Stockland keeps Redkite’s family support lines open during lockdown

Stockland, one of Australia’s largest community creators, is helping Redkite’s community-based support lines stay open during COVID-19.

In response to the unprecedented nationwide lockdown, Stockland provided 21 laptops so Redkite’s community-based support team could continue to deliver services to the families of children with cancer.

This generous act has meant that since mid-March, Redkite’s team has continued providing vital cancer support services like counselling and financial assistance to families in self-isolation across the country.

For Jo Smith, a Redkite social worker who is now working from her home in Perth, the laptop has allowed her to continue to provide support to families facing cancer, where and when they need it the most.

“Coronavirus presents an even greater risk to children facing cancer who have a compromised immunity, and their families are facing enormous additional pressures during what was already the toughest time imaginable.

Since 2015, the Stockland CARE Foundation has partnered with Redkite, contributing more than $1 million in funding towards the delivery of cancer support services.

Amy Hogan, Stockland Head of Sustainability, said she was incredibly proud to be able to support a charity that supports families facing cancer.

“At Stockland, we build communities, and we embrace projects and organisations that improve the health, wellbeing and education of communities. We have great admiration for the fantastic work that the team at Redkite do every day to help children and their families.

Redkite’s CEO, Ms Monique Keighery, said she was extremely grateful for Stockland’s support.

“I keep hearing that coronavirus doesn’t present a real danger to kids. But for our kids, kids with cancer, COVID-19 presented a very real and a potentially deadly risk to children with cancer,” Ms Keighery said.

Ms Keighery said parents were being overwhelmed by concern for the health of their vulnerable and immunocompromised child, hit with job losses and business closures when they can least afford it, and stressed by being separated from their support networks like grandparents and friends.