Annual Report 2023-24

President & CEO Message

To the people we support and our partners, supporters, and stakeholders,

As we reflect on the past twelve months, it is with immense pride and gratitude that we present our 2024 annual report. The past year has been one of unprecedented change and achievement, marked by our successful merger, significant national growth, and the expansion of our services to vulnerable communities across Australia.

After 11 years of leading Kids First Australia our CEO Aileen Ashford announced that she would be leaving the organisation at the end of June 2024. Aileen can be proud of many achievements and successes over her tenure, including the establishment of our recognised Early Years Education Program - Kindergarten Model, based on Kids First’s groundbreaking trauma-informed research. We now operate 12 Early Years Child and Family Centres across Victoria, with more to come.

Over the last 12 months, Aileen led our merger with Whitelion and continued her many contributions across the child and family services sector. Her strong leadership and passion for social justice has created a solid foundation for Kids First to grow into the future. We thank Aileen for her commitment and passion
and wish her every success into the future. This year’s achievements are testament to the grit, determination, and future focus of our people. Our award-winning e-learning consent education platform To Future Me, a finalist in several prestigious design awards, and our highly successful Elevating Children’s Voices in Family Violence Services national conference, are just a few examples of how we continue to push boundaries in innovation and advocacy.

We have also strengthened our commitment to thought leadership by contributing to multiple government consultations, including those focussed on early childhood education, and addressing the most pressing challenges facing our young people.

As we look to the future, our newly developed Strategy 2028 will be the cornerstone of our growth. This strategy emphasises three core themes: talent, impact and growth. By cultivating a culture that empowers our people, centring the voices of those with lived experience, leveraging technology to enhance service delivery and expanding our national footprint, we are well positioned to lead the way in responding to the complex needs of vulnerable communities across Australia.

While we have achieved much, the journey has not been without its challenges. The operating environment for not-for-profits continues to evolve, with shifting government policies, economic uncertainty, and growing competition for both talent and funding all ever-present considerations. In the face of these pressures, we remain committed to adapting with agility, ensuring that our services not only survive but thrive in the years to come. This includes our response to significant changes in government policies, and our proactive engagement with media to shape public discourse on critical issues including the importance of consent education, impact of family violence, raising the age of criminal responsibility, and protection of children.

We wish to acknowledge the enormous contribution of our Board. They have worked tirelessly to strengthen our foundations, ensuring the journey of merging with Whitelion Youth was one we could embark on with confidence. After an exhaustive recruitment process, in September 2024 the Board announced the appointment of Nicole Artico as our Chief Executive Officer. We are incredibly fortunate to welcome Nicole, whose vision and passion for our cause will guide us through the next stages of our growth.

Thank you to our supporters, partners, and staff for your ongoing dedication to our mission. We look forward to continuing this journey together as we strive to improve the life trajectories of children, young people, and families from vulnerable communities across Australia.

OUR IMPACT

11,727

annual service users nationally

20,028

cases created through our NEMA Orange Door partnership

11,109

hours of sexual abuse counselling and prevention services provided

31,758

hours of family support services provided

1059

children enrolled across our 12 Early Years centres

317

incredible Kids First team members nationally

226,025

kilometres travelled across 126 Local Government Areas nationally to deliver our programs and services

2,720

young people supported across four states

Statement on our financial performance from our Treasurer, Davin Magee:

In 2023-24, Kids First has experienced strong, sustainable growth which has enabled the organisation to provide vital education, support and therapeutic services to more children, young people and families across Australia.

Overall revenue has increased 19.5% to $32.6 million, primarily through the addition of Whitelion’s impactful Youth Services programs across VIC, SA, WA and NSW, but also through solid growth across Kids First’s existing programs particularly in Early Years services.

Whilst government grants continue to be the largest contributor to overall revenue, funding from philanthropic organisations, trusts and industry partners has also grown this year by over 50%, enabling vital research and evaluation work to be completed that helps us to measure and assess the effectiveness and impact of our services.

With the merger of Whitelion into Kids First as well as continued healthy returns from our Investment Portfolio the balance sheet remains strong, with funds available to ensure ongoing business operations as well as enabling investment in strategic growth initiatives. The forecast for 2024-25 is also positive, with healthy and sustainable growth expected across the diverse portfolio of services.