About Act for Kids

What We Stand For

Our Purpose

We help keep kids safe, heal from trauma, and lead happy lives.

Our Vision

All kids have a safe and happy childhood.

Our Values

We are a professional, ethical team who is caring, courageous and collaborative.

Act for Kids is an Australian charity providing free therapy and support services to children and families who have experienced, or are at risk of child abuse and neglect. We have helped thousands of children and families for over 30 years. Act for Kids operates over 28 centres with a team of over 430 staff from Adelaide all the way up to the Cape York Peninsula. Our services have expanded to include integrated therapy, support for vulnerable families, special workshops to empower kids and safe houses in remote Aboriginal communities.

Our Story

March 1988

Health professionals and the legal fraternity, establish the Abused Child Trust and launch a public campaign to fund a treatment and rehabilitation centre in Brisbane.

1989

On 20 June a child abuse treatment centre is opened at Wooloowin in premises provided by the Queensland
Government. By the end of the year the centre has treated more than 140 abused and neglected kids.

1995

The Trust holds seminars for foster parents in Maryborough, Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns. In 1997 a part time counselling service is established for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders at Koolyangarra. The Trust wins the Albert & Rose Hingeley Service of Excellence Award for Childrens Services.

1999

A treatment centre is established on the Gold Coast, and a part time outreach service is provided for Redcliffe and districts. In 2002 a treatment centre is opened in Townsville. The Trust is Highly Commended in the Excellence Category for Services by the National Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse.

2006-2007

A treatment centre is opened in Cairns, along with a second centre on the Gold Coast. The Platinum Class Lottery, a major fundraising initiative, is launched.

2008

The Trust is renamed ACT for Kids. A centre is established in Weipa, Cape York, and a protective behaviours program is delivered to Year 1 children in primary schools on the Gold Coast.

2009-2010

ACT for Kids begins its SafeKIDS program, opening Safe Houses in Napranum, Doomadgee, Pormpuraaw, Aurukun and Kowanyama. Dr Neil Carrington is appointed CEO in August 2010.

2013-2015

The charity is rebranded Act for Kids and opens centres in Gympie, Maryborough, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Roma, and Adelaide. A Child and Family Centre of Excellence opens in Townsville. Act for Kids launches a social enterprise called Youthrive. SafeKIDS program wins the 2015 Queensland Reconciliation Award – Community category.

2016

An integrated therapy centre is opened in Blacktown and an Early Education Program is launched in Cairns. Act for Kids now helps over 15,000 kids and families every year through 22 centres across Australia. The Learn to be safe with Emmy and friends protective behaviours program has been delivered to over 10,000 kids, with funding received from the Vita Foundation to reach 3,000 more kids in the coming year.

2017

Act for Kids opens centres in Rockhampton and Upper Coomera.

2018

Act for Kids has been healing little hearts for 30 years. We opened the doors to our first Victorian centre, delivering our Integrated Therapy Service to children and families in and around Broadmeadows in Melbourne’s north. Key players in the Victorian property industry Lendlease and the Property Industry Foundation (PIF) came together to facilitate a $300,000 refurbishment on the Victorian centre.

2019

Act for Kids wins Gold in the 2019 Human Resource Director (HRD) Employer of Choice Awards and were recognised as a top-performing company in the Leadership, Work-Life Balance, and Health and Wellbeing categories. Act for Kids now helps over 41,000 people every year through 26 centres across Australia.

Our People

We are a professional, ethical team who is caring, courageous, and collaborative.

Dr Katrina Lines

Chief Executive Officer

Katrina joined Act for Kids in 2006, became Executive Director of Services in 2008 and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in August 2020. Katrina is a registered psychologist with more than 20 years’ experience delivering clinical and social services at the individual, organisational and community level. She has a…

Leanne Dreves

Chief Financial Officer

Leanne joined Act for Kids as Chief Financial Officer in 2008, bringing with her over 20 years’ experience as a senior finance executive. Leanne is a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) and also holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting). Prior to working at Act for Kids, Leanne worked in various…

Koni Hanlon

Executive Director - People & Culture

Koni is an experienced human resource professional who has been with Act for Kids since 2012. As a graduate of the Australian Defence Force Academy, Koni started her early career as a Logistics Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force performing various roles for more than a decade. Discovering a…

Thomas McIntyre

Executive Director Service Strategy and Growth

Tom holds a Bachelor of Social Science and has worked in front line child protection for over 20 years, holding roles ranging from Team Leader, Senior Practitioner and Manager with the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women in Brisbane. Tom has acted in senior executive roles throughout South East…

Dr Kaye Pickering

Executive Director of Service Operations

Kaye is a registered psychologist with 12 years' experience. Dr Pickering has a doctorate in clinical psychology and has worked with clients in both inpatient and outpatient settings and her interests include childhood trauma, child development and infant mental health. As Director of Services, Dr Pickering is responsible for staff…

Amy Turner

Chief Operating Officer - Youthrive

Amy leads and manages the day to day operations of Youthrive. Youthrive is Act for Kids’ social enterprise and provides integrated therapy support to children and young people under a profit-for-purpose model. Amy has been with Youthrive since 2013 and joined the Act for Kids Executive Team in 2020. Amy…

