CHILDREN'S CHARITIES IN SYDNEY

This brief information is provided by the charities.
You can find out more at their websites or by phoning them.
Not all children's charities are represented.
Please let us know about those that don't appear.

The charities are listed alphabetically and on this page are those from A - K. On another page are the L - Z charities and on a third page is a Charity Calendar that lists the events and fundraisers of these charities.

A to K

ANAPHYLAXIS AUSTRALIA INC (AAI - Formerly FACTS) is an organisation that supports those with life threatening food allergy, their families, friends, teachers and carers. Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of allergic reaction which can lead to death if adrenaline (in the form of EpiPen) is not given promptly. 8-10% of children in Australia suffer from anaphylaxis. The top eight foods that cause 90% of anaphylactic reactions in Australia are egg, dairy, sesame, peanut, fish, tree nuts, soy and shellfish. Tel:1300 728 000, web:www.allergyfacts.org.au.

AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS helps children in NSW through their Breakfast Clubs. The Clubs serve over 100,000 breakfasts a year to school children throughout NSW. This healthy start to the day also includes support in the development of interpersonal and social skills. Breakfast Clubs are set up in schools around the state depending on the need and the support available. Currently there are 26 clubs serving over 8,000 breakfasts each month. To find out what you can do to help or to start a Breakfast Club in your school or join one, contact the Breakfast Club Co-ordinator, Australian Red Cross: (02) 9229 4270 / 1800 812 028 or visit www.nsw.redcross.org.au/Pages/l4break.html.

AUTISM ASSOCIATION OF NSW is a leading authority on Autism Spectrum Disorder and its treatment in Australia. The Association provides specialist services to people with Autism regardless of age or degree of disability. It also provides intensive support to families of children and adults with Autism. These services include:
- The Autism Assessment Service - a consultative service to rural families;
- Early Intervention Service works with children under school age and their parents at home;
- Family Support Service offer assessments for students in our schools and satellite classes;
- School Outreach Service assists children attending mainstream schools;
- Centre for Autism Learning organises training for parents and professionals;
- Autism Support Unit works with adolescents and adults
Tel: 8977 8300, web: www.autismnsw.com.au

BARNARDOS is Australia's leading children's charity providing services which successfully help prevent and reverse the effects of child abuse, neglect and homelessness on children and young people. Barnardos helps over 6000 children through its welfare programs which operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in NSW and ACT. Tel :9281 7933, web: www.barnardos.org.au

BEAR COTTAGE is an initiative of the Children's Hospital at Westmead and is the only children's hospice in NSW. It is located in Manly, not far from the beach and contains the amenities of a comfortable home with 10 children's bedrooms, family accommodation and recreation areas. Bear Cottage provides a very special place where children with life-limiting illnesses and their families can stay to receive rest and medical care in a homelike environment. Some families use Bear Cottage as a place where their whole family can have a holiday or a rest. Other families utilise Bear Cottage as a safe and friendly place where they can leave their child for respite while they attend to other life tasks. Some of our families come and have a busy action packed time, while others use their time at Bear Cottage to take a break. Bear Cottage does not receive any government funding, and the families who have a child with a life limiting illness do not pay to stay there. To continue to provide respite and end of life care for these precious children and their families, Bear Cottage relies on the generosity and support of the community to raise the annual operational costs of $1.5 million. Tel: 9976 8300, web: www.bearcottage.chw.edu.au.

BOBBY GOLDSMITH FOUNDATION cares for people with HIV/AIDS by providing direct financial assistance, financial councilling, supported housing and employment support. It is Australia's largest and longest serving AIDS charity and services 15% of people living with HIV/AIDS in NSW. Tel: 9283 8666, web: www.bgf.org.au

The BONNIE BABES FOUNDATION helps to save babies lives and counsel families through this extreme hardship. All proceeds the Foundation raises are for vital medical research projects, and for our 24 hour, 7 day per week family counselling services.  We support families with seriously ill babies and infants with childhood diseases.
The Bonnie Babes Foundation:
·         Provides medical equipment to hospitals for premature babies struggling for life in intensive care.
·         Assists vital medical research projects
·         Provides education and training for health professionals
·         Provides 24 hour, 7 day per week family help lines for those who have lost a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or prematurity
We provide telephone, group counselling and one to one sessions with qualified grief counsellors trained by the Bonnie Babes Foundation honorary Psychologist Diane McGreal.  We conduct Grief Counselling Training courses at leading maternity hospitals across Australia. Tel: 03 9758 2800, web: www.bbf.org.au

BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION OF NSW INC. is the only non-government oganisation attempting to make services, governments and the community aware of the needs of people with brain injury and their families/carers. Tel: 9749 5366, 1800 802 840

CAMP QUALITY is a non-profit organisation that is committed to bringing hope and happiness to the lives of children with cancer, their families and communities, through ongoing quality recreational and educational programs. Goals include letting a child with cancer be a child again, by providing exciting activities for them, including going on camps with an adult companion to look after them and stay in touch afterwards. Families are also given a break. The McDonalds Camp Quality Puppet Program uses life size puppets to teach all children to be more supportive and caring of other children with illnesses like cancer. Tel: 9869 0588, web: www.campquality.org.au.

CANTEEN is a national peer support organisation for young people (aged 12 - 24 years) living with cancer, including Patients, Siblings and Offspring and helps them to share experiences and have fun, offers resources and promotes understanding, well-being and leadership. As well CanTeen provides newsletters, outings, weekenders, camps and hospital and home visits. Tel: 9382 1563, web: www.canteen.org.au 

CAREFLIGHT is both a specialist medical trauma & retrieval service and a dedicated medical-rescue helicopter service. From the charity's bases at Westmead and Orange the teams respond to critically ill and injured patients, including children, around the clock. CareFlight is Australia's only air medical service to employ its own specialist doctors and to hold teaching accreditation with the three medical colleges covering the critical care fields. NRMA CareFlight relies heavily on community support to continue its services. Tel: 9891 6144, web: www.careflight.org.

CHILD FLIGHT INC Child Flight is the only helicopter retrieval service dedicated to providing emergency intensive care transportation for babies and children in NSW and ACT. The current average is one retrieval per day, costing $6,000. Tel: 9633 8700, Donation Line: 1800 195 500, web: www.childflight.com.au

CHILDREN'S CANCER INSTITUTE AUSTRALIA is the only medical research institute in Australia solely devoted to research into childhood cancer, with the goal of improving the cure rate for children with cancer from the current 70% to 100%. CCIA also supports families of children with cancer through a program of social welfare. Tel: 1800 685 686 web: www.ccia.org.au

THE CHILDREN'S COCHLEA IMPLANT CENTRE (NSW) is a non-profit, charitable organisation that offers a world leading paediatric cochlear implant programme to assist deaf children to access the Australian invented and developed cochlear implant or "Bionic Ear". The cochlear implant is not a cure for deafness, however it does provide access to important speech sounds that gives a child the opportunity to develop spoken communication. The specialist team at CCIC consists of surgeons, audiologists, speech and language pathologists, social workers and educators of the deaf, all working together to provide a supportive environment in which the child develops listening, speech and communication skills. The device, surgery and habilitation costs associated with helping a child to make use of their cochlear implant are in excess of $60,000 for each child. With over fifty new children accessing the programme annually, demand far exceeds available funds resulting in CCIC relying on financial support from the community. For more information, phone 9817 0011.

The CHILDREN'S FOOD EDUCATION FOUNDATION is a charity established to promote an understanding of food, health, nutrition and healthy food choices by children and young people. Our goals encompass all Australian children and young people however our main focus is directed to those with chronic illness, disabilities, mental disorders and those who provide care for themselves or others. Food education initiatives are created in partnership with existing children's charities and service providors. We are also working hard to improve the quality and integrity of food served to children and young people in their own homes, in hospitals, schools, institutions, restaurants, sporting and tourism venues. Tel: 0414 678 816, web: www.childrensfoodeducation.org.au

CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AT WESTMEAD is one of the most well respected paediatric centres in the world. It combines state-of-the-art medical and technical equipment with a total healing environment, where the design and decoration of facilities, the gardens and art, complement and enhance the best possible clinical care. Every year more than 28,000 children are treated as inpatients, and outpatient services care for over 500,000 patient visits. Nearly fifty percent of all children admitted to the Intensive Care unit undergo life saving cardiac surgery. The Children’s Hospital at Westmead is committed to providing children with the best in medical care and personal support as well as continuing to play an active role in promoting the interests and needs of all children.
If you would like to make a donation to support the work of The Children’s Hospital at Westmead you can do so though visiting their web site www.chw.edu.au

