Central Coast

Young Bloods Program

Region - Hunter, Central Coast, Mid North Coast, Northern Rivers, Central West, New England

The Leukaemia Foundation has developed the ‘Young Bloods’ program aimed at providing professional support to address issues faced and enable young people to develop the resilience to stay, or get back, on track to enjoy life as they are meant to. Young Bloods is designed to meet the physical, psychological and educational impact of blood cancer on children and young adults who have been diagnosed with a blood cancer or who have close family members who have been diagnosed with a blood cancer. Young Bloods provides support in the form of financial grants paid to families for physical, psychosocial and educational support that is considered appropriate by their personal medical specialists. 

The Foundation will provide $65,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation to launch the Young Bloods program in the Foundations operating area in regional NSW including directly supporting up to 70 young people with, or recovering from, a serious cancer diagnosis.

Wigs for Kids

Region - Hunter, Central Coast, Mid North Coast, Northern Rivers, Central West, New England

Variety – the Children’s Charity, among its many amazing programs for sick and disadvantaged children, provides wigs to kids who have lost their hair due to Alopecia or another medical condition such as cancer. Losing your hair can have profound psychological effects, particularly through childhood and adolescence. One specialised can wig cost up to $5,000 and lasts two to three years so the cost is prohibitive for many families.  

The Foundation’s grant of $74,800 will help Variety launch the Wigs 4 Kids in regional NSW to provide wigs to children whose families are unable to afford the service themselves.

Preventative Health Education for Disadvantaged Children

Region - Hunter, Central Coast

Life Education NSW is the largest not-for-profit provider of preventative drug and health education in Australian schools. The Foundation will provide $77,000 to purchase a new truck to tow the five Mobile Learning Centres which bring the Life Education program to more than 146 schools with over 32,000 children throughout the Hunter and Centre Coast regions each year. 

The truck will help to ensure the future of the Life Education organisation in this area as they can deliver the mobile classroom to local schools safely and efficiently for many years to come.

Born to Live Program

Region - Central Coast

Two years ago, the Foundation provided a grant to enable Central Coast Kids in Need to establish the Born to Live program. Since then, the program has grown and established partnerships with health industry suppliers to assist disadvantaged families from the Central Coast with a seriously ill or injured child to purchase quality of life equipment and pharmacy expenses such as special medicated formulas and medicines. 

The Foundation is continuing its support with a grant of $44,000 to extend the support of the program to 100 additional families, and to help make the program self-sustaining.

NICVIEW Project - Installation of NICU web cams

Region - Hunter, Central Coast, Mid-North Coast, New England

John Hunter Children's Hospital Kids Club, as part of the United Hospital Auxiliaries of NSW, raises vital funds solely for the John Hunter Children's Hospital. 

With a grant of $186,428, the Kids Club will implement Australia’s first ever NICVIEW system which will connect remote families with their newborns while in the care of Northern NSW’s only Neonatal Intensive Care Unit which provides care for up to 1200 babies each year from across NSW, including some of our most rural and remote regions. 

The NICVIEW project will include installation of specialised web cameras on each of the NICU’s 42 beds with a live-feed accessible by baby’s family through a secure, password protected connection to any computer, tablet, phone or similar device. NICVIEW means that family, often separated due to work, school or care commitments, can connect and bond with the newest member of the family, no matter how far away they may be

TSC Connect online platform

Region - Hunter, Central Coast, Mid North Coast, Central West, New England, Northern Rivers

Established in 1970, The Shepherd Centre (TSC) was the first early intervention agency in Australia to teach Auditory-Oral Therapy to hearing impaired children. Since establishment, TSC has assisted nearly 2000 children who are deaf or hearing impaired to improve their quality of life.

The Charitable Foundation has provided a $106,700 grant to help build an online interactive portal for families in regional areas. The program will be deliverable on any internet connected device (computer, tablet, phone) and is designed to deliver virtual therapy solutions in a customised manner for each child and family, supporting and upskilling the parents so they can support their children in the most efficient way possible.

For more information on the important work of this community organisation please visit shepherdcentre.org.au

Early Intervention Equipment

Region - All regions

Cerebral Palsy Alliance has been providing services and support to people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities for over 70 years, assisting around 4000 babies, children and adults in NSW/ACT each year.

The Charitable Foundation has provided a $66,300 grant to purchase new equipment which will form an integral part of their Early Intervention Program. Funding has enable the organisation to purchase one whizzy bug and 2 baby treadmills for each of the centres based at Tuggerah, Croudace Bay and East Maitland.

Whizzy bugs are a fun, innovative and age appropriate powered wheelchair designed specifically for children under 5. This unique mobility aid enables children to experience a newfound freedom of movement, gain increased confidence and, being at eye level, allows them to more readily interact with their peers.

Baby treadmills are a ground breaking new treatment that can improve the quality of walking, improve gross motor function and reduce the age of independent walking in infants with mild to moderate cerebral palsy.

For more information on the important work of this community organisation please visit cerebralpalsy.org.au/

Increasing Capacity

Region - Central Coast

Coast Shelter’s vision is to end homelessness and domestic violence on the NSW Central Coast. They pursue this vision by advocating for and supporting those homeless or at risk of homelessness by the provision of education, early intervention, preventative programs and crisis and transitional housing.

The organisation also run the Coast Community Centre which provides meals and other assistance to clients experiencing homelessness or severe disadvantage. Each year the Community Centre serves approximately 50,000 meals and provides over 1,000 food hampers to disadvantaged community members.

The Charitable Foundation provided a $27,500 grant to enable the Centre to complete a freezer and coolroom extension to increase their fresh food storage, enabling them to meet higher demand for their services.

For more information on the important work of this community organisation please visit coastshelter.org.au

Rookie and Youth Leadership Development Program

Region - Central Coast

Surf Life Saving Central Coast (SLSCC) is responsible for the overall management, promotion and growth of surf lifesaving on the Central Coast. With 15 clubs, 9,111 members and over 75 years of operation, SLSCC enjoys a position as one of Australia's strongest branches.

The organisation has received a $32,600 grant to continue the Rookie Lifesaver program, supporting the skill and social development of nearly 500 junior lifesavers across 15 patrolled beaches. This year SLS CC will also introduce the Youth Leadership Program targeting 15-17 year old lifesavers who have qualities that can be developed to enhance their future as leaders within Surf Life Saving and their local communities.

The Charitable Foundation provided a $27,500 grant to enable the Centre to complete a freezer and coolroom extension to increase their fresh food storage, enabling them to meet higher demand for their services.

For more information on the important work of this community organisation please visit slscc.com.au

StrokeSafe Ambassador Program

Stroke is one of Australia's biggest killers and a leading cause of disability. The National Stroke Foundation works with stroke survivors, carers, health professionals, government and the public to reduce the impact of stroke on the Australian community. They are dedicated solely to working on all aspects of the stroke journey.

Many Australians are unaware of their personal risk factors for diseases such as stroke. The StrokeSafe Ambassador program is designed to educate the general public about what stroke is, how to prevent stroke, how to recognise the early warning signs of stroke and what to do if someone has a stroke, as well as to raise public awareness of the National Stroke Foundation, their programs and resources.

Thanks to a $20,000 grant from the Charitable Foundation, the National Stroke Foundation has been able to deliver this program to community members in the Hunter, Central Coast, Mid North Coast, Northern Rivers and Central West regions of NSW.