Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation

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Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation Kookaburra Kids supports young people impacted by family mental illness by providing evidence-based,

Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation is a not for profit organisation and registered charity. Fully self funded, the program relies on the generosity of corporate, community and individual donations.

International Men’s Health Week | 15-21 June 2026 Empowering Boys and Men to Prioritise Their Mental HealthAt Kookaburr...
15/06/2026

International Men’s Health Week | 15-21 June 2026
Empowering Boys and Men to Prioritise Their Mental Health

At Kookaburra Kids, we understand how important it is to support boys and young men as they grow, especially when it comes to mental health.

Sadly, stigma still surrounds men’s mental health, and many continue to suffer in silence. Recent statistics show that 40% of men don’t talk about their mental health with friends or family. While awareness is growing, there’s still more work to do to create safe spaces for honest conversations.

This year’s Men’s Health Week is a timely reminder of how small changes can make a big difference. Supporting good health doesn’t have to be complicated, it can start with:

Regular movement
Nourishing food
Managing stress
Prioritising sleep
Avoiding harmful habits
Seeing your GP

Through our programs, Kookaburra Kids encourages young people, including boys and young men from families impacted by mental illness, to talk about how they’re feeling, build healthy habits, and support one another.

Together, we can help break the stigma, start early, and support the next generation to grow into mentally strong, confident, and healthy adults.

To find out more about how our programs can help, visit our website: https://kookaburrakids.org.au/

Help fund a month of connection for young people impacted by family mental illness.By 21 June, we're aiming to raise $6,...
13/06/2026

Help fund a month of connection for young people impacted by family mental illness.

By 21 June, we're aiming to raise $6,000 to fund one full month of Kookaburra Kids Connect sessions.

For a young person who feels alone, one Connect session can make a difference. A month of sessions provides ongoing opportunities to build friendships, learn about mental health and connect with peers who understand what life can feel like at home.

As Kookaburra Kids mum Jen shares:

"I believe it's a necessity... we're extremely grateful to all the supporters."

Every gift helps keep young people connected to support, wherever they live.

Donate $250 or more before 21 June and we'll send you a complimentary Kookaburra Kids travel mug as a thank you for helping make a month of connection possible.

Donate today and help more young people feel connected, supported and understood. https://kookaburrakids.org.au/2026-eofy/

Some camps leave a lasting impression, and Outward Bound in the ACT is one of them. With a mix of adventure, teamwork an...
11/06/2026

Some camps leave a lasting impression, and Outward Bound in the ACT is one of them.

With a mix of adventure, teamwork and meaningful conversations, it’s easy to see why this camp continues to be a highlight for many young people impacted by family mental illness.

From bush exploration and hut building to crate climbing and butter churning, every activity offered opportunities for learning.
What made this camp particularly special was seeing young people step into leadership roles. One of our older participants, now 17, helped lead parts of the boys' chat group discussions alongside our leaders, resulting in strong engagement and positive feedback from the group.

The girls' chat groups were equally powerful, with young people creating a supportive space where everyone felt comfortable sharing and encouraging one another. Their conversations were so engaged that one session ran an extra half hour, with the group keen to learn more about seeking support by exploring the Kids Helpline online text messaging service together.

This was all made possible through our partnership with the Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affairs, helping to support the unique needs of young people from Defence and veteran families. https://kookaburrakids.org.au/defence-kids/

Fresh air, muddy shoes and meaningful connection 🌱Thanks to the support of the Bupa Foundation through our Regenerate Pr...
03/06/2026

Fresh air, muddy shoes and meaningful connection 🌱

Thanks to the support of the Bupa Foundation through our Regenerate Program, young people at Camp Wombaroo in South West Sydney had the opportunity to reconnect with nature while building their mental health skills, confidence and friendships.

Through activities like raft building, canoeing and team challenges, young people experienced the wellbeing benefits of spending time outdoors. Environmental learning was woven throughout the camp alongside mental health education, helping young people explore the connection between caring for the environment and caring for themselves.

We're very grateful to the Bupa Foundation for helping make these experiences possible and supporting young people impacted by family mental illness to thrive through connection with nature.

To learn more about our Regenerate program, please visit: https://kookaburrakids.org.au/regenerate/

01/06/2026

A gift of $250 can help provide a young person with access to Kookaburra Kids Connect for an entire year.

