Kids Fund is a project of the Disability Trust providing essential aids and equipment to children with a disability in the Illawarra.

Kids Fund provides assistance to families of children with disabilities in the purchase of essential aids and appliances. The fund is generated entirely through community and corporate donations and is managed by The Disability Trust

Who can access Kids Fund?

Kids Fund provides aids and equipment to children with a significant intellectual or physical disability who live in or attend school in the Wollongong, Shellharbour or Kiama local government areas. To be eligible children must be aged 18 years and under and still attending school at the time of application.

What can be provided?

Kids Fund provides aids and equipment essential to the ongoing health and well being or quality of life of a child with a disability and/or their family. The fund provides significant cost items (over $200) only that have been identified as appropriate to the child's needs by a suitably qualified professional. Consumable items such as nappies and feeding bags are not funded and the program does not support or reimburse costs of service delivery such as therapy services.

Kids Fund only provides assistance to families or individuals not eligible for funding through other sources. Evidence of other applications may be required. Families are usually asked to contribute the first $100 per year towards equipment purchases irrespective of the number of items approved.

How are applications prioritised?

Applications from families are prioritised on the basis of relative need. The committee considers both therapeutic need (benefit to child) and financial need (familiy's capacity to purchase independently) in making a determination. In light of limited funds being available, the committee may also consider the value of previous allocations made to a family through Kids Fund. Applications for part funding will be considered.

The following items are considered high priority: