Jacqui Louw's Contact Details

Jacqui Louw's Company Details

Koala Kids Foundation

Hawthorn, VIC, AU • 5 - 9 Employees
Non-Profit

Since 2005 Koala Kids has been providing exciting and valued programs and activities not offered by other charities to families with children with cancer. We have received generous donations and in kind support from benefactors who believe in what we do. Independent research in 2020* revealed that the families highly value what we offer. One of our respondents said, "You bring joy to kids' lives who are going through such a horrible illness. Those little gifts can make a child's treatment day easier to cope with and are a great distraction." Koala Kids vision is to touch every child and young person during cancer treatment in Victoria. Our mission is to provide small things that make a difference to children and young people during cancer treatment, their families and healthcare team. Small things such as LEGO and DUPLO, Koala Kids colour-in items like theatre gowns plus puzzles, books and craft kits. Therapeutic resources include novelty pill swallowing kits, Band-aids, naso-gastric tube tapes, and family support and engaging activities like pizza days and science and cooking sessions. We impact many paediatric wards across Melbourne and country Victoria and Tasmania and work with the Victorian Paediatric Integrated Cancer Service, a partnership between The Royal Children's Hospital, Monash Children's Hospital and the Peter McCallum Cancer Centre and nine major regional hospitals. Inside the hospitals children, parents, siblings and healthcare workers look forward to seeing our Koala Kids volunteers in their distinctive Koala Kids t-shirts visiting the wards with huge smiles on their faces and a trolley full of activities. These activities include toys, stationery, art resources, games plus small items that help kids endure their treatment and manage their pain such as squeeze shapes and our happy magnets that clip onto IV drip poles.