CHILDREN'S MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE is one of Australia's leading research facilities and was established in 1958 to study the origins of diseases that affect children, so that cures or better treatments can be developed. Research has been done into understanding how cancer cells multiply, and how muscle diseases might start. CMRI also runs a gene therapy unit jointly with the New Children's Hospital. The main national fundraising day is Jeans for Genes Day, the first Friday in August. Tel: 9687 2800, web: jeans4genes.com.au

CHRISTMAS ANGELS inspires people to go and visit others in nursing homes and hospitals on Christmas Day, usually spending about half an hour with someone. Many of our volunteers are children (who go with their parents). The next phase is to get volunteers to visit children in babies'/childrens' homes. Tel: 0407 894 471, web: www.christmasangels.org

CORNUCOPIA COMMITTEE INC works exclusively in the field of Child Protection and sponsors Child Protection Units at various hospitals including The Children's Hospital Westmead, Royal Hospital for Women, Royal North Shore Hospital and the Sydney Children's Hospital Randwick. The Units have teams of highly qualified professionals who work with sexually, emotionally and physically abused children and their families Support is also given to the Child Abuse Prevention Service (CAPS). Tel: 9363 5953.

CREATE FOUNDATION exists to ensure that children and young people in care are afforded the same life opportunities as all young Australians. There are 20,000 children and young people in care across Australia unable to live with their birth parents through no fault of their own. CREATE Foundation provides a diverse range of services, programs and initiatives to improve their circumstances through Connecting, Empowering and Changing. For more information, phone 9635 8833 or visit www.create.org.au.

CUBBY HOUSE TOY LIBRARY INC is a community based toy library in Dee Why open to children with special needs in the Manly, Warringah, Pittwater and surrounding areas. These special needs may be physical, developmental, learning, speech, emotional or social. The range of toys is for babies from six weeks old to primary school age children. An occupational therapist is in attendance to help parents select suitable toys and provide ideas for play. The library is open: Mon 3.30-5.30pm, Wed & Thurs 9.30am-1pm, Fri & Sat 9.30am-noon and costs $80 per annum plus a $10 joining fee. Cubby house welcomes donations from the community to support the service, are a registered deductible gift recipient and donations over $2 are tax deductible. For more information or to make a donation, ph 9971 7006 or visit www.ourcommunity.com.au/cubbyhouse.

CYSTIC FIBROSIS NSW Cystic Fibrosis is an incurable genetic condition affecting the lungs and digestive system and resulting in a shortened life expectancy. Cystic Fibrosis NSW provides a range of support services to children and young people with CF and their carers in NSW. It also provides information and educational services and raises money for CF research. Tel: 9878 2075, web: www.cysticfibrosisnsw.org.au.

THE DEAF SOCIETY OF NSW has a Community Access and Information System Team with Children and Family Community Workers who offer deaf people and their families assistance to access generalist services. They also give advice on deaf specific information and technologies. The Deaf Society also offer a drop-in service 3 days a week. Their website is wwwdeafsocietynsw.org.au, and another site for young deaf people and their families is www.stepbystep.com. You can contact Lorraine at the Society on lmulley@deafsociety.com.

DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION OF NSW aims to encourage people with Down Syndrome (DS) to fulfil their potential for successful and happy lives, in a society that knows their abilities and is supportive of their needs. It offers many services to families including initial support after birth and visits at the hospital or later, 24 hour contact for new parents, a library with the latest information on DS, newsletters, seminars, get-togethers, a social and support group for young people 16 years and older and website information. Down Syndrome Awareness week is held in October each year and the parent networks across NSW organise activites, including coffee mornings and family picnics. Tel: 9683 4333, web: www.iinet.net.au/~dsansw.

