Our Kids is a Northern Rivers charity raising money for Children's Wards, Special Care Nurseries, Women's Care Units. It focuses on kids with special medical needs, enabling them to receive specialist medical care closer to home.
Our Kids also administers an annual Community Grants program through the Richmond Valley Children's Health Foundation. Grants are available to children's health services within hospitals and community health organisations, to health professionals, special groups for chronically ill children, together with parents and guardians of children who live within the Northern Rivers.
Our Kids provides governance over the Dorothy Edwards Trust Fund which awards an annual 'Midwife of the Year' Award and Continual Education Scholarships for midwives.
In 2017, Our Kids also established the Our Kids Paediatric Education Fund to provide financial assistance to nursing and allied health staff who work in the Paediatric field throughout hospitals in Northern NSW. This supports their continuing professional development and enhances their clinical skills ensuring they are up-to-date in their knowledge and the latest research.
Our Kids is self-funded through community donations and operates under the patronage of the Northern NSW Local Health District via a Special Purpose Trust arrangement.
"Our Kids", was previously known as the Northern Rivers Children's Health Fund. It was established in 2001 by Dr Chris Ingall, a local Paediatrician.
The Board is the group's governing body, and members include a Paediatrician, representatives from the Northern NSW Local Health District, and the community.
Each month the Board meet to discuss the distribution of funds and new requests for financial support.
The Board members are
- Suzette Pearce (Chair)
- Rebekka Battista (Fundraising Coordinator)
- Kevin Carter
- Damian Chapelle
- Luke Hoolihan
- Chris Ingall
- Tanya Jones
- Tania Kirkland
- Sean Radburn
- James Ross
Our Kids also have Patrons who help spread the word and encourage the community to be involved with Our Kids. The Our Kids Patrons are Thomas George MP, Belinda Kirkwood and Annie Curtin.