WHAT WE DO21 GIFTS is a kindness project to rewrite the narrative surrounding a child diagnosis. What started as a passion project has grown to a strong movement, with more than 120 hospitals taking part to join the celebration of babies diagnosed with T21 or CP. We have gifted more than 1000 free “suitcases for a new adventure” to families at point of diagnosis, through the caring hands of health care professionals.
We are a registered charity, funded by community donations. Our focus is twofold:
1: Provide educational resources combining our parental perspective with the science of positive psychology and leader communications. Our strengths-based and solution-focused diagnosis conversation framework aims to reduce trauma both for families and health care professionals. We deliver speaker engagements at hospital grand rounds, seminars and conferences, and provide advisory services to industry bodies.
2: Provide hospitals with free suitcases for a new adventure. The health professionals deliver the suitcases to families at point of diagnosis to balance the medical information with hope, inspiration and lived experiences.
Together, we change the focus from a medical narrative to life with an x-factor of opportunities.
Our mission: A positive ripple effect
Emotions are highly contagious. That is why we aim to create a ripple effect of positive attitudes from the moment of diagnosis. We dream big: A future where every hospital in the country is part of our kindness project, and where the medical community understands that while a child disability diagnosis is a confronting time for parents, it should also be a time of celebration. We work to create systemic change, where every baby born in Australia with a disability is welcomed to this world not with sorrys and lists of challenges, but with kindness, wonder, awe, hope and a focus on all the opportunities ahead.
“Yes, I want to become a 21 Gift-er”
Our suitcase for a new adventure
The same way every person with a disability is unique, every baby suitcase contains a variation of gifts for the family.
A mini-magazine with all the things you didn't know about life with T21 and CP. This includes a welcome letter from us, 10 positive facts, tips for inspirational social media accounts from across the world and real-life Aussie and NZ communities, plus useful national resources.
Letters of love + hope from parents and siblings ahead on this adventure, as well as letters from people living with disability.
Selection of beautiful gifts for the baby and parents.
Please note that there is no medical information in the suitcases. Our focus is quality of life, lived experiences and the psychology of transformational change following a child diagnosis.
