Thousands of children enter emergency accommodation annually as a result of unsafe surroundings, domestic/family violence, physical/emotional abuse and threats to personal safety. This trauma can often lead to children suffering from a multiplicity of health and wellbeing issues. They are more likely to have poor self-esteem and difficulty managing their emotions or trusting others. We ...
Alannah & Madeline Foundation
Buddy Bags Victoria 2026
GOAL
$20,000
Australia > VIC > Metro and Regional
Field of Interest
- Health/wellbeing and medical research
- Individual/family services and support
Target Population
- Early years (0-5)
Alannah & Madeline Foundation
On 28 April 1996, Alannah and Madeline Mikac, aged six and three, were tragically killed alongside their mother and 32 others at Port Arthur. One year later, the Alannah & Madeline Foundation was launched in the girls’ honour by their father Walter Mikac AM and a small group of volunteers, driven by the belief that all children and young people should be able to live a happy and safe life, free from violence and trauma.
From tragedy, vision. From tragedy, hope. From tragedy, strength.
Our mission continues today – from supporting children experiencing family violence to online bullying and fighting for the right of children to be everywhere. After 25 years, our fight continues. The challenges facing children and young people may have changed, but our mission has not.
We are a national not-for-profit organisation dedicated to keeping children and young people free from violence and trauma wherever they live, learn and play. Through our Care, Prevention and Advocacy programs, we fight for their right to be safe, so their future is strong.
We uphold the rights of children and young people to be safe.
The right to be safe at home, at play and at school. The right to be seen and heard, and valued. The right to go online without abuse. The right to go to sleep without fear. The right to heal. The right to grow.
Project Summary
Thousands of children enter emergency accommodation annually as a result of unsafe surroundings, domestic/family violence, physical/emotional abuse and threats to personal safety. This trauma can often lead to children suffering from a multiplicity of health and wellbeing issues. They are more likely to have poor self-esteem and difficulty managing their emotions or trusting others.
We provide Buddy Bags to these children when they enter emergency accommodation as a first step on their journey to safety and recovery. These bags help meet their immediate material and personal care needs and give them a sense of security and comfort, the re-establishment of which is important for emotional recovery.
Each Buddy Bag contains new, basic essentials including toothbrush/toothpaste, pyjamas, socks, underwear, a book, a trauma-informed toy and a teddy bear, thoughtfully packed by volunteers in a new backpack; simple, everyday items most of us take for granted.
For a child escaping with nothing but the clothes on their back, it provides reassurance, knowing someone was thinking of them.
In addition to the material items, Buddy Bags help provide a sense of security, reinforcing the child is cared for – a vital first step to recovery.
For parents, they alleviate the heartache of not being able to meet their child's basic needs.
For agency workers, Buddy Bags can be a starting point for critical conversations, helping to establish trusting relationships with vulnerable children.
No matter how much upheaval traumatised children experience, a Buddy Bag is something they can call their own everywhere they go.
Project Outcomes
A Buddy Bag is something tangible a child can call their own, showing people care for them; that they matter.
In 2025, almost 1,240 Buddy Bags were distributed in Victoria, including 79 specifically packaged for babies under the age of one.
The gift of a Buddy Bag provides the following benefits:
-material aid that provides immediate practical assistance;
-a distraction for the child (from their trauma and current situation) with the positive and heart-warming contents of the bags
-helps make the transition to emergency placements a little easier and more welcoming
-restores a sense of safety and security into child’s life during such a traumatic time – one of the first steps to recovery.
The impact of Buddy Bags is measured through feedback from women's refuges, child welfare agencies, and young recipients. These stories of change illustrate the tangible difference Buddy Bags make.
The main outcome of the program is the successful delivery of Buddy Bags to children in supported by emergency care and refuge agencies. We have an ongoing measurement and evaluation process including:
-Annual survey of receiver agencies
-Evaluation of external stakeholder/supplier relationships.
Specific to this initiative will be:
-Assessing that the Buddy Bags were packed to our specifications.
-Checking that all Buddy Bags were delivered to the selected sites in good order and in a timely manner.
-Maintaining strong partnerships with recipient agencies to encourage feedback about the nature and contents of the bags to assure their continuing value and relevance for children.
Budget Breakdown
TOTAL BUDGET: $204,260
FUNDING
| Funding source | Amount |
|---|---|
| Corporate supporters | $100,000 |
| Philanthropic supporters | $37,657 |
| Community fundraising | $33,165 |
| Funding gap | $20,000 |
EXPENSES
| Expense item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Buddy Bag materials | $36,283 |
| Buddy Bag freight | $11,234 |
| Buddy Bag staffing allocation | $32,946 |
| Buddy Bag warehousing costs | $76,660 |
| Internal Monitoring & Evaluation | $15,712 |
| Operations & Governance | $31,425 |
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