale, Founder of Daniel Morcombe Foundation Denise Morcombe OAM and Act for Kids CEO Dr Katrina Lines step out for the 2023 Day for Daniel walk. 6. Volunteers on the tools at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre for the Build-a-Bike fundraiser. 7. Lifetime Ambassador Kay McGrath OAM, gender equality advocate Chloe Shorten and The Hon. Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO joined the 2024 International Women’s Day lunch with Dr Katrina Lines (CEO). 8. Our Mackay therapy team with Emmy for the Star 101.9 radio broadcast at Caneland Central. 9. Chloe Shorten and Dr Katrina Lines chat with students from Stretton State College at our 2024 International Women’s Day lunch. 10. Volunteers at our Westfield North Lakes 2023 Christmas Wrap counter. 11. The Youthrive Everton Hills clinic team marks Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) Awareness Day.
I N
02
04
03
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P I C T U R E S
06
05
07
09
11
08
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Act for Kids recognises the importance of our ethical and environmental evolution under the principles of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals framework. Throughout 2023-2024, we monitored performance against the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in our Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework. Where possible, we tracked data against the baseline measures reported in 2023.
About Act for Kids’ ESG Framework Our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Framework is the first of its kind for Act for Kids. To achieve our purpose of helping keep kids safe, heal from trauma and lead happy lives we must ensure we are acting in ethical, sustainable ways that foster a better future for young people. The future for children and young people is becoming increasingly concerning for a number of reasons; including the growing divide between affluent and disadvantaged people, increasing costs of housing, negative impacts of climate change and growing social discord and the rise of extreme xenophobic and violent factions. All of this has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Children certainly believe we should be taking action now, listening to them and ensuring they participate.”
Climate change in particular has the potential to increase the severity of all the above-mentioned issues. The World Health Organisation estimates that more than 80% of the impacts of climate change will be borne by children. Increased severity and frequency of fires, floods, heatwaves and storms threaten food supply, water, sanitation, infrastructure, destroy livelihoods and drive migration and conflict worldwide. The impacts are greater on children, Indigenous peoples and the disadvantaged (UNICEF, 2021). When faced with the growing evidence of the likely future, it is understandable that many people feel hopeless and that there is nothing they can do to influence change. We believe incremental change, by committed citizens is how things will improve – long before governments take action.
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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). Activity
22/23
23/24
Change
Paper and cardboard recycling
54% of centres recycling
85% of centres recycling
31% increase
Separating metal and plastic
0%
42%
42% increase
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). Activity
22/23
23/24
Change
Client cases closed – DFV
2,858
3,047
7% increase
Client cases closed – material basics
3,054
3,806
25% increase
Value of grocery vouchers provided
$67,070
$77,277
15% increase
Client surveys
203
246
21% increase overall >200% increase in child feedback
Positive feedback
95%
94%
No significant difference
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). Activity
22/23
23/24
Change
Have access to DFV leave
100%
100%
Internal training completed
92%
91%
Little difference
Paid Parental Leave
6 weeks
12 weeks
Full PPL available after 18 months service from June 2024
Driver safety education
NA
266 people
Virtual driver safety awareness training implemented April 2024.
Wellbeing leave
NA
Introduced
1 day per quarter
Sexual harassment policy
NA
Introduced
Pet bereavement leave
NA
Introduced
1 day per annum
Governance Target: ALL DOMAINS GOAL: Ensure responsive, inclusive and participatory and representative decision making at all levels (SDG 12 and 16). Activity
22/23
23/24
Change
Reconciliation Action Plan – % completion overall
50%
63%
13% change. Actions paused due to Voice Referendum and key personnel loss
Relationship pillar - % complete
83%
83%
No change
Respect pillar - % complete
48%
56%
8% increase
Opportunities pillar - % complete
19%
59%
40% increase
Governance pillar - % complete
33%
47%
14% increase
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THANK YOU
The positive outcomes and impacts achieved for children and families by Act for Kids throughout 2023-2024 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
Fitzpatrick Family Charitable Trust
Saywell Foundation
PRO-BONO SUPPORTERS
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thank you.
Hope on the Horizon: Trauma-informed care in regional communities. The Re-ACT CQ partnership between QCoal Foundation and Act for Kids is helping to transform the support available to children and families impacted by trauma in Central Queensland. This three-year program is delivering compassionate, trauma-informed therapy to children who have faced or are at risk of abuse, especially those affected by domestic and family violence. In a region where therapy services are scarce, Re-ACT CQ is a lifeline, bridging crucial gaps with face-to-face sessions in local outreach locations and telehealth support for those in more isolated areas. In the short-term, Re-ACT CQ is empowering children with emotional regulation, selfawareness, and coping skills, while giving parents the tools to better support their children’s unique needs. Over time, this vital partnership is paving the way for lasting change by strengthening mental health, family stability, and educational and employment opportunities. Together, QCoal Foundation and Act for Kids are building brighter futures for Queensland kids, helping them heal, grow, and thrive.
For more information, visit us at actforkids.com.au mail@actforkids.com.au PO Box 1844, Milton QLD 4064 Act for Kids Limited. ABN 98 142 986 767.