Supporting Families

  • National Community Housing Awards High Commendation for Excellence
  • Certificate of Merit, National Crime and Violence Prevention Awards
  • Queensland winner, National Volunteer Management Awards
  • Finalist, Givewell National Charity Awards
  • Finalist in Westpac Community Idol

SunnyKids provides 30,000 nights of emergency accommodation for women and children across Queensland
and Victoria per year, 75 per cent of which is provided to children. Whilst Government subsidies are primarily directed towards supporting the women in our services, children specific supports must be funded through donations and fundraising.

Key Objectives

  • To support women and children escaping family violence
  • To break intergenerational cycles of homelessness

Strengths

  • Delivering innovative supports to kids and families through family violence prevention services,
    learning clubs, play groups, food safety and nutrition education programs, volunteer programs and more



Supporting Young People

Winner of the Suicide Prevention Australia Life Award for ‘Most Outstanding Youth Suicide
Prevention’. SunnyKids’ Head High Program provides support for young people bereaved by
suicide and links mentors with young people who are at-risk.
The program also empowers communities to be responsive and equipped to support young people
who have been bereaved by suicide or are at-risk of suicide, taking into consideration mindfulness
and appreciative care in all aspects of its approach.

STRENGTHS

  • Reducing the number of attempts and completed suicides by young people
  • Lowering risk by offering appropriate support to young people and those caring for young
    people

ACTIVITIES

In partnership with CAPS (Community Action for the Prevention of Suicide) we provide Professional
Development and training in youth suicide prevention including:

One-on-one support through the Head High mentor program

  • Regional Camps Program
  • Support groups for young people bereaved by suicide



Supporting Children

A National Crime and Violence Prevention Award Winner and Schools First National Best Practice
in School and Community Partnerships Winner, SCIPS (Supporting Children in Primary Schools),
provides the support at-risk families need to build resilience and hope.

The process offers the services needed to support children facing significant barriers to their education.

Strengths

  • SCIPS is a highly efficient Program and can be replicated easily in almost any community
  • SCIPS removes the time burden from school personnel and support services alike
  • School personnel are able to focus more on teaching and less on being part-time support workers

Outcomes to date

  • Over 50 per cent of children referred to SCIPS for absenteeism became regualr school attendees
  • Bringing hundreds of families and support services together effectively
  • Responding to any social or emotional issue faced by children
  • Measurable improvement in 90 per cent of referrals