Variety – the Children's Charity Victoria, Port Melbourne, VIC

Variety, the Children’s Charity is dedicated to empowering Australian children who are sick, disadvantaged or have special needs to live, laugh and learn. Variety - the Children’s Charity is a national not-for-profit organisation committed to empowering Australian children who are sick, disadvantaged or have special needs to live, laugh and learn. By giving practical equipment, programs and experiences, Variety helps children in need to overcome whatever obstacles they face and live life to the fullest - simply put, we help kids be kids. Variety’s mission is to help these children attain their full potential regardless of ability or background. Variety’s work allows children to gain mobility and freedom, to get out and about in the community, be able to communicate, achieve independence and increase self-esteem, and where possible the assistance to help them be integrated into mainstream school and activities. Variety provides grants to individuals and organisations for a great number of items such as special wheelchairs, vocal output speech devices, prosthetic limbs, special play equipment, Liberty Swings, Sunshine Coaches and much more. Variety employs 52 full time staff around the country who are supported by over 5, 000 volunteers and committees running various events, functions, outings with children, investigation of appeals applications and more. Today, Variety Australia delivers over $1 million in individual and organisational equipment grants every month, filling the gaps often left by governments and other organisations. Variety is often an families last resort to secure equipment vital to their children’s wellbeing. Our work is serious although, Variety never forgets the importance of having fun! Our supporters, our sponsors, our volunteers and of course the special children that we help, would all testify that Variety succeeds in the mission to bring smiles to faces of a great number of special kids and those that are helping them.