KOALA KIDS HAPPY KITS

November 10, 2023By

Koala Kids Happy Kits were launched in July this year in response to independent research conducted by IMO Analytics on behalf of Koala Kids in June 2022. The research revealed that many families had heard of Koala Kids but did not know who Koala Kids was and what we do.  

Our volunteers had not returned to the Children’s Cancer Centre since being locked out in March 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic so as well as realising the importance of having a physical presence in the hospitals we also needed a medium whereby we could explain what we did and exemplify the various small things that make a difference.  

Happy Kits are proving a gentle way to introduce families with recently diagnosed children to Koala Kids.  A number of small, practical and basic items for hospital use are packed into a soft, nylon drawstring bag and given to families in the weeks following their child’s diagnosis.   

In each Happy Kit is the opportunity for the family to register with Koala Kids Happy Base (We Believe Happy Helps!). Once registered the family can choose from a large number of items, all practical for hospital use, with the hero item of the kit being American Tourister bright orange suitcase. The suitcase was made available thanks to feedback from families that it would be very useful to fill the Koala Kids luggage with the items they like to have on standby for hospital visits. Our volunteers are delighted to see the Koala Kids cases being rolled out the door by families going home after hospital admissions. 

Special thanks to Thyne Reid Foundation for funding the Happy Kits program for three years, to Samsonite for providing us with the orange cases and Officeworks for their support with lots of smaller items in the Happy Kits. 

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KOALA KIDS 2023 EVENTS

November 10, 2023By

Koala Kids has reconnected with hundreds of supporters during the past month with two overwhelmingly successful fundraising events, an intimate dinner at Grossi Florentino and a really happy lunch at The Big Group’s Ormond Hall. 

Koala Kids Gala Committee invited 70 guests to a black-tie evening in the magnificent Grossi Florentino dining room, presented by Kay & Burton.   

Elegantly dressed guests enjoyed Champagne and exquisite canapes followed by a beautiful three-course meal specially designed by Guy Grossi including his signature chocolate soufflés.   

All agreed it was a spectacular evening filled with laughter and fundraising. Highlights included Stephen Mahy who doubled as MC and entertainer, a fabulous on-line auction and furious and competitive bidding on amazing auction items.   

A fortnight later around 200 ladies enjoyed lunch at Ormond Hall, our first in-person lunch since 2019. 

Long-time supporters and some new friends came together to enjoy each other and raise awareness and funds for Koala Kids.  A record number of raffle tickets were bought for a chance at 19 irresistible prizes and guests generously pledged too.  Provincial Home Living and Marshall White proudly supported the event together with a host of other companies generous donations.  

Guests smiled through their tears listening to guest speakers Kathleen Morris and her 10-year-old daughter Novalie’s story which included the two of them being treated with the same chemotherapy, Kat for breast cancer and Novalie’s Leukaemia.  Novalie and her best friend Matilda then gave each guest one of Novalie’s Bee Brave Cards designed and printed specially for Koala Kids guests.  

During a year when fundraising has been particularly challenging we’ve hosted two great events.  We have engaged nearly 300 Koala Kids supporters and raised more than $100,000 to enable us to continue to provide small things that make a difference for children and young people undergoing cancer treatment.  

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STORYTIME PODS

November 10, 2023By

Storytime PODs are the world’s first digital story-telling device for children. They have been installed in libraries, shopping centres and more recently Koala Kids provided 11 devices to paediatric hospital settings in Melbourne and regional Victoria for children undergoing cancer treatment and with other illnesses to enjoy in waiting spaces. 

Storytime PODs engage toddlers and primary school-age children with wholesome, educational entertainment and as such are proving a wonderful means of occupying young people in clinical settings.  They create a relaxing experience for them while at the same time providing safe and easy-to-use technology that never breaks.  They engage and settle waiting children who may be bored, anxious or in pain and can enable staff to engage and help patients and visitors more effectively. 

The sit-in PODs can accommodate more than one child while the wall, table and overbed-mounted Storytime PADs are perfect for individual children. The devices offer a range of content including Disney, ABC, The Wiggles, Storybox Library, maths activities and more in more than 10 languages. 

Koala Kids was able to provide 11 Storytime PODs and PADs with a grant from the Margaret Lawrence Bequest. 

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