Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation

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Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation

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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.

20/10/2026

🎙️ Talking Kookaburra Kids on Mix FM Sunshine Coast.

Our CEO Seán O'Halloran recently joined Annabelle Brett and Mark Darin on MIX FM Breakfast to talk about the work of Kookaburra Kids and a very special collaboration that continues to make a difference for the young people we support.

For the past three years, Australia Zoo has supported Kookaburra Kids during Mental Health Month by providing three Activity Days each year for young people impacted by family mental illness.

These days give our young people the chance to explore the Zoo, get up close with some incredible animals and, most importantly, spend time with other young people who understand some of the experiences and challenges that can come with having a family member living with mental illness.

For Kookaburra Kids, experiences like these are about much more than a fun day out. They create opportunities to connect, build confidence, reduce feelings of isolation and support positive mental health and wellbeing.

A huge thank you to Australia Zoo for continuing to open its doors to our young people and for recognising the importance of connection and early support.

🎧 Hear more from Seán about Kookaburra Kids, why we do what we do and the impact of our work with Australia Zoo in the interview here. https://bit.ly/4dMpDjD

16/10/2026

This National Carers Week, we’re celebrating the incredible young carers in our communities, and the launch of something very special just for them.

Our first Connect and Grow Day Camp, delivered in partnership with Wellways, recently kicked off on Queensland’s Magnetic Island!

Connect and Grow supports young carers aged 8–18 who provide care to a family member living with mental illness, giving them opportunities to meet others who understand their experiences, build wellbeing skills and enjoy some time simply being a young person.

Our first group spent the day connecting, trying new experiences and taking a break from their everyday caring responsibilities, with stand-up paddleboarding a first for many and a definite highlight!

Our new Young Carer Chat Groups also gave young people a space to share, get to know one another and explore the strengths and interests that make them who they are outside of their caring role.

And an important message to take home – you are not alone.

Our next Connect & Grow Day Camp is scheduled to take place on 24 October at Stand Firm Adventures, Cairns.

For more information, please visit: https://kookaburrakids.org.au/whats-on/day-camp-at-stand-firm-adventures-cairns-qld/

15/10/2026

November is almost here, bringing another month of Camps, Activity Days and opportunities for young people to connect across Australia.

From new adventures and shared experiences to building friendships and practical mental health and wellbeing skills, there’s plenty happening, swipe through our November What’s On to find a program near you!

But first… there’s still time to join us in October! 👀

We still have places available at some fantastic upcoming programs:

🏕️ Pax Hill Scout Camp – near Ballarat, VIC | Defence Kids
📅 23–25 October
🚌 Supervised bus available from Watsonia

🐋 Whale Watching Cruise – Boat Harbour, WA | Core Kids
A special opportunity to get out on the water and experience WA’s incredible marine life.

🏕️ Wombaroo Camp – High Range/Southern Highlands, NSW | Defence Kids
📅 30 October – 1 November
🚌 Supervised buses available from Eastern Creek and Sydney Olympic Park

🌿 Young Carers Day Camp – YMCA Warrawee, QLD
📅 31 October
A day for young carers who support someone with a menal illness to connect, enjoy some time away from their caring responsibilities and meet others who understand their experiences.

Kookaburra Kids programs combine connection, shared experiences and age-appropriate mental health education, helping young people build confidence, friendships and practical skills to support their wellbeing.

👉 Check out the October programs still available, then swipe through to see what’s coming up this November!

🔗 https://kookaburrakids.org.au/whats-on/

14/10/2026

Creating opportunities for Defence families to connect, spend time together and build relationships within their local community is an important part of our Defence Family Events.

Our latest event at Ipswich Scouts in Brisbane brought families together for a day of archery, damper making and some very friendly rivalry between families!

It was also a great opportunity to welcome a number of families who were new to Kookaburra Kids. Throughout the day, they were able to learn more about our programs, meet our team and discover how we support young people from Defence and Veteran families.

These events are about more than a day out. They create welcoming spaces where Defence families can meet others with shared experiences, strengthen connections and become part of a supportive community.

