Kids+ are delighted to announce that the 2024 recipient of the Donna Shaw ‘Spirit of Kids+ Award’ is Stephen Jewson of Jan Juc SLSC.

Each year, Kids+ recognise a member or group in the community who has made a significant voluntary contribution on the foundation. For 2024, that is Stephen Jewson and the volunteers of the Jan Juc SLSC, who, each year, donate their time to support the Kids+ Surf Ed program.

Jewson, who has been part of the Jan Juc SLSC since 1989, has, alongside dedicated volunteers, been instrumental in bringing the Kids+ Surf Ed program to life, making positive impacts on the lives of children and young people with disabilities. The week-long Surf Ed program, which has been running for 8 years, offers an opportunity for children with disabilities to experience the beach, the ocean, time on a surfboard, and even a trip on a jet ski – activities they would typically not experience due to accessibility barriers.

The Kids+ Surf Ed program takes place in January at Fisherman’s Beach, Torquay, and is also supported by the teams at Torquay Angling Club, Torquay Marine Rescue Services, and Go Ride a Wave.

The Award is named after Donna Shaw who was a long-standing Kids+ Director and advocate for young people with disabilities.

Kids+ was delighted to hear the news that Sarah Foley, one of the co-founders of Kids+, was awarded an OAM at the recent 2023 Australia Day honours. Sarah is the most deserving of recipients.

Sarah has made an outstanding contribution supporting families and young people across the Greater Geelong region, and to the field of paediatric physiotherapy in general. She has spent the vast majority of her career working with, and alongside, young people with cerebral palsy and their families.

Changemakers Kids+ Conference 2023 is an opportunity for people within the disability community to come together, share ideas, make connections, and build collaborative networks to drive social change at RACV Torquay Victoria Australia.