Over the weekend, our supporting partner, The George on Collins, hosted Gather to Give - a delectable evening of fine food and delicious cocktails for Very Special Kids. The event raised a staggering $140,000 for children and young people who have complex, life-limiting conditions, and their families.   The exclusive one-night only event featured fine dining, music, and a live prize auction, all to support Very Special Kids in providing the best practice holistic paediatric palliative care across Victoria.   Very Special...

Our Founder and Patron, Sister Margaret Noone AM, recently hosted a high tea to acknowledge and celebrate the Very Special Guardians who have made an everlasting impact through a gift in their Will.   Wills are a wonderful opportunity to take comfort in knowing that the people that matter to you the most, benefit from your life’s work exactly as you would wish. When you add a charity you care for, such as Very Special Kids, Wills are also an incredibly...

Grief and loss is an ongoing and complex experience, with no timeline or rule book to follow. Weekends like the Bereaved Parent Weekend, offer a safe and welcoming environment for bereaved parents to share memories of their children, feel joy and express sadness with others who understand and can validate their emotions.  Surrounded by nature and located in the secluded Hepburn Springs, the weekend was described by many as an emotional, heart-warming and confronting experience. One parent shared,  “We were...

After two years of onsite cancellation, the Very Special Kids 24 Hour Challenge returned in full glory on Friday 3 to Saturday 4 June. Nearly 1,000 participants stepped up to the challenge, raising vital funds for seriously-ill kids in 24-hour care while they keep their NovoFit treadmills in continuous motion for 24 hours. We are thrilled to announce we have raised over $660,000! Thank you to each and every participant, team captain and donor for their support. Your dedication and...

Very Special Kids volunteer, Libby, recently celebrated her 25-year milestone for volunteering with our organisation. In that time, she has supported many of our sibling programs, ensuring the brothers and sisters of the children in our care have fun, feel supported, included and heard.   Libby delivered a beautiful and moving speech to all our volunteers, offering everyone a chance to imagine and visualise what her first year as a volunteer was like.   Delivered in the Very Special Kids...

The Bayside Quilters have brought comfort and joy to many of the children and families supported by Very Special Kids. They have stitched together beautiful quilts, creating keepsakes families can cherish in memory of their child.   One Very Special Kids mum, Kirsty shares how this kind gesture provided comfort and warmth to her and her family.   “When Lily was born, we received so many beautiful clothes for her in all shapes and sizes. Our relatives also knitted some beautiful cardigans for...

On Friday, we held our fifth Autumn Classic to great success! We are thrilled to have raised over $185,000 - and climbing. Thanks to our generous community, we can continue to improve the quality of life for children and young people with life-limiting conditions and their families well into the future. Watch the video below to relive the action! After seven hard fought races, congratulations to InForm TMX MAKE, who took out the win and the much sought after perpetual cup, with...

A happy boy Lucas and his parents Mel and Felix Written by Mel and Felix, mum and dad to Lucas When thinking of Very Special Kids, the word related with it is "experience". There are several charities who helped us during this hard journey, but Very Special Kids is the only charity that gave us a lot of memories of Lucas. Belinda and Helena came to our house to provide music therapy almost every week, which is one of Lucas'...

Last night we had the chance to say thank you to many of our hardworking and dedicated volunteers at our Volunteer Appreciation Night.   Congratulations to all who received recognition awards, each of you have gone above and beyond and we are so grateful for the support you give to the children and families in our care. Special mention to Steven, who celebrated his 30-year milestone and is one of our longest serving volunteers.  Steven shares, “30 years...It does not seem...

Written by Very Special Kids volunteer, Laura  I became a volunteer with Very Special Kids as a way of becoming more involved in a community that was doing some good in the world.   I began my volunteering journey in the hospice and soon became involved with the adolescent program by attending the annual adolescent camp – a weekend long adventure camp, full of fun activities for the young people we support. This first experience opened my eyes to the space...