Alannah and Madeline Foundation celebrates 25 years of supporting children

The Alannah and Madeline Foundation celebrates 25 years of helping children to live free from violence and trauma this year, with today marking the significant milestone of the inaugural Alannah & Madeline Day, a fundraising event to support its ongoing work. 

Founded in 1997 by Walter Mikac AM, and named in honour of his two young daughters who lost their lives in the 1996 Port Arthur Massacre, the Foundation supports children and young people who’ve experienced violence and trauma to help them recover, heal, grow and thrive. 

Alannah & Madeline Day will aim to raise funds to continue to support children and young people, with each dollar donated today between 8am and 8pm to be doubled by a generous group of donors, meaning donations will go twice as far and have twice the impact to help keep young people safe. 

“The world has changed in 25 years, but the need to keep children safe hasn’t,” Walter said. 

“Children have a right to be safe. It’s our mission to uphold that right so that they can thrive.” 

Family and domestic violence continues to be a major health and social issue in Australia, Foundation CEO Sarah Davies AM continued, noting that such issues occur across all socio-economic, demographic and age groups, but predominantly affect women and children. 

“We know children are more vulnerable to family and domestic violence. And we know it is increasing,” she continued. 

A recent report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare outlined that almost 2.1 million adults reported witnessing violence towards their mother by a partner before the age of 15. 

“Children witnessed family violence incidents on over 34,000 occasions, according to 2021 Crime Statistics Agency data,” Sarah continued.

“It also found that 77.2 per cent of children who witnessed a police-reported family violence incident had a future interaction with the justice system within five years.”

“Of the adults who experienced family violence, more than three-quarters said their child saw or heard the violence.” 

Sadly, the lived experience of the Foundation and its team outlines the extent to which these children suffer. 

“They suffer in their kinders and early learning centres, in their primary schools, in their secondary schools, in their homes. They suffer quietly and, sometimes, they suffer greatly,” Sarah continued. 

Walter Mikac is asking everyone to dig deep for the Foundation’s first Alannah & Madeline Day, so it can continue to champion the rights of children and young people to be safe from violence and trauma. 

Just $50 means a child in need receives a Buddy Bag. And this will double to $100 on Alannah & Madeline Day – two children will receive a Buddy Bag. 

To donate, visit givingday.amf.org.au