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Appeals and Grants

Variety the Children’s Charity “Show of Hearts” Scholarship Fund

Variety the Children’s Charity has made available a very special new programme, “The Variety Show of Hearts Scholarship Fund”.

$250,000 has been made available for children with special needs across the country, supporting them in their life goals… in music, arts, sport, education and their dreams. In Queensland, a total of $25,000 is available for funding directed towards tuition, instruments or equipment, travel or accommodation. An individual scholarship of up to $5,000 may be awarded on the basis of merit and need.

It is important that children must satisfy Variety’s standard criteria of need (sick, disabled or disadvantaged) and in the application process, families must demonstrate that they would otherwise be unable to provide the requested support for their child.

NOTE: To be eligible, only original signed and verified applications supporting the application form must be received at Variety Queensland Inc office. Photocopies, faxed or emailed applications will not be eligible for consideration. Funds are available subject to availability at the time of application.

Click here for a Show of Hearts Scholarship Application

In 2005 a whopping $2.3 million was appealed to Queensland’s special children including the sick, disabled anddisadvantaged kids, through a wide range of appeals across the state.

With the amazing funds raised and with the support of councils, businesses and communities, Variety Queensland has been able to purchase 15 Liberty Swings across the state. Eleven have already been erected with the remaining four currently being organised.

Variety Queensland saw in excess of 50% of all appeals go to our regional communities who are so often left out of the charity pool. Variety Queensland feels it is crucial that these communities also receive the support and assistance that their bigger city brothers and sisters are provided.

Appeals have included communication devices such as laptops and hearing equipment, mobility devices such as wheelchairs, scooters and bath aids; and many other various forms of help including air conditioners, toys, special camps and more.

Mobility Equipment:

Australia is the lucky country, but if you are a kid in a wheelchair, life can be pretty tough. It's surprising to learn that a family can wait for up to two years to receive a government-funded wheelchair. Variety helps hundreds of kids each year to gain mobility, freedom independence and the chance to join in the life of their community. Wheelchairs can range in cost from $1,000 to $20,000 for a fully-motorised wheelchair. Seating systems are individually designed to cater for the condition of each child, to ensure there is room to grow and their posture and health is protected. In 2004-05, Variety Australia granted 188 wheelchairs, totaling nearly $1 million. In years to come, our aim is to increase our target to enable more smiles from children as well as their families, friends and carers.

Sunshine Coaches:

Variety brings sunshine to the lives of thousands of needy children through our Sunshine Coaches. Special Schools and other organisations have been the grateful recipients of a fleet of coaches throughout Queensland, transporting children to their daily activities and other special life experiences.

In most cases, the children's organisation will contribute one third of the on-road costs, Variety one third and a sponsor is sought for the final third. In cases of extreme hardship Variety will contribute more than one third. We also purchase the coaches very competitively which in turn means that more organisations can benefit.

Your company can get on the bus for Variety and the kids. Variety's new look Sunshine Coaches are in demand and raring to go. For a minimum outlay of around $20,000 you to can have one of these moving billboards on the streets transporting the kids into the sunshine for up to ten years. With your help, we will achieve our aim of placing more and more Sunshine Coaches on the road for special kids.

Wheelchair Swings ~ “Variety Liberty Swings”

Every child deserves to experience the exhilaration of swinging through the air, with the wind on their face and joy in their heart. For those confined to a wheelchair this was never an option until Wayne Devine invented his Wheelchair Swing.

Variety Australia has committed to Wayne for 30 swings over ten years. In turn, he has agreed to brand his wonderful device the Variety Liberty Swing. Many of the swings commissioned so far have gone into rural areas as well as ‘much requested’ locations, reflecting our vision to encompass as many need children as possible. These fabulous swings allow children of all abilities to play together in the playground, by allowing children in wheelchairs to access the swing. As aforementioned, Variety has assisted with 11 Liberty Swings in Queensland, with four additional swings in planning stage.

In Queensland, Liberty Swings are located at:

Roma Street Parkland, Brisbane (Council managed)
Pelican Park, Clontarf (Council managed)
Laguna Park, Palm Beach
The Mill Tourist Information Centre, West Mackay
Riding for the Disabled, Burpengary
‘Muddies’ regional playground, Cairns
Queens Park, Ipswich
Botanical Gardens, Rockhampton
Washington Park, Broadwater Southport
Logan Gardens, Logan Central
Lions Park, Gladstone
Anzac Park, Maryborough
Kershaw Gardens, North Rockhampton

In planning stage ~

Aplins Weir Rotary Park, Mundingburra Townsville
Collingwood Park, Redbank Plains
Rotary Park, Bundaberg
Rocks Riverside Park, Seventeen Miles Rock, Brisbane
Acacia Ridge (not Variety)
Toowoomba (Council managed)

Computers for Kids

Children with cerebral palsy and other conditions often find writing a near impossible task. A computer can help transform their classroom experiences and their academic performance. Over the past year, Variety granted more than 100 computers to children with special needs to give them the opportunities to learn that all children should enjoy.

Support for Special Schools

Variety is an active supporter of Special Education and disadvantaged schools throughout the country. Over the years, we have helped numerous schools throughout Queensland with the provision of books, educational and play equipment, funding for school camps and educational outings and other urgently needed equipment. Children are our future and we aim to grow our investment in special schools.

Children’s Hospitals:

Variety is a proud supporter of children's hospitals in Australia. In the last financial year, Variety Australia provided over $2.7 million in urgently needed equipment to children's hospitals around the country. Because Variety pays for the purchase of equipment, or provides goods-in-kind, and in particular, delivery of welcomed new toys for children in Queensland hospitals, we are 100% sure that every dollar we provide goes where it's most needed.

…and introducing a first for Queensland “Hero” the assistance Dog!

hero

Variety Queensland is pleased to welcome ‘Hero’ the Golden Retriever to the Variety family. "Hero” is Queensland’s first assistance dog and is currently in training to assist a child-in-need with every day tasks. From putting washing in the machine, answering the phone to picking up dropped items, “Hero” will be a much-loved, and much-wanted aide. Watch this space for future updates on how “Hero” develops his skills-tests and aides his much-adored owner.

Liam and his special friend, Assistance Dog “Hero”.

Forms - How you can apply

You can print the forms below and mail or fax them to the included contact.

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