KidsWish
Events
Tailored events create free, uniquely accessible experiences for families to enjoy, with visits to local attractions and venues. Annual events include Discover Day at UOW’s Early Start Discovery Space, Magical Movie Events at Event Cinemas, Science Spectacular at UOW’s Science Space and of course the famous KidsWish Christmas Party held annually at Symbio Wildlife Park. These events have provided families with first-time experiences, creating life-long memories, building confidence, and providing safe opportunities to connect within the community.
Fundraising
KidsWish works to build ongoing partnerships with many businesses in NSW particularly in the Illawarra and South Coast region. Hosting fundraising events such as the annual Golf Day, KidsWish is also the beneficiary of partnered fundraising events such as The Illawarra Annual Brick Show, the Great Illawarra Walk and charity sporting matches featuring the Illawarra Hawks, Wollongong Roller Hawks, and Wollongong Wolves. All donations and fundraising initiatives go towards providing free events and programs for the children and their families to enjoy within a safe and supportive environment.
Programs
KidsWish hosts a selection of inclusive group programs to cater for a range of interests. The programs help assist in social, emotional, and physical development, whilst providing positive engagement opportunities within the community. Current programs include; Game On where children can play games and be social, Sports Academy which provides a sports based environment where kids can learn skills and be active, KidsRock a music program providing a fun space to learn and make music, KidsGroove dance based program, Siblings Program to ensure the siblings of children living with disability or illness are just as special, and Saturday Club providing weekend social outings and fun experiences.
Volunteering
KidsWish relies on the generosity of our community to continue to bring joy, laughter and special experiences to the children and families we support. We have a range of events that wouldn’t be possible without our volunteers, one being the annual Christmas party where we have over 200 volunteers assisting on the day for 2000 KidsWish children and families. To become a volunteer head to the KidsWish website to register.
My favourite KidsWish memory would be watching my boys be so happy and full of life. They truly get so much enjoyment out of the programs. I cannot thank KidsWish enough for how much fun my boys have, as well as the other children attending the programs.
Impact
We are committed to making a difference in the lives of children living with disability or illness and their families. We enjoy seeing and hearing the feedback that KidsWish programs and events have on our KidsWish kids and families.
KidsWish House
A fully accessible purpose-built service delivery facility where people with disability can access an extensive range of free services and programs. Nestled in the Flinders community, on the outskirts of Shellharbour City and central within the Illawarra region, KidsWish House provides a nurturing haven for local families with children living with disability or illness. This accessible shared space allows KidsWish families to attend programs and events in a safe, familiar, specially designed, multi-functional complex.
The facility includes; music room, indoor basketball court which can be transformed into a function or assembly space, fully functional kitchen, accessible parking, reception foyer, comfortable seating areas, accessible bathrooms including large change table, garden courtyard, elevator, outdoor BBQ area, office and therapy spaces, playrooms, large shared spaces and is fully equipped for music, sports, arts and social programs with lots of materials and equipment.
The Disability Trust offers day programs out of this facility as well as occasional Trusted Clinical Services. Noah’s Inclusion Services also utilise the therapy rooms at KidsWish House to provide additional children’s clinical services.
KidsWish House proudly stands as an inclusive and comprehensive disability support hub for the communities of Illawarra and the South Coast regions of NSW. KidsWish operates out of KidsWish House and actively pursues fundraising initiatives to ensure the ongoing ability to provide support to children and families living with disability or illness. Donate directly to KidsWish
