Australian Childhood Foundation

“If my mum and dad didn’t love me, why would anyone else?”

Meet Laura, a young woman who has been in out-of-home care for 11 years.

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Australian Childhood Foundation

Never underestimate the power of

Love

You can help us spread the word & raise
awareness about the power of love for children

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Learn about the

Impact

Educate yourself about abuse and family violence and how, together, we can make an impact on the lives of children

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Help us

Defend

Childhood

so every child knows how it feels to be loved and safe

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Share Our Vision

Our vision is to defend the right of all children to a safe and loved childhood.

We do everything we can to bring love back to children affected by the trauma of child abuse and family violence.

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We are a Force for Childhood

Learn more about our work on behalf of children

We Help Children Heal

On their own, children do not recover from the devastating impact of abuse, neglect and family violence. They need specialised support to heal. We provide therapeutic services to children.

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We Keep Children Safe

We build the ability and confidence of individuals and organisations to protect children. We provide parents with education and support to help them raise happy, safe and loved children.

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We Stand
Up for
Children

We advocate for changes to laws and policies that help to make all children safer. We work to strengthen community attitudes that prioritise the rights of children to love and safe relationships.

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We Create Understanding For Children

We educate and support adults who look after and work with traumatised children to be better able to understand and respond to their complex needs.

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Become a Force for Childhood

Learn how you can take action against child abuse

Donate

Donate to our cause, either once or on a recurring basis!

Activate your Social

Draw a heart on your hand, take a picture, and post it on social media with #DefendChildhood.

Raise Funds

Corporate matching and donations can make a big impact. Or you can start a crowdfunding campaign!

Defend Childhood

Become a Defender of Childhood.

A message from our patron, Chris Hemsworth

Will you consider partnering with us and becoming a monthly donor?

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Where We Work

Our trauma teams help children, families and carers, and support professionals throughout Australia, including remote and regional areas. Their collaboration with a network of adults and organisations focuses on creating an environment dedicated to the recovery and healing of children traumatised by abuse, neglect and family violence.

Explore our work by clicking on the locations below!

