The Donna Shaw ‘Spirit of Kids+’ Award 2023

Kids+ are delighted to award the annual Donna Shaw ‘Spirit of Kids+ Award’ to Kim and Paul Johnson.

The Johnsons have been part of the Kids+ family for over 20 years, since their daughter Abby was 3 years of age. Kim and Paul were instrumental in sparking the original concept of Kids+, along with a small group of other families connected to the old Barwon Valley School, and Sarah Foley and Kate Bain, therapists who were involved with the families at the time. Kim says, “The thinking was that we needed something more than what was currently available, something not just for our kids, but for other families and the wider community.”

Kim was a Kids+ Board Director during those initial years of development. The model of service delivery looked somewhat different to what it does today, and even with the relatively modest resources available at the time, Kids+ always found a way to provide service and support. Kim’s mum would always say “Necessity is the mother of invention” and Kim says Kids+ was the perfect embodiment of that.

Over the years, Abby and Kids+ have grown together, hand in hand, learning from each other along the way.  Kids+ was not originally intended to be a service for young adults, but the symbiotic relationship Kids+ has with many of our long-term families has led to new programs and new areas of service delivery.

Kim has supported Kids+ engage with a number of philanthropic partners, ensuring donors have a better and more informed understanding of disability and lived experience. A lifelong advocate, Kim has advocated within her local community for greater accessibility and inclusion. Kim has also volunteered her time making toys and resources that are shared with other Kids+ families.

For many years Paul has used his engineering skills to repair Kids+ and client equipment, be they wheelchairs, bikes or the like. And the Kids+ gardens and grounds are kept looking great on account of Paul volunteering his time to do the regular upkeep and maintenance.

Kim and Paul have been unwavering supporters of Kids+ in so many ways over the past 20 years. We are grateful for their wonderful support, generosity and friendship.