About the Alannah &
Madeline Foundation
Since 1997, we've has been keeping children and young people free from violence and trauma.
We are a national not-for-profit organisation, and together with our compassionate supporters, we help children who have experienced violence and trauma to heal, recover and thrive.
We work to make sure children feel safe, protected and valued – wherever they live, learn and play.
Like you, we believe every child deserves to experience the magic of childhood, and that all children have the right to live without fear, without violence, and without trauma.
What is Alannah & Madeline Day?
Alannah & Madeline Day is in loving memory of Alannah and Madeline who were tragically killed, aged just six and three, at Port Arthur.
The month of September, and Alannah & Madeline Day on 18 September 2025, is an extraordinary time of generosity where compassionate people like you come together to change the lives of children who’ve experienced violence.
One backpack can mean the world for a child in crisis
Every day in Australia, 32 children will be taken into emergency care because they’re at serious risk of harm or have no safe place to live.
Many of them are removed from unsafe, violent or abusive homes and placed in emergency foster care, with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
The Alannah & Madeline Foundation provides Buddy Bags lovingly packed with brand-new, essential comforts for children who have fled danger:
- New PJs for comfort
- Toiletries for a fresh start
- A soft teddy to cuddle
But a lack of funding means that one in two children in emergency care are missing out.
This September and on Alannah & Madeline Day, you can help change that.
Host a Purple Picnic to help ensure every child escaping violence has the comfort of a Buddy Bag.
Contact us
We'd love to hear from you! Complete the contact form below and we'll be in touch.
If you prefer to speak directly with us, you can call us on 1300 720 747.