Kieran Smith

Director National Service Development

Having been with Act for Kids since 2007, Kieran started out on the frontline in Cairns and Yarrabah with what is now known as the Intensive Family Support Service. Kieran was the recipient of the 2012 Qld Child Protection Award, Professional Non Govt for his work in establishing the safe…

Miranda Bain

Director of Therapy Services

Miranda joined Act for Kids in 2007 in the role of Senior Practitioner and in 2010 became Programme Manager for several Gold Coast programmes. Miranda holds both Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Psychology. While residing in the USA, New Zealand and Australia, Miranda has worked as a clinician, leader and advocate for over…

Caterina Schulz

Regional Director - South East Queensland

With a passion for protecting children, Caterina has more than 30 years' experience as a Social Worker. Caterina joined Act for Kids early in 2013, setting up the Intensive Family Support Service (formerly Fostering Families) in the Fraser Coast & North Burnett region. Working in Child Safety for 25 years,…

David Dini

Regional Director - Far North Queensland

David joined Act for Kids in 2019 after a lengthy career as a Police Officer. He holds qualifications in Management and Business, complemented by eleven years as a Commissioned Officer in the Queensland Police Service. His final posting prior to his retirement was at the rank of Inspector in charge…

Gary Poole

Regional Director - Gold Coast

Gary is a Registered Psychologist and also completed qualifications in business management. He has held senior leadership roles in hospital and health services, social services and humanitarian aid agencies for over 30 years and in five countries. Prior to joining Act for Kids in May 2015, Gary was Chief Executive…

Renée McAllister

Regional Director - North Queensland

Renée is a registered psychologist with 20 years’ experience working in the fields of child and family psychology, forensic psychology and organisational culture and climate. She is a Member of the Australian Psychological Society and prior to working at Act for Kids, Renée worked for 10 years in private practice…

Heidi Fowler

Regional Director - Central & Western Queensland

Heidi joined Act for Kids in 2015 as a Domestic and Family Violence Specialist and since 2016 has been managing our services across South West Queensland. She previously worked for the Queensland Police Service and Queensland Corrections; focusing for the last 12 years on domestic and family violence in the…

The Hon Dr David Hamill AM

Chairman

David is a professional company director who has served on the boards of various public and private companies as well as not-for-profit and charitable organisations and statutory authorities. He is currently Chairman of Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure Limited, a Director of Brookfield Business Partners LLC and Chairman of Queensland Bulk Water…

Nigel Harris

Deputy Chairman

Nigel (MBA, CFRE, FFIA, FIML, GAICD) is Managing Director of Nigel Harris & Associates, an advisory practice in philanthropy and fundraising leadership and also a Founding Partner of consultancy firm Giving Architects Australia. He has worked in the not-for-profit sector for nearly 40 years and is a recognised leader in…

Thomas Rice

Director

Thomas (BCom, BEcon, Grad Dip Applied Finance, CA, GAICD) is an experienced finance executive. He is a Chartered Accountant with more than 25 years’ professional experience in finance and management both in Australia and internationally; the last 14 years in a Chief Financial Officer capacity. Thomas’ professional career began in…

Emmanuel Pappas

Director

Emmanuel (L.L.B. (Hons.), BCom, GradDipLP) is a senior lawyer with over 14 years’ experience in corporate and commercial legal practice and a special interest in governance. He has spent his legal career both in major Australian private practice law firms and as in-house counsel with major energy companies. Special Responsibilities:…

Zoe Newbury

Director

Zoe (MBus (HRM), BBus (Mgt), GAICD) is a senior Human Resources Manager with experience across a range of strategic people management, planning and operational human resource management functions in diverse, multi-disciplined organisations. She is a specialist in strategic human resource management, organisational development and change management, with 10 years’ experience…

Dr Ryan Mills

Director

Ryan (MBBS (Hons) FRACP MPH PhD) is a General Paediatrician and Child Protection Advisor based at Logan Hospital, south of Brisbane. From 2014 to 2019, he was the Clinical Chair of Queensland’s Statewide Child Protection Clinical Partnership. Ryan has a clinical and research interest in the long-term outcomes for children…

Emma Costello

Director

Emma is a Partner at King and Wood Mallesons, where she specialises in commercial litigation. Emma has a keen focus on employee wellbeing within the business and holds a national role as People Partner of the dispute resolution team. This is a busy role that sees her provide support and…

Gavin Mackey

Director

Gavin is a descendent of the Tagalaka people from Gulf Country in North West Queensland. He has a background in Human Resources and Learning and Communications. Over the past eight years Gavin has worked with UnitingCare Queensland to expand its footprint in delivering positive outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait…

Teleiah Bayfield

Director

Teleiah is the Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education in Queensland and has worked in the public and not-for-profit sectors across a range of services for children and young people. In the last 14 years Teleiah has specialised in cross-cultural mediation and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community…

Simon Neill

Director

Simon (BCom, CAANZ, HKICPA) is a Partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers having worked in the PwC Australia, Hong Kong and United Kingdom practices during his career. Over his 34 years of experience his focus has been on providing Assurance services to a range of clients ranging from listed multinational companies to small…