WHAT YOUR DONATION CAN DO

Last year, over 480,000 reports were made to child protection authorities in Australia. Over 174,700 children accessed child protective services, and 48,886 children were confirmed to have suffered abuse or neglect. That’s 1 in every 32 Australian children.

Through this period, Act for Kids helped 40,434 people, 25,997 of those were kids.

All funds raised will support Act for Kids' Integrated Therapy Service - which helps Aussie kids to heal from trauma.

Millie's story

4-year old Millie has experienced significant trauma and neglect since birth.

Her parents struggled with substance and gambling addictions. When Millie was 3, she was found unattended in a car while her parents gambled in a local tavern. She was found covered in her own bodily fluids, and suffering extreme heat exhaustion.

Millie was removed from her parents’ care and referred to Act for Kids’ Integrated Therapy Service by child protection authorities. Her psychological and physiological development was well below what was expected of a child that was almost 4-years old.

She had significant emotional, physical, and cognitive delays. Her fine and gross motor skills were poor, her bone and muscle development was below standard, and inhibited her mobility.

Millie had attachment issues and did not trust the adults in her life to keep her safe, respond to her needs or show her affection.

She had unpredictable behaviours, was unable to regulate her emotions or communicate. She had trouble speaking and would often grunt or gesture if she needed something. She often looked away when distressed, hid, froze or adopted the foetal position.

Act for Kids’ Integrated Therapy team– which included a Speech Pathologist, Occupational Therapist and Psychologist - worked together to create a treatment plan that was tailored to Millie’s specific needs.

Her Occupational Therapist helped Millie to improve her movement skills, play skills, and many other life skills to support overall child physical development.

Our Speech Pathology team worked with Millie to help improve her communication skills, language and speech skills; and an Act for Kids’ Psychologist worked with Millie to support her wellbeing, learning, social and emotional skills, as well as manage her behaviours.

Although her lack of communications skills and cognitive delays made treatment challenging at times –Millie has made significant advances in her healing. She has become more trusting of adults and is learning to co-regulate her emotions, has started to control simple movements and string short words together in sentences.

It is going to take some time for Millie to heal completely, and become school ready, but we are optimistic that with continued support, we can help Millie to heal from trauma.

Support children like Millie, by registering to raise funds this Giving Day.

About Act for Kids

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.