Goodstarters across the country are committed to supporting projects, charities and initiatives in every community we are a part of.
We work to make a difference to thousands of children and their families every single day of the week, but we’re always looking to do more.
Throughout 2022, Goodstart centres supported more than 50 charities and causes close to their hearts, and a snapshot of some of these initiatives.
Early Learning Fund
A cause close to our hearts at Goodstart, is ensuring no child misses out on vital early learning due to their life circumstances. Last year, more than $240K was raised by Goodstarters for the Early Learning Fund through our workplace giving program, Giving@Goodstart. The Early Learning Fund gifts two days of fee-relief for one to two years (in the two years before school), to children experiencing vulnerability – removing cost as a barrier to their participation. The Early Learning Fund supports children to attend not for profit Goodstart or Uniting centres (NSW/ACT) early learning centres. Read more.
First Nations led Campaigns
83 Goodstart centres raised $6K for Children’s Ground ‘Wear It Yellow’ day during National Reconciliation Week and a further $4K was raised for First Nations Homelessness Project by our WA centres and centre support team. Hundreds of Goodstarters pledged their support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart and took another step during National Reconciliation Week to write their local MP.
NSW Floods — support for the Bundjalung Nation
$100K+ worth of goods were donated to the local community, including up to seven Aboriginal owned and run early learning providers or providers with a high proportion of First Nations children.
Our work has been made possible by Goodstarter donations and working in partnership with Good360 and our suppliers Kimberly-Clark and Modern Teaching Aids. Goodstart is working to ensure we can support the community wherever needed over the medium to long-term.
National Pyjama Day
Many Goodstart centres got behind this very important cause which is all about wearing your favourite pyjamas to help raise funds and awareness for children in foster care or also referred to as children from in out-of-home care. Supporting this cause is personal to Goodstarters – with Goodstart centres and our incredible educators and teachers supporting children every day, who live in foster care, so it’s clear why this is a cause close to our hearts. More than $1.9K was raised for the Pyjama Foundation.
Goodstart Wulagi and Roxie
The team at Goodstart Wulagi, NT, went above and beyond to support one their families. When one of the preschool children Roxie was diagnosed with Lymphoma her family relocated to Adelaide to receive treatment. Goodstart Wulagi and Wulagi Preschool have fundraised in excess of $8,000 to support her family.
Vinnies Australia Donations
Goodstart continues to show their support the Vinnies Christmas appeal, year after year. Goodstarters at Goodstart’s centre support office in Brisbane, generously dug deep donating hundreds of toys and other goods and food, to the Vinnies Australia Christmas Appeal that made a difference in the lives of many this past festive season. Once again, the volunteers from Vinnies were humbled by Goodstarter support.
Goodstart centre spotlights over 2022:
“Celebrating B105 Brisbane (radio station) Heroes4Heros day! Raising money for the SES and creating care packages with letters and drawings from children to say thank you.” Goodstart McDowell, Qld
“We identified a great need to support some of our families with everyday struggles like feeding their families. We started a pantry and sourced support of a local charity group “secondbite” allowing us to go into Coles on a weekly basis and collecting bakery items for families in great need.” Goodstart Huntingdale, NSW
“Our neighbouring Goodstart centres rallied with us to collect items from our teams and families and in partnership with Hope in a Suitcase, we put together suitcases for local agencies to collect for children in out-of-home care.” Goodstart Hoppers Crossing Heaths Road, Vic