Who We Are

The Connect Kids vision is to put an end to the cycle of disadvantage within our communities.

Our Mission

Connect Kids believes we all aspire to live in a community in which its members live a happy, healthy, fulfilling and safe life. The reality is that no matter your postcode, many within our community are not afforded this privilege.

We are a broad-based movement that encourages everyone to involve themselves within their community with disadvantaged children. From the earliest years many children are brought up in an environment where their basic rights are not a part of their daily lives. In the worst cases, abuse is a common and constant part of their lives and the basic necessities are not always there for them. These children are vulnerable and at risk.

Statistics suggest that the abused of one generation have a 70% chance of becoming the abusers of the next generation, thus perpetuating this vicious cycle. The simple act of engaging positively with these children can reduce their chances of disadvantage by 30%. Through mentoring programs with children their risks of disadvantage are further reduced. This simple act of connection represents a significant human saving and also alleviates an otherwise growing economic burden that will be absorbed by the broader community.

At ConnectKids we strive to give these children an opportunity to become involved in the broader community and to be contributing members of society. When this is achieved children will turn the tide of generational disadvantage and leave a new legacy.

We invite the community to take ownership of reducing this alarming trend of disadvantage. The benefits to the community as a whole cannot be underestimated.

Meet The Team

  • OAM, CEO & CHAIRMAN

    Gordon has been involved with various Sunshine Coast community groups for many years. Through his involvement with the local disability charity The Board Meeting, Gordon was directly exposed to the damaging effects that disadvantage brings to communities.

    It was this experience that drove him to develop this program over the past 5 years to specifically tackle disadvantage across the entire community. Gordon has himself been an active mentor of a number of children for years and knows first-hand the impact that mentoring has as a lasting solution to the issues that disadvantage causes.

  • BUSINESS MANAGER & SECRETARY

    Trish has had many years of experience in Chartered Accounting, financial and business management. Since moving to the coast she has found a passion for social justice and addressing social inequality and is currently studying a Bachelor of Human Services at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

  • COMMITTEE MEMBER

    Harley is a penultimate year medical student at Griffith University, currently on placement at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital. His interest in tutoring and mentoring began in 2017 when he went to Michigan on exchange and was a weekly tutor to two grade 9 students at a community centre in Ann Arbor. Since then, he has worked as a tutor and mentor with several charities, including In2Science, Friendship Circle, Embrace Education and Stand Up. He hopes to bring what he has learnt in these environments to the tutoring program here at Connect Kids.

    Harley also loves playing club soccer for Kawana FC, reading, listening to podcasts, and struggling to hit a tennis ball.

  • COMMITTEE MEMBER

    Nicole is a passionate and committed advocate for disadvantaged children. Throughout her career she has managed large programs supporting at risk and disadvantaged children in North Carolina, USA and here locally on the Sunshine Coast.

    In these roles, she has advocated for children’s needs on paediatric oncology and general surgical wards, supported children with a disability to connect with therapy and community supports and had the privilege of managing over 14 research projects to influence medical systems to support the psychosocial needs of very vulnerable hospitalised children.

    She is the co-author of 2 parenting books and has published over 14 internationally peer reviewed research articles. Nicole studied Child Development and Family Relations and graduated with honours from Western Carolina University in the USA.

    Nicole is a local and is enjoying raising her two teenage children on the beautiful Sunshine Coast.

  • COMMITTEE MEMBER

    Krista is a born and bred Sunshine Coast girl, who still lives locally with her family and their two fur babies. In her spare time she can be found reading, baking, or exploring our beautiful region.

    Krista has worked in the local youth and community services sector for over 15 years now. She is passionate about working with and for young people on the Sunshine Coast, and believes that mentoring can be a powerful way to change the lives of young people in our community.

  • COMMITTEE MEMBER

    Danny aspires to empower individuals and is passionate about making a positive difference in his community. Danny has been in the recruitment industry for over 20 years, working for both the private and not for profit sectors, responsible for all aspects of industry recruitment and supply of staff for industry needs.

    Danny founded and coordinated 2 charities, the BEST Community Shed and the BEST Food Garden in Inverell NSW. Both of these charities are still operating today and making a positive impact in the community. Danny was honoured to receive the 2017 Inverell Citizen of the year for his charitable work and for his contributions to the Inverell and surrounding communities.

Our goal is to deliver an accessible, personalised and effective mentoring program that provides life changing results for disadvantaged children and a life affirming experience for mentors.