Defence Kids Activities

Program for Serving and ex-Serving Australian Defence Force Families

The program dedicated to supporting the unique needs of children from serving and ex-serving ADF families has been made possible by the Australian Government.

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs is providing $2.1 million over two years to the Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation to develop and deliver the pilot program which will provide respite camps, activity days and age-appropriate mental health education focusing on coping skills and resilience, while allowing children to bond with peers who are facing similar challenges.

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Who is Eligible

Children, aged 8 – 18 years, who have a parent with a mental illness as a result of their military service.

Where is the program available

Programs are available for all eligible young people aged 8-18 in ACT, NSW, NT and QLD. In NT the program is only available for ADF families.

For NSW the programs are most accessible for all areas in the Sydney basin and extending at far as Nowra/ Blue Mountains and Newcastle.

ACT covers all ACT areas and encompasses southern NSW areas currently as far as Cooma and Bega.

QLD is based around Brisbane and encompasses the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.

NT is based in Darwin.

The Defence program replicates the good work of our Kookaburra Camp with enhancements where necessary to support the unique needs of the serving and ex-serving Defence community.