EarlyEd is a family-centred early childhood intervention service for young children with disabilities or delays in their development, and their families. We have been providing early childhood special education and therapy services since 1979.
At EarlyEd we recognise that the family is the most important influence in a child’s life and that any services provided to children must reflect the family’s concerns and priorities. Our team of experienced professionals work together with families to assist each child’s overall development. Tel: 9923 2727, Web: www.earlyed.com.au

THE FOUNDATION FOR YOUNG AUSTRALIANS is a non-profit organisation committed to assisting young Australians reach their full potential. The Foundation has a number of annual scholarships and grants programs for young people. At least 50% of annual funding is allocated to addressing major issues affecting disadvantaged young people in Australia. Other opportunities are provided for individuals to pursue excellence in their chosen field and to develop leadership potential in young people. Tel: (03) 9670 5436, web: www.youngaustralians.org

FRIENDS OF THE BLIND SCHOOL assist the students of the North Rocks School for Blind Children. They aim to educate and support all persons with a visual impairment and are committed to raising awareness concerning the needs and wants of the visually impaired. They raise funds to enhance the lives of the visually impaired and to provide specialized equipment. Tel:9871 1478, web:www.ozemail.com.au/~d5614sn1

GUIDE DOGS NSW/ACT trains guide dogs for the blind and vision impaired, and companion animals for disabled and disadvantaged children and adults. We also train people who are visually impaired to use canes, canines and electronic aids to improve their mobility and thus independence and quality of life. We advocate on behalf of the people we assist to make the community an easier place in which to live and work. Tel: 9412 9300, web: www.guidedogs.com.au

THE HUMOUR FOUNDATION promotes the health benefits of humour. The core program is the Clown Doctors. They gently parody the hospital routine, bringing support, fun and laughter to sick and injured children in hospital. Tel: 9974 4563, web: www.humourfoundation.com.au

THE HUMPTY DUMPTY FOUNDATION is a non-profit organisation that raises money to support and fund vital medical equipment to children in hospitals across NSW. The equipment Humpty and its supporters provide, gives doctors and nurses the best possible chance of averting a tragedy. Humpty also provides support to two hospitals in East Timor.  Tel: 9439 0511, web: www.humpty.com.au

THE INFANTS HOME makes a positive difference in the lives of young children. It commenced in 1874 to support infants and young mothers left abandoned on the streets of Sydney. It is an independent secular charity, with the Act of Parliament passed in 1924. Throughout its existence it has continuously responded to changing community needs to assist marginalised children and their families. Today it provides care, support, education and health services to support young children and their families in today’s very different and diverse community in the greater inner west of Sydney. Presently it provides a range of services to support over 800 young children each year with some 60 children and their families receiving specialised assistance for a particular need. These services are delivered through the skills and dedication of our 70 staff and over two hundred volunteers. Tel: 9799 4844, web: www.theinfantshome.org.au

KIDSAFE NSW - the Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia - is the only non -profit organisation dedicated to reducing the number of unintentional child injury related deaths and hospitalisation. Since the foundations beginning in 1979, child death and injury have halved. Kidsafe offers community and corporate training, workshops and education, promoting all health and safety issues for children.
The Kidsafe House is a "hands -on" home and playground that looks like a typical family home. It provides information and solutions to the dangers that lurk in and around the home. The information and resources are ideal for individuals, students, parents, professionals and caregivers. The house is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm and twice a year the Kidsafe House is open free to the community to visit on a weekend. There is also a display of a safe play area and a pool that displays safer percautious in the prevention of childhood drowning. Kidsafe house also has information on car safety, safe playspace, driveways, plants and simple ideas that could prevent children having accidents. The Playground Advisory Unit provides a technical, design and information services to promote safe and creative play environments for children, and is available to agencies, services and individuals. For further information on tours or safe child practices please phone (02) 9845 0890.

KIDS 4 KIDS has been created to provide assistance to disabled children, particularly those in life-threatening circumstances. This is primarily achieved through fund-raising projects in which children participate. Funds are distributed to existing agencies and foundations which have been established to assist disadvantaged children. Tel: 9311 2464, web:www.6mins.com/kids4kids

KIDS HELP LINE is Australia's only free, 24 hour, confidential and anonymous telephone and web counselling service for 5 - 18 year olds. Each week we answer between 8,000 - 9,000 calls from kids across Australia. Sadly, due to lack of funds, thousands more go unanswered. For more information contact NSW Marketing Office on 9415 4011, web: www.kidshelp.com.au. To talk to a Kids Help Line Counsellor please call 1800 55 1800.