Kids First Australia – Because every child deserves a chance. Penny Lane
Kids First Australia - Who We Are
Kids First is a proudly independent child and family services provider and early education specialist. A purpose driven organisation, our vision is for all children and young people to thrive in resilient, strong and safe families and communities.
We pride ourselves on pioneering and delivering ground-breaking, evidence-informed programs to children, young people and families. Everything we do is underpinned by our guiding principle of ‘HEART’ – Hope, Empowerment, Accountability, Respect and Trust - the values which bind our culture, purpose and vision.
Over the years, Kids First has partnered with thousands of families to bring about change and healing, strengthen family relationships and set children up for the brighter futures they deserve.
What we do
In the universal setting of kindergartens, we pair early childhood development knowledge with our understanding of family dynamics to create the right conditions for thriving young learners. In settings like schools, we work directly with students to promote behaviours that exist in healthy relationships.
We reach out in our local community, engaging with families experiencing little bumps, and big ones, that impact their confidence as parents and their child's wellbeing. And we are there to work with children, young people and adults to assist their recovery from trauma.
Our History - 1896
Kids First was founded at a meeting at Government House.
On a Saturday morning in 1896, a group of Melbourne's most influential dignitaries and charity workers gathered at Government House with the intention of forming a group aimed at protecting children from cruelty and neglect.
Led by Lady Sybil de Vere Brassy, wife of the Governor of Victoria, this meeting resulted in the formation of the Victorian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (VSPCC).