KidsXpress

KidsXpress KidsXpress is a specialist trauma-focused registered charity supporting trauma-impacted children and

09/10/2025

Today, October 10th, is World Mental Health Day and the date is 10/10, we’re marking it with a special feature: “I give myself 10/10 for…” 💜

Good mental health isn’t about being perfect. It’s about recognising the everyday wins that help improve our wellbeing — whether that’s asking for help, taking a walk, journalling, dancing in the kitchen, or even just making sure to leave work on time.

In this video, our staff share what they give themselves 10/10 for and we’d love you to join in.

Finish the sentence in the comments: What do YOU give yourself 10/10 for today?

A big thank you to our work experience student, Makenzie, for creating this wonderful video! 🙏

Express Yourself: Write a 5-word poem about your day.No rules. Example: “Sun. Coffee. Deadlines. Laughter. Netflix.”Smal...
09/10/2025

Express Yourself: Write a 5-word poem about your day.
No rules. Example: “Sun. Coffee. Deadlines. Laughter. Netflix.”

Small creative practices like this can spark reflection and give children (and adults) a simple way to process feelings that might otherwise go unspoken.

Last month, KidsXpress staff and special guests came together for a celebration of 20 years since Margo Ward began her j...
09/10/2025

Last month, KidsXpress staff and special guests came together for a celebration of 20 years since Margo Ward began her journey as CEO & Founder of KidsXpress.

Thanks to the generosity of Cirque du Soleil and TEG, we had the pleasure of watching Corteo - a fittingly magical way to honour the vision, courage and heart that started it all. It was also a chance to connect with staff and friends who’ve played a part in the KidsXpress story over the past two decades.

This week, we continued the celebrations a little closer to home - at our Macquarie Park headquarters, where staff gathered to recognise Margo and reflect on the impact of her leadership during our all-staff meeting.

While next year will mark 20 years since the first child walked through our doors, this moment was about the woman who had the courage to build those doors in the first place.

07/10/2025

For Mental Health Month, we decided to jump on the “bad health advice” trend that’s been circulating on social media. In our version, our Head of Communications, Maria, pranks unsuspecting Rita - our Sydney Programs Manager - by saying all the wrong things to a ‘concerned parent’. Because here’s the truth:

❌ Kids do experience mental ill-health – in fact 50% of lifelong mental health challenges start before 14.

❌ They do worry about adult things, like money, family conflict and even the housing crisis.

❌ Any form of regression, like bedwetting, is worth paying attention to as it’s often a sign of distress.

❌ And parents are never “overthinking it.” No one knows their child better than a parent.

Children communicate through their behaviour and our job is to listen with curiosity. If you’re worried about a child, speak to your GP, school wellbeing team or a qualified mental health professional. And absolutely don’t ask 'Maria from Marketing'. 😉

At KidsXpress, we support not just the children but the adults around them too. It’s the only way to ensure long-lasting...
07/10/2025

At KidsXpress, we support not just the children but the adults around them too. It’s the only way to ensure long-lasting and sustainable impact. Through the guidance of our Trauma Informed Education Consultants (TIECs), who work alongside teachers in our Schools Partnership Program (SPP), educators gain the knowledge and confidence to respond to students with care and strengthen the relationships that matter most.

As one teacher from Granville PS reflected:

“It’s helped me improve my relationships with the kids. Like when [Child X] kicked off, I expected that Ash would’ve dealt with him, but instead she supported me to understand and support him because I have the relationship with him.”

By equipping teachers in this way, the SPP ensures lasting change for students and their school communities. 💛

Play therapy is one of the core therapeutic modalities within our expressive therapy program. For children, play isn’t j...
05/10/2025

Play therapy is one of the core therapeutic modalities within our expressive therapy program. For children, play isn’t just fun - it’s how they make sense of the world, explore feelings, practice problem-solving, and build relationships. In therapy, play becomes a language: toys, art, music and movement allow children to express emotions they may not yet have words for.

But play isn’t only a childhood need - it’s a human need. As we get older, we often forget how to be playful. We prioritise productivity and “seriousness,” leaving little room for creativity or joy. Yet research shows that being playful at any age can reduce stress, build resilience, and strengthen our connections with others. Whether it’s doodling, dancing, singing along to music or simply laughing with friends, play helps us reconnect to ourselves and others. Find ways to play or be playful, because it's not a luxury. It’s medicine for all ages.

Today we celebrate 20 years since our CEO and Founder, Margo Ward, began the journey of KidsXpress.Her story began in th...
05/10/2025

Today we celebrate 20 years since our CEO and Founder, Margo Ward, began the journey of KidsXpress.

Her story began in the mid-90s when Margo was Head of Play Therapy at Sydney Children's Hospital and seven-year-old Max, in palliative care, asked her to make real a magical place where hurt children could heal through play, song, dance and paint. His words stayed with Margo: “It’s too late for me, but do it for the other kids.”

In 2005, that vision took shape. What began with a team of just three is now 42 staff working from two main offices and within eight schools across NSW, with our training programs reaching across Australia and the lives of thousands of children and their caregivers transformed.

