Youth Mergers Latest News

Kids First Australia expands to support at-risk children and youth

Menchie Khairuddin December 5, 2023

< 1 min read

Kids First Australia (KFA) and Whitelion Youth Services have today formally completed their legal merger, creating a national organisation operating as KFS, that aims to improve the life trajectories of children and young people up to the age of 24.

The merger expands Kids First Australia’s footprint further across Victoria and into New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia. KFA will continue to deliver the programs that Whitelion has become known for, as well as continue to seek to collectively impact and influence systemic challenges through the broad range of services and support they deliver.

By embedding its diverse client voices in service scoping, design and delivery, KFA will focus on three areas:

Education: early childhood and educational support;
Support for children, youth and families: family coaching, mentoring for young people, case management, group work, employment pathways and vocational support; and
Therapeutic: prevention programs, counselling and recovery.

“Over the last year, we’ve come to know more about Whitelion’s wonderful Directors, staff, volunteers and their evidence-formed programs,” said Kids First Australia Chair Sandy Forbes.

“I am very excited about what we can achieve as we integrate our combined knowledge and skills to create a better future for children and young people, and their families nationally.”

Kids First Australia CEO Aileen Ashford highlighted that the demand for support and services for at-risk children, families and highly vulnerable young people is increasing with over 9,000 clients providing services in 2022-23 compared to the previous year.

“Our goal is for all young people to have every opportunity to be active citizens with equitable access to support they need to reach their potential.”

Menchie Khairuddin

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Menchie Khairuddin is a writer Deputy Content Manager at Akolade and content producer for Third Sector News. She is passionate about social affairs specifically in mixed, multicultural heritage and not-for-profit organisations.