Adopt Change celebrates first Yesvember with A Home For Every Child gala fundraising dinner

For the first time in Australia, National Adoption Awareness runs for the entire month of November with Adopt Change calling on all Australian’s to turn it into #Yesvember by saying ‘yes’ to #aHomeForEveryChild. 

Sydney, Australia, Wednesday 21 November 2018 – On Friday 23 November Adopt Change, with major sponsor, Hancock Propsecting, will hold a black tie, fundraising dinner  at The Ivy Ballroom in Sydney, as part of National Adoption Awareness Month. The event, titled, A Home For Every Child Gala, is part of the month long campaign being run by Adopt Change, to show the solidarity of Australians who want to ensure all children have access  to a safe, nurturing and permanent home. The event will be hosted by Adopt Change ambassador, Sandra Sully, and feature performances from The London Essentials and  2014 NT Australian of the year, Shellie Morris.  

During the month, Adopt Change have been asking people to post their  #AHomeForEveryChild cap photos to social media, with supporters ranging from local politicians through to ambassadors and international celebrities, including founder and patronDeborra-lee Furness, Hugh Jackman, Naomi Watts, Nicole Warne and Andy Lee.  

Ms Renée Carter, CEO Adopt Change, said, “Adopt Change believes the campaign goal of A Home For Every Child is something we can all agree needs to be a priority.  

“We have been overwhelmed by the show of support from the community, through to politicians and celebrities, the world over, who have shared images of themselves supporting the #AHomeForEveryChild campaign, wearing their cap.

“There are too many children who don’t have access to stability and nurture, and children who bounce around a system in limbo are more likely to have poorer life outcomes such as homelessness, substance abuse and health problems. We need to do better.”  There are close to 50,000 Australian children living in out of home care in Australia, many for two years or more. This is enough children to fill most Australian sporting stadiums, including the Sydney Cricket Ground. These children often move multiple times, and for an average of 12.5 years before ageing out of the system at eighteen. In 2017, only 315 children were adopted, less than 1% of those requiring a permanent home.  

Mrs. Gina Rinehart, Executive Chairman of the Hancock Prospecting Group, Roy Hill and S.kidman & Co, said, she is delighted to lend her support to a number of very worthy philanthropic efforts across Australia, including the work of Adopt Change, to ensure more vulnerable children can have access to stable and safe homes, with good nutrition, clothes and opportunities, continuing with the Groups efforts of supporting initiatives aimed at improving lives of women and children.  

Ms Carter added, “Money raised from the night will contribute to the ongoing work of Adopt Change, at the forefront of which is working towards stability for all children and support for families to thrive; keeping the spotlight on issues surrounding permanency for children; conducting research, providing community and sector education and training, and providing information and pre- and post-adoptive and trauma supports to parents and carers.  

“Australia-wide we need to ensure that from legislation through to the front line we remove any unnecessary barriers to permanency, and with an ethical approach, provide children with the families they need to raise and support them with all the core ingredients for better life outcomes.”  

National Adoption Awareness Week (NAAW), which was founded by Deborra-lee Furness in 2008, has become an annual event each November. In 2018 it has evolved from a week to a month, with Adopt Change inviting all Australians to turn November into ‘Yes-vember’, and say ‘yes’ to #AHomeForEveryChild, ensuring the rights of children are put first and all children have access to a safe, nurturing and permanent home.

ENDS 

Event Details:  A Home for Every Child Gala fundraising dinner  
Dress: Black Tie  
Location: Ivy Ballroom, Sydney  
Friday 23 November 2018 | Arrivals: 6pm 
Major Sponsor: Hancock Prospecting  
Guest of Honour: Mrs Gina Rinehart  
Event MC: Sandra Sully, Adopt Change ambassador  
Special guests include:  
The Hon Pru Goward NSW Minister for Family and Community Services 
The Hon Paul Green, MLC

Everyone can support the campaign by purchasing a slogan cap and taking a photo of themselves or recording a short clip talking about what “home” means to them while wearing the cap and sharing it to social media using the hashtags, #aHomeForEveryChild #yesvember and #adoptchange.  

Caps for the campaign are available for purchase via the Adopt Change  

Media enquiries, event attendance, campaign images and interviews please contact 
Samantha Dybac – The PR Hub   
E: samantha@theprhub.com.au p: 0411 251 373  

Available for interview: 
Renée Carter CEO Adopt Change   

Ambassadors including:

• Louise Ransome – Fox Sports presenter
• Nicole Warne (Gary Pepper Girl) – digital fashion influencer and adoptee
• Brad Murphy former AFL player and adoptee
• Zufi Emerson actress and adoptee
• John O’Neill, Adopt Change board director, adoptee, Chairman Surfing NSW

Adopt Change on facebook, instagram and twitter @adoptchangeau  
Website www.adoptchange.org.au

National Adoption Awareness Month runs for the entire month of November 2018  

How to get involved in the #AHomeForEveryChild cap campaign  

Caps are available for purchase via the Adopt Change website. The caps retail for $19.80 + $10 postage and handling.

Once your cap arrives, please take a selfie or record a 10 second clip talking about what  “home” means to you.  

Then post your photo or clip to social media using the hashtags #AHomeForEveryChild,  #yesvember and #adoptchange, and a short message on why it is important for people to get behind this campaign.  

Money raised will contribute to the ongoing work of Adopt Change – working toward safe, nurturing and permanent homes for children and supports for families to thrive, keeping the spotlight on issues surrounding permanency for children, conducting research, running community and sector education, events and training, and providing information and pre- and post-adoptive and trauma supports to parents and carers.