Centre opens to help at-risk kids

Pictured: From left - Adam Crane, CEO Insurance Council Australia; Gerry O’Shaughnessy, Former Auto & General Director; Dr David Hamill AM, Act for Kids Board Chairman; Chris Pain, Caboolture Sports Club Group Chairman; Dr Katrina Lines, Act for Kids CEO; Mark Ryan, State Member for Morayfield and Minister for Police and Corrective Services, Fire and Emergency Services; Peter Flannery, Moreton Bay Mayor; Antoinette Rusby-Perera, Queensland State Manager, Property Industry Foundation; Salvatore Guardala, QLD Chairman Property Industry Foundation.

Act for Kids has officially opened its new Moreton Centre to provide better support for children and young people in the Moreton Bay Region.

It will bring additional services to the Moreton – Caboolture area, which has some of the highest rates of vulnerable children in Australia.

Act for Kids started in 1988 and now has more than 450 staff in more than 30 centres across Australia supporting children and families who have experienced or are at risk of harm.

“We are excited to be able to support children and young people who have experienced trauma through the new purpose-built Moreton centre, which is designed to be a safe and welcoming environment,” Dr Katrina Lines, CEO Act for Kids, said.

“Our team of specialists will deliver therapy and family services to children and families in need.” 

The centre at 12 Station Rd, Morayfield, has had significant financial support from such as Auto & General, The Property Industry Foundation and Caboolture Sports Club.

A peppercorn lease has been provided by the sports club for the centre following a request by State Member for Morayfield Mark Ryan, Minister for Police and Corrective Services.

“I’m proud to have played a part in bringing the various parties together to transform the old vet clinic into a great new community asset,” he said.

Chris Pain, Chairman of the Caboolture Sports Club Board, said “providing community support is at the very heart of Caboolture Sports Club".

Act for Kids’ long-term corporate partner Auto & General has been the main contributor and supporter of the project since the beginning.

Group Managing Director & CEO, Asia Pacific Ram Kangatharan said it was “another way to make a difference and support children in need in the Moreton Caboolture community”.

Property Industry Foundation Queensland State Manager Antoinette Rusby-Perera added: “Early intervention programs, like those offered by Act for Kids, are vital in ending youth homelessness.”

The Property Industry Foundation thanked the following for their support: ADP Consulting, Arcadis, Architectus, Assa Abloy, Bennett & Bennett, Dulux, Ethos Urban, Formigal, Gardenscapes, Inertia Engineering, JLL, Liebke Builders, Logan’s Nursery, Miele, Milliken, Mint Lawns and Gardens, QST Group, RJ Earthworks & Concrete, Saunders Havill Group, Stiebel Eltron.

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