Ringwood
Popping Bubbles program for mums and bubs in Ringwood Trial of the Popping Bubbles program for women and their infants who have been affected by family violence, in partnership with the Eastern Domestic Violence Outreach Service in Ringwood. Ringwood https://www.childhood.org.au/map/popping-bubbles-program-for-mums-and-bubs-in-ringwood/
Warrnambool
New family violence counselling programs in Ringwood, Warrnambool, Lilydale, Shepparton, Wodonga We have just started new family violence counselling programs for children right across Victoria. These new activities have been funded by the Victorian Government and are delivered in partnership with several agencies. Warrnambool https://www.childhood.org.au/map/new-family-violence-counselling-programs-in-ringwood-warrnambool-lilydale-shepparton-wodonga/
Bairnsdale
Trauma-informed care at a preschool in Bairnsdale, VIC Our Early Childhood Team is working with Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Cooperative (GEGAC) in their preschool centre to foster a trauma-informed and culturally strong approach to educating and supporting 3-4-year-old children. Bairnsdale https://www.childhood.org.au/map/trauma-informed-care-at-a-preschool-in-bairnsdale-vic/
Canberra
Working in a whole new way for children in state care in Canberra A team of 8 therapeutic specialists is providing training and supervision to more than 200 professionals and 400 carers in and around Canberra and its suburbs. Canberra https://www.childhood.org.au/map/working-in-a-whole-new-way-for-children-in-state-care-in-canberra/
Shepparton
Providing therapy to children and young people who have engaged in problem sexual behaviour in Shepparton A specialist team running a therapeutic program for 15-18 children who have engaged in sexual behaviour that hurts other children has extended our service from Mitcham to now include Shepparton. Shepparton https://www.childhood.org.au/map/providing-therapy-to-children-and-young-people-who-have-engaged-in-problem-sexual-behaviour-in-shepparton/
Bundaberg
Accrediting Bundaberg YMCA (QLD) as a Safeguarding Children Organisation All YMCA organisations nationally, including Bundaberg most recently in October 2017 have gone through our rigorous Safeguarding Children Accreditation system to reduce the likelihood of children being abused or exploited while in their care. Bundaberg https://www.childhood.org.au/map/accrediting-bundaberg-ymca-qld-as-a-safeguarding-children-organisation/
Katherine
Supporting Intensive Youth Support Service in Katherine One of our therapeutic specialists from Darwin travels to Katherine (a 3-hour drive) every fortnight to spend three days supporting Anglicare NT’s Intensive Youth Support Service Workers. Katherine https://www.childhood.org.au/map/supporting-intensive-youth-support-service-in-katherine/
Adelaide
Providing therapeutic care in partnership with our partners Junction Australia in Adelaide. Our therapeutic specialists in Adelaide work alongside the residential care staff in 6 units run by Junction Australia, to support their care of about 18 children living in these units. Adelaide https://www.childhood.org.au/map/providing-therapeutic-care-in-partnership-with-our-partners-junction-australia-in-adelaide/
Albury
Working in partnership with foster carers and residential care workers in Albury/Wodonga A trauma team of four staff in Albury/Wodonga supports foster carers and residential care workers who are looking after children and young people who cannot live at home for fear that they will be abused again. Albury https://www.childhood.org.au/map/working-in-partnership-with-foster-carers-and-residential-care-workers-in-albury-wodonga/
Darwin
Bringing Up Great Kids parenting program, Darwin Training delivered to more than 3000 professionals working with children and families to support them to run the Bringing Up Great Kids parenting program in their own communities. Darwin https://www.childhood.org.au/map/bringing-up-great-kids-parenting-program-darwin/
Alice Springs
Working with NPY Women’s Council in Alice Springs, NT Working in partnership with the Domestic Violence Team to develop a new approach to preventing family and community violence in remote communities across the NT, WA and SA borders. Alice Springs https://www.childhood.org.au/map/working-with-npy-womens-council-in-alice-springs-nt/
Ntaria
Healing our Kids Our Way project in Ntaria, NT A child trauma counsellor and an Aboriginal family worker provide counselling and support to 30 children and young people in the remote community. Ntaria https://www.childhood.org.au/map/healing-our-kids-our-way-project-in-ntaria-nt/
Mitcham
Listening Project pilot – Mitcham, Victoria A ground-breaking trial of music therapy with more than 40 children, aimed at switching on the part of the brain that responds to the tone and softness of people’s voices, allowing young people to feel love again through the voices of their parents. Mitcham https://www.childhood.org.au/map/listening-project-pilot-mitcham-victoria/
Hobart, Launceston, Burnie
Family violence counselling for children in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie 12 counsellors providing specialist family violence counselling to children and young people across Tasmania in a program supported by the state government. Each counsellor provides up to 3 hours of counselling per week for 10-14 children and their families. Hobart, Launceston, Burnie https://www.childhood.org.au/map/family-violence-counselling-for-children-in-hobart-launceston-and-burnie/
Perth
Our therapeutic, culturally strong care program for grandparents, aunts, uncles and extended families in Perth Providing direct therapeutic support to 10 Aboriginal extended families in Perth who are looking after 40 children who cannot live with their parents because it is not safe. Perth https://www.childhood.org.au/map/our-therapeutic-culturally-strong-care-program-for-grandparents-aunts-uncles-and-extended-families-in-perth/
East + West Kimberley
Supporting Catholic schools in East and West Kimberley regions, WA Working with six Catholic Primary Schools to train and support teachers to be able to assess trauma in the children in their classrooms, supporting more than 300 students to better engage in learning. East + West Kimberley https://www.childhood.org.au/map/2944/
Brisbane
Trauma training to drug and alcohol workers in Brisbane Trauma training to 150 drug and alcohol workers to enable them to better support young people to find comfort in the relationships around them and stop using harmful substances. Brisbane https://www.childhood.org.au/map/trauma-training-to-drug-and-alcohol-workers-in-brisbane/
Penrith
Training program to early childhood services in Penrith, NSW The Foundation has just finished running one of its accredited training courses on the neuroscience of trauma to a group of 21 Early Childhood Educators working in Penrith. Penrith https://www.childhood.org.au/map/penrith-nsw-stories/

Supporting Intensive Youth Support Service in Katherine

One of our therapeutic specialists from Darwin travels to Katherine (a 3-hour drive) every fortnight to spend three days supporting Anglicare NT’s Intensive Youth Support Service Workers.
Learn More
Katherine

States + Territories

  • Ringwood

    Popping Bubbles program for mums and bubs in Ringwood

    Trial of the Popping Bubbles program for women and their infants who have been affected by family violence, in partnership with the Eastern Domestic Violence Outreach Service in Ringwood.
    Learn More

  • Warrnambool

    New family violence counselling programs in Ringwood, Warrnambool, Lilydale, Shepparton, Wodonga

    We have just started new family violence counselling programs for children right across Victoria. These new activities have been funded by the Victorian Government and are delivered in partnership with several agencies.
    Learn More

  • Bairnsdale

    Trauma-informed care at a preschool in Bairnsdale, VIC

    Our Early Childhood Team is working with Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Cooperative (GEGAC) in their preschool centre to foster a trauma-informed and culturally strong approach to educating and supporting 3-4-year-old children.
    Learn More

  • Canberra

    Working in a whole new way for children in state care in Canberra

    A team of 8 therapeutic specialists is providing training and supervision to more than 200 professionals and 400 carers in and around Canberra and its suburbs.
    Learn More

