What we do

WHERE WE ARE TODAY

It was a team effort when KIDS answered requests from kindergarten and preschool educators across Australia to produce free bug-safety resources for children to help them understand the Coronavirus and ways to keep themselves and others germ-free.

KIDS set up an incredible task force to deliver SeeMore Bug Safety storybooks to 10,000 early childhood education centres around Australia. Thanks to a generous donor, KIDS rallied additional in-kind support and donations from local Ballarat printer, Revolution Print, delivery company Drive Yello, Kookaburra Educational Resources and Exodas Transport to put additional books in the hands of children in lock-down areas within weeks. Another 26,000 copies were sent to 650 preschools in and around Newcastle, NSW, thanks to a grant from Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation.

We were proud of our achievement and thrilled to receive a letter from the Victorian Deputy Premier commending us for our work. Throughout the year, the global pandemic saw our flexibility and adaptability skills put to good use as KIDS planned for the Connecting Generations: Adopt a Grandbuddy Program rollout in Hamilton. Our program guide was reviewed to incorporate remote adaptations, and services supported to access remote tools such as the Virtual Classroom.

Despite the postponement of Injury Recovery events in line with changing COVID-19 travel restrictions, KIDS hosted a modified Camp TANGO in Port Macquarie (NSW) in May, 2021. The short trip was jam-packed and included some fun local activities and much needed reconnection for participants. Attendees re-visited the Koala Hospital, took part in an escape room challenge at Facade Escape Room, sped through the waves on a jet boat ride with Port Jet and caught up with local KIDS supporters and past volunteers for dinner at Chop ‘n’ Chill.

We were also able to host a dinner event with many survivors, volunteers and friends of KIDS from the Newcastle area during the trip to NSW. Those who attended were happy to see, connect and reconnect with others who they had not seen in some time. The smiles and that feeling of being a part of the ‘KIDS Family’ was felt by all.

Although our face-to-face support was limited, we continued to catch-up virtually on a regular basis with staff, volunteers and survivors through our Talk About Tuesday chats. These were a great opportunity to check-in and for many were a highlight of their week. We spent many hours – more than 1100+ providing individualised support to those within our Burn Survivors’ Network (BSN) which kept us connected during such challenging times. In March, 2021 we joined the 1st / 14th Brighton Sea Scouts who hosted their annual family sailing day at Karkarook Park in Melbourne. A small number of BSN members, their families, along with KIDS volunteers and staff attended the day and enjoyed venturing out on kayaks, small sailboats and paddleboards. Attendees also had loads of fun, sliding down a slip and slide.

We are also happy to have made some great connections with hospitals around the country and look forward to working with them in the future to help support individuals who have experienced life-changing injury and trauma.

Like for many charities, our planned fundraising events for this year were unable to go ahead. However we found an opportunity to be involved in something a little different - Charity TV Global Adventure All Stars.

KIDS is participating in a filming and fundraising project produced by registered Australian Charities & Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) entity, Charity TV Global. Our team of eight amazing individuals have all smashed their fundraising targets and as a reward, will go on a life-changing 6-day adventure of a lifetime!

Survivors Matt Thiele, Tianna King, Jai Pearce and Karen Jacques will join our very own Susie O’Neill along with volunteers Leanne McPherson, Michelle Harris and Alyce McMillan as KIDS All Stars. A number of incredible events were delivered as part of this fundraising initiative including an exclusive dinner at Sho Sho in South Australia, a charity raffle and private dinner with survivor and friend Matt Golinski, high tea at Cafe Bear and Scoobs in Geelong and more. For two years, KIDS’ involvement in the Noosa Tri as a charity partner has been impacted because of the pandemic. In place of this annual fundraiser, some super friends of KIDS made a difference of their own and we thank them dearly. Thanks to the team at Hot Temple Ballarat who helped KIDS deliver its inaugural virtual-tri and thanks to Janet Miller and her nephew Chris who completed a solo tri to coincide with our virtual event and our mate Christian Schwaerzler who completed a Solo 70.3 Tri for KIDS.

Beau, one of our fabulous KIDS educators, made a massive difference this year to KIDS. He signed up for, and was ready to take on, his first ever full IRONMAN distance event in Port Macquarie, when it was postponed due to devastating floods after already being moved because of COVID.

Beau didn’t give up his dream, continued training and smashed a fundraising goal he had set for KIDS. What a champ! Thanks to Beau, and other generous donors throughout the year, more young injury survivors will be able to attend KIDS camps.