Heartly News - June 2026

June 2026

Welcome to the June edition of Heartly News. This month, we are excited to share how Variety funding toward the YMCA Schools’ Breakfast Program is expected to deliver an additional 157,000 meals this year to Queensland children. Scroll down to read this amazing story!

Just a reminder that there is just one week left to make an End of Financial Year donation.

This EOFY, Variety Queensland is raising funds to support young people living with disabilities through our Financial Literacy Program – Australia’s only program of its kind, designed specifically for students in Years 10-12 at special schools across Queensland.

At a time when cost-of-living pressures continue to be felt across Australia, these skills are more important than ever.

If you can, please consider supporting this important program today.

Donate Now

Helping Queensland kids start the school day the right way

Across Australia, too many children are starting the school day hungry. In recent years, around 36% of Australian households experienced moderate to severe food insecurity, while children made up 22% of Queenslanders experiencing hunger, according to the Foodbank Hunger Report.

That’s why Variety – the Children’s Charity of Queensland is proud to support the expansion of the YMCA Schools’ Breakfast Program across Queensland.

Through this partnership with Y Queensland, Variety is helping deliver nutritious breakfasts to children attending nine schools in regional, remote and high-need communities including Biloela, Kilkivan, Surat, Mount Isa, Aramac, Nursery Road, Dysart, Pine Rivers and Redlands.

For many children, breakfast is more than just a meal. It can mean the difference between struggling to concentrate and feeling ready to learn and participate in the classroom.

Thanks to Variety’s dedicated fundraisers, we are proud to be able to deliver an additional 157,000 meals for children this year.

But the program is about more than food. The Breakfast Program is designed to create long-term positive impact by helping children build healthy eating habits while also creating safe, welcoming spaces before the school day begins. The program supports learning readiness, attendance and participation, while reducing the stigma often associated with food insecurity.

Variety Queensland’s commitment to helping children who are sick, experiencing disadvantage or living with disabilities reach their full potential aligns strongly with Y Queensland’s vision for healthy, connected and thriving communities.

“This partnership with Variety – the Children’s Charity of Queensland is helping us reach more young people in regional and high-need communities with the support they need to start the day ready to learn,” said Damian Foley, CEO of Y Queensland.

Together, Variety Queensland and Y Queensland are helping ensure more children across the state can begin each day properly nourished and empowered to thrive.

Creating Possibility Together

In May, Variety Queensland supported children, schools and community organisations across the state with a range of life-changing grants. These included adaptive medical garments, accessible sporting and recreational equipment, assistive technology for students, and specialised items to help young children build independence and participate more fully in everyday life.

Several of these grants supported families who had been unable to access funding through the NDIS – a situation we hear about all too often.

A reminder that Variety grants are open year-round. If you know a child, school or community organisation that could benefit from support, we’re here to help. Click here t o learn more.

Variety Heart Scholarships – Supporting Dreams, Creating Futures

Do you know a child with talent, passion and determination across the arts, education and sport? Now is the time to talk to their family and determine if Variety can support the next stage of development in their chosen field.

Thanks to support from the Grahame Mapp Family Foundation, Variety is able to give out 20 Variety Heart Scholarships this year. Applications open 1 July-31 August. Please visit our website for more info.

Variety Motor Mouth Camp – a free and accessible camp for children who use AAC

The Variety Motor Mouth Camp is a three-day event designed for children aged 6-17 who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and their families. Children will take part in fun and meaningful activities designed to help them develop their AAC skills, while families gain confidence in supporting communication at home and in the community.

Explore our website to see if this camp might be for your family. Applications open 1-31 July.

Toy Story 5 Free Movie Day

We’re excited to share an opportunity for our families to attend Drug ARM’s Children’s Movie Day in Brisbane. Enjoy a free screening of Toy Story 5 on Sunday 28 June at Event Cinemas in the Brisbane CBD and Indooroopilly.

Session times: Brisbane CBD – 10.00am / Indooroopilly – 10.00am & 12.30pm.

Tickets are limited so get in quick! If you would like to attend, please complete this form here.

Brisbane Source Kids Expo

Variety Queensland will be at the upcoming Source Kids Disability Expo, 3-4 July, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, and we would love for you to come along and connect with us! This is a fantastic event for families to explore support services, products and resources, and to meet organisations like ours.

Attendance is free, but you need to register here. Be sure to visit our stand – we look forward to seeing you there!

What’s Coming Up

The countdown is officially on as we gear up for this year’s Celebration of Friendship Golf Day. This is your final call for tickets or explore our other upcoming events below.