The impact is best expressed in the words of a young person who wrote to us recently at age 16: “Year 5 was the worst year of my life. If it wasn’t for you, Margo, having created KidsXpress and sending therapists to my school, I don’t know where I’d be today.”

But beyond the programs, the growth, and the statistics, there is Margo the person: warm and welcoming, brave and determined, a leader with equal measures of compassion and drive. She has always seen the child first, and never lost sight of why KidsXpress exists.

Margo, thank you for your vision, your courage and your heart. You turned a child’s dream into a place of healing — one that continues to change lives across generations.

Colours don’t just brighten our world - they shape how we feel. Think of how calming a blue sky can be, or how energisin...
02/10/2025

Colours don’t just brighten our world - they shape how we feel. Think of how calming a blue sky can be, or how energising a burst of bright yellow might seem.

Colour psychology looks at how colours influence our emotions and behaviours. Our responses are shaped by a mix of personal taste, family upbringing and cultural background. For example, blue is often used for calming or sleep-inducing pills, while red and yellow are linked to stimulation. Yet meanings aren’t universal - white symbolises purity in one culture and mourning in another.

What’s consistent is this: colour, mood and expression are all deeply connected. Sometimes colours reflect how we feel, and sometimes they can even help shift our emotions.

Draw your mood today using only colours. No words, no shapes - just shades and tones. Too busy to draw? Share your mood as a colour emoji 🟢🟣🔴 in the comments. Or if you’re feeling inspired and are happy to share, snap a photo of your colour palette and post it below. We'd love to see it!

Children living with chronic conditions such as asthma, eczema, ADHD or obesity often face a higher risk of mental healt...
02/10/2025

Children living with chronic conditions such as asthma, eczema, ADHD or obesity often face a higher risk of mental health challenges. Factors like an unbalanced diet, sedentary behaviour and being bullied due to their condition can add to this risk.

Research also shows that children who spend 4+ hours a day on screens are more likely to experience:
• Anxiety (1.45×)
• Depression (1.65×)
• Conduct problems (1.17×)
• ADHD (1.21×)

Engaging in creative activities - drawing, dancing, playing music, storytelling - has been shown to reduce stress hormones, improve focus, encourage movement, and strengthen social connection. In other words, creative expression can counteract some of the risks children face by giving them healthy outlets for their energy, emotions and imagination.

That’s why at KidsXpress, expressive therapy is at the heart of what we do. It’s not just play - it’s a proven pathway to resilience and stronger mental health.

A heartfelt shout-out to Kennards Hire Artarmon Branch for their incredible generosity in donating the use of a truck to...
02/10/2025

A heartfelt shout-out to Kennards Hire Artarmon Branch for their incredible generosity in donating the use of a truck to help us with a relocation project in the Snowy Valleys, where our Tumut office is located.

This practical support may be behind the scenes, but it makes a world of difference. By easing our logistics, they enable us to direct more energy and resources toward what matters most: supporting children and families through trauma.

We’re grateful to Anthony, Cheyne and the Artarmon Branch team for going above and beyond, and also to the Kennards Hire Foundation for standing with us on this journey over many years.

It’s partnerships like these - dependable, practical, and full of heart - that remind us it truly takes a village.

October is Mental Health Month. This year, we’re shining a light on the power of creative expression - for children, fam...
01/10/2025

October is Mental Health Month. This year, we’re shining a light on the power of creative expression - for children, families and communities. At KidsXpress, we see every day how art, play, dance-movement and music help children heal. But creative expression isn’t just for kids - it’s something we can all use. Follow along this month for daily prompts, stories and reflections.

What an incredible weekend at Tumut Takes 2! 🌟Tumut local Tony Butler and his amazing singing partner April Lawson not o...
28/09/2025

What an incredible weekend at Tumut Takes 2! 🌟

Tumut local Tony Butler and his amazing singing partner April Lawson not only took out the winner’s title, but together with the support of the community, Tony raised an unbelievable $64,000 for KidsXpress’ Tumut-based program!

We are beyond grateful for this generosity. Every dollar raised helps ensure more children in the Snowy Valleys can access vital mental health support when they need it most.

Huge congratulations, Tony & April and thank you to everyone who donated, cheered, and supported along the way. What a community! 🙌

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Level 2, 50 Waterloo Road
Sydney, NSW

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 6pm
Tuesday 8am - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 6pm

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+61293809220

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Our Story

KidsXpress is a specialist trauma focused organisation dedicated to improving life chances for our country’s most vulnerable children and youth through the delivery of Expressive Therapy Programs and Trauma-Informed Education Services. A registered charity, KidsXpress was established in 2006 to address the lack of services available to support children who were living with the effects of childhood trauma such as domestic violence, neglect, sexual abuse, illness or grief. Through the delivery of nationally accredited and evidence-based therapy and education services, KidsXpress is leading the way in early-intervention services by protecting children and youth from the insidious and cumulative effects of toxic stress – and a childhood that no young person should have to endure.

Our vision is to create a future our children deserve. Our mission is to transform the lives of children impacted by emotional trauma through leading expressive therapy and education programs. Our purpose is to enhance the emotional well-being of children, their families and their communities by managing and minimising the impact of emotional trauma as we work in partnership with schools, welfare agencies and mental health professionals to inspire children to thrive.