Juvenile Arthritis Foundation Australia

Kids Connect

Kids Connect

JAFA launched a digital interactive kids/teens platform in 2022 – KidsConnect. We are seeking funding to ensure that KidsConnect continues for the next 12 months and beyond. KidsConnect is an innovative, secure purpose-built online platform where 7-17 year olds with juvenile arthritis and childhood rheumatic diseases can meet and engage with their counterparts in a ...

GOAL

$15,000

Australia > National / Multi-state > Metro and Regional
07/01/2024 > 30/06/2025

Field of Interest

  • Health/wellbeing and medical research
  • Individual/family services and support

Target Population

  • People with a disability, illness or disease
  • Young people (6-25)
Juvenile Arthritis Foundation Australia Juvenile Arthritis Foundation Australia

The Juvenile Arthritis Foundation Australia (JAFA) is the primary organisation representing children with juvenile arthritis and their families in Australia. It was named Emerging Not-for-Profit (NFP) of the Year in the 2021 Third Sector Awards. It was founded in 2019 in response to the urgent need for a national voice dedicated exclusively to representing and addressing the needs of children and adolescents with arthritis and related rheumatic diseases (referred to collectively by JAFA as juvenile arthritis) and their families and carers.

JAFA is a fully registered national charity with DRG1 status.

JAFA’s primary aims are to:
- Raise awareness of juvenile arthritis among politicians and government, the education sector, the broader community and potential funders.
- Lobby governments to provide optimal and accessible health care and support for children and adolescents with juvenile arthritis.
- Influence and partner with funders to invest in research into the causes, treatment, care and possible cure for juvenile arthritis.

Project Summary

JAFA launched a digital interactive kids/teens platform in 2022 – KidsConnect. We are seeking funding to ensure that KidsConnect continues for the next 12 months and beyond.

KidsConnect is an innovative, secure purpose-built online platform where 7-17 year olds with juvenile arthritis and childhood rheumatic diseases can meet and engage with their counterparts in a safe digital space via age-appropriate chat and game resources (Minecraft and Discord) unhampered by distance or physical considerations. At the same time, building peer relationships to help them navigate geographic isolation, and/or the social marginalisation associated with school absences, illness and physical limitations that prevent participation in sport and the playground, dance classes and other like activities. KidsConnect provides a much-enjoyed mechanism bringing together children and adolescents with arthritis and rheumatic diseases in a friendly and inclusive environment.

Our community of children with juvenile arthritis are scattered around Australia, and some are located in regional and remote areas with little opportunity to interact with others with the same condition. KidsConnect may assist these young people by reducing their isolation, navigate issues relating to mental health, build social relationships and their self-esteem. They have the opportunity to engage with others of similar ages who can relate to having the same illness.

It costs JAFA around $50,000 per year to ensure KidsConnect is updated, secure, maintained, and monitored and facilitated by JAFA staff. We regularly enhance and build new content, promote it to new patients and make sure it is regulated to ensure a safe haven for these vulnerable children to engage.

We are looking for either annual funding or part funding to help us continue the program.

Project Outcomes

The key outcome for KidsConnect is to engage, connect and build a community of kids and young people with juvenile arthritis through an innovative safe digital environment where they can have fun, be themselves and interact.

We will be able to measure success by:
- Demonstrating growth in the community over the upcoming 12 months
- Hosting "hangout" events (approximately 8 pa) created by JAFA for the upcoming year
- Tracking attendance levels at the events
- Seeking feedback from parents (and through them the children) to understand the appeal and impact of being part of KidsConnect.

All these measures will be compared with the benchmark statistics gathered over the inaugural 12 months.

Budget Breakdown

TOTAL BUDGET: $43,000
FUNDING
Funding source Amount
Donations (unconfirmed) $10,000
Grants / In-kind Support (unconfirmed) $10,000
Volunteer Hours - Hangout Nights (confirmed) $6,000
ProBono Legal Advice (confirmed) $2,000
Funding gap (unconfirmed) $15,000
EXPENSES
Expense item Amount
Hours - technical/supervision/IT $17,000
Community Engagement/Sign ups $6,000
Comms/Onboarding $12,000
KidsConnect Hangout Nights $6,000
Legal advice/Security Support/Privacy Consultation $2,000

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Level 6, 126 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne VIC 3002

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