For Kiah, Connect has become much more than an online program. It's a place where she can stay connected to friends who understand, keep learning about mental health, and feel supported between camps and activity days.

In this video, Kiah and her mum Jen share how Connect has helped provide connection, confidence and a sense of belonging during some incredibly challenging times.

While we can't run camps and activity days everywhere, every weekend, Connect helps ensure young people can access ongoing mental health education and peer support wherever they live.

Thank you to Kiah and Jen for sharing their story, and to Pure Production Melbourne for generously donating their time and expertise to create this beautiful video.

Donate today to help more young people stay connected to support. https://kookaburrakids.org.au/2026-eofy/

A message from Kookaburra Kids CEO, Seán O’Halloran.We are pleased to share that funding for the Defence Kids program ha...
29/05/2026

A message from Kookaburra Kids CEO, Seán O’Halloran.

We are pleased to share that funding for the Defence Kids program has been extended, ensuring children and young people from Defence and veteran families can continue accessing the support they need.

For more than a decade, Kookaburra Kids has worked alongside Defence and veteran communities, delivering evidence-informed mental health education and peer connection programs designed specifically for young people navigating the unique challenges of Defence life.

We would like to sincerely thank the Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affairs and Matt Keogh for their ongoing commitment to the wellbeing of Defence and veteran families. Their support ensures young people can continue accessing programs that help them feel connected, understood and supported.

The impact of Defence Kids is perhaps best captured by the families themselves:

"The camps and hangouts give our kids something to look forward to and a place to connect with others who understand what Defence life is like."
— Defence Kids Parent

"Kookaburra Kids brings so much joy and learning and understanding and a sense of belonging to these kids. It’s made such a difference to my son and his understanding and relationship with Dad."
— Defence Kids Parent

We are also looking forward to working closely with the Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency as it begins its important work supporting Defence and veteran communities across Australia.

Thank you to the families, volunteers, referral partners, stakeholders and supporters who have helped make Defence Kids what it is today. Together, we can continue ensuring no Defence child feels alone in their experiences.

Recently, we kicked off our very first Young Carers Create and Connect session at the Cairns Carers Hub.Following our mo...
26/05/2026

Recently, we kicked off our very first Young Carers Create and Connect session at the Cairns Carers Hub.

Following our most recent Cairns Young Carers Camp, we’re currently running a 4-week trial to give young carers impacted ny family mental illness the chance to reconnect, relax and spend time with people who understand their experiences.

After school, the space came alive with:
🎨 Arts and crafts
🎮 Board games and Nintendo Switch
📚 Reading and quiet spaces
🧸 A sensory room with calming tools and fidgets
💬 Plenty of time to chat, connect and just be kids
🍎 Light refreshments to enjoy together

The sessions also give young carers the opportunity to learn more about Wellways Carer Gateway services and connect with a coaching facilitator to explore additional support available to them.

With support from Wellways and our amazing Kookaburra Kids staff and volunteers, the afternoon created a safe, welcoming and relaxed environment for everyone involved.

To find out more about our young carers program, please visit: https://kookaburrakids.org.au/young-carers/

At just eight years old, Kiah had already learnt to put everyone else first.Living in temporary accommodation due to fam...
22/05/2026

At just eight years old, Kiah had already learnt to put everyone else first.

Living in temporary accommodation due to family violence and supporting a mum experiencing PTSD, she became the quiet one. The one always trying to hold things together. The one making sure her little sister was okay.

At school, things felt hard to explain. She started to withdraw. Friendships became harder. And little by little, she stopped feeling like a kid.

Then she found Kookaburra Kids. 💛

For the first time in a long time, Kiah had a place where she didn’t need to carry so much. A place where she could meet other young people who understood. A place where she could laugh, play, learn about mental health and simply be herself.

Slowly but surely, Kiah began to shine again. Today, Kookaburra Kids has given her connection, confidence, friendships and hope, not just for herself, but for her little sister too.

Every donation helps make stories like Kiah’s possible.

If you have capacity, a $250 tax-deductible donation can help provide a young person with access to a year of Kookaburra Kids Connect sessions, helping them stay connected to mental health education and peer support no matter where they live.

Together, we can help more young people feel understood, supported and never alone.

💛Learn more about Kiah or donate today! https://kookaburrakids.org.au/2026-eofy/

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Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00
Thursday 09:00 - 17:00
Friday 09:00 - 17:00

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+61295257474

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