Chances for Children

Chances for Children's mission is to ensure the absence of money does not stand in the way of a young person's ability to achieve their maximum potential, be it in education, social or cultural pursuits which contribute to the realisation of their potential - and the enhancement of their contribution to the communities of the Mallee.

Chances recognises that financial circumstances and rural isolation can often severely impinge on a young person's educational, social, or cultural opportunities and works to ensure that money does not stand in the way of a child or young person's ability to achieve his or her maximum potential.

Chances for Children tailors funding and support differently for each recipient ensuring that individual needs and circumstances are accounted for in every case.

The role of Chances is crucial to the region in light of the socio-economic characteristics of the Mallee communities.

• There is clear and documented evidence of accumulated and entrenched social distress and disadvantage in our communities
• Unmistakeable link between lack of education and training - and unemployment, low income, poor health, turning to crime to make ends meet...
• Children who start school with language and behavioural problems - that go unassisted - are faced with ongoing failure
• Clear trend "centrality of inadequate education to the onset and persistence of social disadvantage"

(Mildura's Social Indicators Report 2006; & Dropping off the Edge: the distribution of disadvantage in Australia, speech by Prof Tony Vinson, 2007)

Providing a chance for a young person to independently and actively engage with their community is a commitment to which Chances for Children is committed.

All money raised will go directly to supporting young people. Money raised will NOT be used for administrative purposes.

Young people may be supported in the areas of education, sport and cultural pursuits.