HEALING LITTLE HEARTS TAKES A LOT OF CHANGE That’s why we need your he lp.
THE FACTS
NATIONALLY,
CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT OVER 480,000 REPORTS
In 2019-20, there were 486,280 reports made to child protection authorities in Australia.
1 IN EVERY 32 AUSSIE KIDS
In that same 12 months, 174,719 kids accessed child protective services. That’s 1 in every 32 Aussie kids.
48,886 KIDS CONFIRMED
MOST COMMON SOURCE OF CHILD PROTECTION NOTIFICATIONS 22%
School
12%
Non-Government Organisation
11%
Family
10%
Social worker
9%
Nationally,
Emotional
Neglect
54%
22%
Physical
Sexual
9%
CHILDREN UNDER 12 MONTHS OF AGE
were most likely to suffer abuse or neglect.
19%
Health professional
was the most common primary type of abuse suffered by children.
14%
In that same 12 months, 48,886 children were confirmed to have suffered abuse or neglect.
Police
EMOTIONAL ABUSE
0.02%
of notifications came directly from the child involved.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2021. Child Protection Australia 2019-20. Child welfare series no.74. Cat. No. CWS 78. Canberra: AIHW. Source: Act for Kids study surveying 2,015 participants aged over 18 years of age. Conducted as a National Representative survey.
The number of children receiving child protection services in the past 5 years.
RISEN BY 12%
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children remain
7x MORE LIKELY to have received child protection services.
TWO-THIRDS
of parents are not confident their child knows what to do if they feel unsafe.
94% of PARENTS
whose children have done a Protective Behaviours program said they found it was effective in helping their children identify safe and unsafe situations.
ABUSED OR NEGLECTED breakdown by state NSW 16,856
SA
2,217
VIC
16,714
NT
1,150
QLD
6,537
TAS
406
WA
4,725
ACT
280
ABOUT US Act for Kids is a for-purpose organisation that delivers evidence-based professional therapy and support services to children and families who have experienced, or are at risk of harm. Established in 1988, we have helped over 300,000 children, young people and families at our 30 centres across Australia. Through prevention, treatment, research, education and advocacy, we are committed to help keep kids safe, heal from trauma and lead happy lives.
OUR VISION IS FOR ALL KIDS TO HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY CHILDHOOD.
”Together we can make a positive change to the lives of at-risk and vulnerable children throughout Australia.” DR KATRINA LINES, ACT FOR KIDS - CEO
HOW WE HELP
We worked with 40,434 people during 2020-21.
30,238
In 2019-20, over 480,000 cases of child abuse and neglect were reported in Australia, with over 48,000 cases confirmed.*
Intensive Family Support
That’s one child every 11 minutes suffering from physical, sexual or emotional abuse or neglect – often at the hands of people they know and should be able to trust, and most often in their own home. Some of these children end up with serious problems that can affect them their whole lives. Act for Kids provides intensive therapy to help them overcome their trauma and claim a second chance at the happy, healthy childhoods they deserve. We also provide a range of preventative, wrap-around support services for vulnerable families at risk of abuse and neglect. Our dedicated team of psychologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, early education specialists, counsellors and family support workers help thousands of kids and families each year. But unfortunately there are no quick fixes. Most of our children will spend between 6 and 18 months with us. True healing takes time, which is why we need your help. Becoming a Regular Giver is about making a meaningful commitment to long-term support. With your help we can continue providing the specialised treatment and care needed to heal little hearts. *Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
4,363
Integrated Therapy Service
5,692
Learn to be safe with Emmy and friends
94
SafeKids in Far North Queensland
47
individualised Support Packages
In the past 6 years, Act for Kids has supported
227,562 people and children in need.
21,698
34,324
40,128
46,084
44,894
40,434
2015-16
2018-19
2016-17
2019-20
2017-18
2020-21
HOW YOU CAN HELP TRUE HEALING TAKES TIME, WHICH IS WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP. Becoming a Regular Giver is about making a meaningful commitment to long-term support for abused aussie kids. With your help we can continue providing the specialised treatment and care needed to heal little hearts.
By simply donating the change in your pocket, you can significantly change the lives of kids across the nation.
What is Regular Giving? Our regular giving program allows you to give monthly to Act for Kids. Instead of donating as a once-off cash gift, you can establish a regular recurring tax-deductible monthly donation.
How will your donation help? Donating regularly is an exceptional act of kindness. Your gifts will help us plan and deliver life-changing services long into the future. Regular tax-deductible monthly donations ensure that Act for Kids can continue to fund ongoing programs that meet the needs of the communities they serve and support.
As a Regular Giver, your donation truly can make a difference to the lives of Aussie kids who have suffered from neglect, sexual, emotional and physical abuse. From as little as $5 a week, your donation can provide the resources needed to deliver therapy services.
$50 per month can provide a family with access to an intense family support program.
$100 per month can provide up to a years’ worth of therapy for a trauma affected child.
AIDEN’S STORY For the first six years of his little life, eight-year-old Aiden was beaten, burned, threatened and degraded. He was sexually abused by his older step-brother from the time he was four, and when Aiden reported the abuse, he was abused more by his own parents. For years he tried to care for and protect his younger sibling from the daily abuse he experienced. Aiden was removed from his parents and is now living with his Aunty Donna. Life with Aunty Donna is safe, but he struggles with nightmares, cannot sleep independently, soils himself, is scared, becomes easily angry, doesn’t cope with change and having friends is hard. The trauma Aiden has endured will significantly affect his future. However, with the vital trauma-informed support and therapy from Act for Kids, Aiden is starting to heal.
After seven months, Aiden is now sleeping and toileting independently, and is concentrating better at school. He understands his feelings better and has learnt to use various strategies for coping and to selfregulate his angry outbursts. Social situations are still a struggle, but he is trying to use his new skills. Aiden is being supported to make sense of all the ‘bad’ things that have happened to him in his short life.
Act for Kids therapists, together with Aunty Donna, are working hard to create a safer environment for Aiden to ensure he will continue to grow and develop, and have a brighter and happy future.
Learn more at actforkids.com.au
JOIN US TODAY Your monthly donation is a commitment to providing meaningful, lasting change for abused and neglected children. Help us turn their lives around. Sign-up online at actforkids.com.au or complete this quick form.
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On behalf of the kids and families you’re supporting, thank you. Donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible. Your tax-deductible receipt will be issued at the end of each financial year. Payments can be cancelled at any time, simply contact Act for Kids on 1300 228 000. On completion of this form please: Email to donations@actforkids.com.au Post to Act for Kids, PO Box 1844, Milton QLD 4064
For more information please call 1300 228 000 or visit our website actforkids.com.au mail@actforkids.com.au PO Box 1844, Milton QLD 4064 Act for Kids Limited ABN 98 142 986 767