KidsXpress

24/08/2026

What do we actually know about the mental health of Australia’s primary school children?

Not enough.

The National Mental Health Commission's new 2025 Report Card highlights a major gap: Australia’s national prevalence data for mental health disorders among children aged 4-17 was last updated in 2013-14.

A new national study is underway, with results expected in 2027, which is welcome. But that gap matters a lot, especially when the same Report Card cites research finding the peak age of onset across mental disorders is 14.5 years.

In other words, some of the years that matter most for early intervention are also the years we know least about at a national level.

Much of our work at KidsXpress happens in those years.

The next study will give us a much-needed update. We hope it becomes a regular national picture, not another once-a-decade snapshot.

The National Report Card is Australia’s key mechanism for monitoring mental health system performance. It brings together evidence on mental health outcomes, the factors that shape wellbeing, and the services that support people experiencing mental health challenges.

23/08/2026

A simple way to support KidsXpress this month:

🎟 Buy a $2 ticket
💛 Support children’s mental health
🎁 Be in the running for some incredible prizes

If you’ve been meaning to get involved, this is an easy place to start: https://buff.ly/vjMXL3o

19/08/2026

This Thank You Thursday, we’re giving a big shout-out to the incredible runners who have signed up to take on Beach2Beach and fundraise for KidsXpress!

Every kilometre you run and every dollar you raise helps KidsXpress provide specialist mental health support to children impacted by trauma and adversity.

We’re so grateful that you’ve chosen to make your run count for KidsXpress, and we’ll be cheering you on all the way to the finish line! 🙌

There’s still time to get involved. If you’d like to join Team KidsXpress, sign up for Beach2Beach, choose KidsXpress as your charity and start your own fundraising journey.

🔗https://buff.ly/a8PcgI6

17/08/2026

Bullying doesn't always end when the bullying stops. Even if the incident gets resolved, what a child is left carrying often doesn't. It can change how safe they feel in their body, in their classroom, in their friendships, and in themselves.

While bullying isn't always the reason written on a child's referral to KidsXpress, it does often turn up in the therapy room: in feeling excluded, ashamed, anxious, angry, withdrawn, or unsure who to trust.

For some children, bullying is experienced as trauma, with research linking bullying victimisation to post-traumatic stress symptoms. The effects can continue well beyond childhood.

Bullying No Way Week is a national initiative for bullying prevention in Australian schools. This year's theme, 'Small Acts, Big Impact', is a reminder that children notice the small things. Being included. Being believed. Being checked on. Being protected. Being given a safe way to say what happened.

Stopping bullying matters.

So does staying with the child afterwards.

Bullying No Way has resources for teachers and students on understanding, preventing and responding to bullying: https://www.bullyingnoway.gov.au/resources/

16/08/2026

🎵 20 songs for 20 years: Part 2

We’re continuing the stories behind our 20 Songs for 20 Years playlist, chosen by KidsXpress staff and Board members to mark our 20th year. Here are five more songs, and why they matter to the people who chose them.

Margo chose Angel by Sarah McLachlan:
“A child I worked with many years ago asked me to make sure this song was played at her funeral, and to remember her whenever I heard it. I still do.”

Liz chose Landslide by Fleetwood Mac:
“For me, it’s about the challenge of reaching a crossroads: do you let go, or keep pursuing your dream?”

Laura chose Count on Me by Bruno Mars:
“It’s about connection and support, but it also has a good-mood vibe.”

Jemini chose I Believe by Yolanda Adams:
“It comes from one of my favourite movies from my mid-teens, Honey. I loved that the character kept going even when life was difficult. For me, the song is about hope, resilience and believing in yourself. It reminds me that positive change is possible, and that growth often comes through adversity.”

Sofia chose Hold On (Change Is Comin’) by Sounds of Blackness:
“I love dancing to this song. It gives me a sense of hope and community when I feel helpless. It’s also a reminder that, even when we don’t always see the impact of our work, we can choose to hold onto hope.”

🎧 Listen to the full 20 Songs for 20 Years playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1QxgOUEWq18clV9lzkwZn2?si=e9528ee3561a43d8

14/08/2026

We're Hiring: Communications & Content Coordinator

KidsXpress is looking for a creative and motivated Communications & Content Coordinator to help bring our stories, impact and purpose to life.

If you’re a skilled communicator with a passion for creating engaging content and making a difference, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now or get in touch to learn more. https://buff.ly/IqLJRxv

13/08/2026

To celebrate 20 years of KidsXpress, we recently asked our staff and Board to share a song they love, and why it matters to them.

Das chose 'Fix You' by Coldplay after hearing it differently when he became a parent: “I can’t take away the pain he’ll inevitably experience, but I’ll stay with him through it.”

Rana chose 'Happy' by Pharrell Williams because it takes her back to dancing around the kitchen with her two sons, singing loudly and double-clapping out of time. “It's pure shared joy and love.”

Maddi chose 'Letting Go' by Angie McMahon. She and her son sing it together every day, and its message about being allowed to make mistakes has become a little reminder that mistakes are simply part of living.

Evelyn chose 'Imagine' by John Lennon: “Every time I hear it, I get goosebumps. For me, it’s hope, resilience and connection in a single song.”

Head to Spotify to listen to our full '20 Songs for 20 Years' playlist.

More stories behind the songs coming soon.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1QxgOUEWq18clV9lzkwZn2?si=c03aba7b9cdb45d5

12/08/2026

This Thank You Thursday, we’re adding a splash of colour as we thank Kaisercraft North Rocks for generously donating 12 tubes of Kaisercolour paint in colours of our choice.

Creative expression plays an important role in the therapeutic work we do with children, giving them another way to explore and express thoughts, feelings and experiences that can sometimes be difficult to put into words.

These paints will be put to wonderful use at our KidsXpress Centre in Macquarie Park, as well as in our therapy programs delivered in local schools across Granville and Merrylands.

In-kind donations like this make a meaningful difference. By providing goods or resources, organisations can help reduce our costs and ensure more of our funding can go directly towards supporting children and families.

If you or your organisation are in a position to donate goods or services in-kind, we’d love to hear from you.

Thank you, Kaisercraft, for supporting our work and helping us bring a little more colour and creativity into the lives of the children we support.

05/08/2026

This week, we're sending a heartfelt thank you to Snowy Hydro for their generous $7,500 grant, helping more children and families in the Snowy Valleys access specialist mental health support close to home.

Their support enables KidsXpress to deliver expressive therapy through our Tumut centre, providing children impacted by trauma and adversity with the support they need to express themselves, build confidence and resilience, and navigate life's challenges.

Partnerships like this are vital in helping us reach regional communities, ensuring children and families can access access specialist mental health support without having to travel far from home.

Thank you, Snowy Hydro, for your commitment to the wellbeing of local children and for helping create stronger, more connected communities.

03/08/2026

There is still time to join the iconic Beach2Beach Running Festival, and support KidsXpress!

Register before 10 August to take advantage of discounted entry.

Whether you're chasing a personal best, running with friends, or enjoying one of Sydney's most spectacular coastal courses, every step can make a difference.

When you register, simply choose KidsXpress as your charity of choice and help raise vital funds so more children impacted by trauma and adversity can access the therapeutic support they need.

Discounted registration ends 10 August.

Don't miss out, sign up today and start your fundraising journey!

🔗 https://buff.ly/7Y6Yh5a