  • Shepparton

    Providing therapy to children and young people who have engaged in problem sexual behaviour in Shepparton

    A specialist team running a therapeutic program for 15-18 children who have engaged in sexual behaviour that hurts other children has extended our service from Mitcham to now include Shepparton.
    Learn More

  • Bundaberg

    Accrediting Bundaberg YMCA (QLD) as a Safeguarding Children Organisation

    All YMCA organisations nationally, including Bundaberg most recently in October 2017 have gone through our rigorous Safeguarding Children Accreditation system to reduce the likelihood of children being abused or exploited while in their care.
    Learn More

  • Katherine

    Supporting Intensive Youth Support Service in Katherine

    One of our therapeutic specialists from Darwin travels to Katherine (a 3-hour drive) every fortnight to spend three days supporting Anglicare NT’s Intensive Youth Support Service Workers.
    Learn More

  • Adelaide

    Providing therapeutic care in partnership with our partners Junction Australia in Adelaide.

    Our therapeutic specialists in Adelaide work alongside the residential care staff in 6 units run by Junction Australia, to support their care of about 18 children living in these units.
    Learn More

  • Albury

    Working in partnership with foster carers and residential care workers in Albury/Wodonga

    A trauma team of four staff in Albury/Wodonga supports foster carers and residential care workers who are looking after children and young people who cannot live at home for fear that they will be abused again.
    Learn More

  • Darwin

    Bringing Up Great Kids parenting program, Darwin

    Training delivered to more than 3000 professionals working with children and families to support them to run the Bringing Up Great Kids parenting program in their own communities.
    Learn More

  • Alice Springs

    Working with NPY Women’s Council in Alice Springs, NT

    Working in partnership with the Domestic Violence Team to develop a new approach to preventing family and community violence in remote communities across the NT, WA and SA borders.
    Learn More

  • Ntaria

    Healing our Kids Our Way project in Ntaria, NT

    A child trauma counsellor and an Aboriginal family worker provide counselling and support to 30 children and young people in the remote community.
    Learn More

  • Mitcham

    Listening Project pilot – Mitcham, Victoria

    A ground-breaking trial of music therapy with more than 40 children, aimed at switching on the part of the brain that responds to the tone and softness of people’s voices, allowing young people to feel love again through the voices of their parents.
    Learn More

  • Hobart, Launceston, Burnie

    Family violence counselling for children in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie

    12 counsellors providing specialist family violence counselling to children and young people across Tasmania in a program supported by the state government. Each counsellor provides up to 3 hours of counselling per week for 10-14 children and their families.
    Learn More

  • Perth

    Our therapeutic, culturally strong care program for grandparents, aunts, uncles and extended families in Perth

    Providing direct therapeutic support to 10 Aboriginal extended families in Perth who are looking after 40 children who cannot live with their parents because it is not safe.
    Learn More

  • East + West Kimberley

    Supporting Catholic schools in East and West Kimberley regions, WA

    Working with six Catholic Primary Schools to train and support teachers to be able to assess trauma in the children in their classrooms, supporting more than 300 students to better engage in learning.
    Learn More

  • Brisbane

    Trauma training to drug and alcohol workers in Brisbane

    Trauma training to 150 drug and alcohol workers to enable them to better support young people to find comfort in the relationships around them and stop using harmful substances.
    Learn More

  • Penrith

    Training program to early childhood services in Penrith, NSW

    The Foundation has just finished running one of its accredited training courses on the neuroscience of trauma to a group of 21 Early Childhood Educators working in Penrith.
    Learn More

 

Are you ready to
#DefendChildhood?

Love is at the heart of everything we do. It’s important we talk about what love really means in children’s lives. When we stand for children, we recognise their need for love. Let’s show children they are important and that love matters. This is the start of a new conversation on how we can come together for children. Join us and #Defend Childhood!

Below are three easy steps to make an immediate impact.

 

Step 1

Wear your heart on your hand, and take a picture!

Step 2

Post your heart on social media with #DefendChildhood. Become visible as a Defender.

Step 3

Fundraise, donate or register as a Defender. Your donations and the action you inspire will help children heal and keep them safe.

Ready to Get Started?

 

 

Get Inspired!

See how our community is already spreading the word!

 

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Learn About the Impact

The impact on and our impact for children

 

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Impact

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voices

Featured News

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Our Safeguarding Children Program

The Foundation is honoured to be working, through our Safeguarding Children program, with an inspirational group of organisations that want to build within their DNA a culture and a system that works to keep the children and young people in their care safe from harm and exploitation.

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Introducing our New Brand

We have decided to tell our story differently because we want love to take centre stage. This is why… Children trace love in moments of connection. A newborn feels his mum’s heartbeat as he is held tightly and stops crying. A toddler giggles when her dad acts out a scary monster who scoops her high up into the air.

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