Keep an eye on our What’s On page for upcoming Defence Family Events in your area, as well as Camps, Activity Days, Online CONNECT sessions and other Kookaburra Kids programs happening across Australia. https://kookaburrakids.org.au/whats-on/

We’re incredibly grateful to Veterans First Consulting for making this Defence Family Event possible and supporting opportunities that bring Defence families together.

09/10/2026

Vibrant, bubbly and always ready with the right words when a young person needs them, Maddi brings an incredible energy to Kookaburra Kids Camps.
And quite often, she brings the bubbles too! 🫧

For Maddi, bubbles can be much more than a bit of fun. They’re one of the simple techniques she uses to encourage young people to slow down, focus on their breathing and take a moment to reset when things might be feeling a little overwhelming.

You’ll also regularly find Maddi getting everyone outside for some yoga, mindfulness or another creative wellbeing activity. She loves finding different ways to keep young people engaged, make mental health education approachable and give them practical strategies they can use beyond Camp.

There’s certainly never a boring moment when Maddi is around! Whether she’s leading an activity, sharing a laugh or taking the time to talk with a young person who needs some extra support, she brings warmth, enthusiasm and genuine care to everything she does.

Most importantly, Maddi is incredibly passionate about the Kookaburra Kids mission and empowering young people impacted by family mental illness to thrive.

Throughout Mental Health Month, we’re shining a light on some of the incredible Mental Health Clinicians behind our programs and the important role they play in creating safe, supportive and empowering experiences for our young people.

Thank you, Maddi, for the energy, care and plenty of bubbles you bring to Kookaburra Kids!

Mental Health Australia

07/10/2026

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragic incident during a training exercise at Mount Bundey, and with the wider Defence community during this difficult time.

Events such as these can have a significant impact, not only on those directly involved, but on Defence members, veterans and their families.

If you or someone you know is in need of support, please reach out, there are a range of support services available:

📳 Defence Member and Family Helpline – 1800 624 608
📳 Open Arms – 1800 011 046
📳 Safe Zone Support (anonymous) – 1800 142 072
📳 Lifeline – 13 11 14
📳 Kids Helpline – 1800 551 800
📳 1800RESPECT – 1800 737 732
Defence Chaplains are also available via the Defence Switchboard: 1300 333 362

06/10/2026

Brisbane Defence and Veteran Families - don’t forget to register for our FREE Defence Families Event happening this Saturday!

Join Kookaburra Kids at Ipswich Scouts for a day where the whole family can have fun, meet other local Defence families and connect with the Kookaburra Kids community.

📅 Saturday 10 October
⏰ 10am–2:30pm
📍Ipswich Scouts

Your family will get the chance to:

✅ Test their skills in Archery
✅ Build and explore through pioneering
✅ Cook a delicious lunch together
✅Connect with other Defence families
✅ Learn about what we do at Kookaburra Kids and why
✅ Fun for all ages!

Best of all, the event is completely FREE for Defence and Veteran families with no referral needed to attend.

Learn more or register your family here:
https://kookaburrakids.org.au/whats-on/defence-family-event-at-ipswich-scouts/

30/09/2026

There’s so much more to a Kookaburra Kids Camp than a weekend away.

For our Defence Kids, it’s a chance to build their understanding of mental health, develop practical skills to support their own wellbeing and, importantly, connect with other young people who understand what it’s like to grow up in a Defence or Veteran family.

Our Defence Kids recently spent the weekend at Emu Gully Adventure Camp in Queensland, where each morning began with a Kookaburra Kids Chat Session. These sessions create a supportive space for young people to talk openly about mental health, ask questions and learn strategies they can take with them into everyday life.

The learning continued throughout the weekend, with muddy obstacle courses, team challenges and Defence-themed activities creating opportunities to build confidence, practise communication, work together and support one another. Of course, there was plenty of fun too, including a visit from Ernie the Emu and evenings spent together around the campfire.

These shared experiences are an important part of helping young people feel less alone in what they may be experiencing at home, while building the knowledge, confidence and connections that can support their mental health and wellbeing into the future.

Thank you to the Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affairs for supporting our Defence Kids Program and helping make weekends like this possible for young people from Defence and Veteran families.

To find out more about our Defence Kids program, please visit: https://kookaburrakids.org.au/defence-kids/

Address

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

Telephone

+61295257474

Website

http://kookaburrakids.org.au/

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