ARA Property Services has had a long-standing partnership with the charity Very Special Kids (VSK), to raise awareness and funds. Very Special Kids supports families of children with life threatening conditions.
During 2014, ARA raised over $100,000 for the charity. This was achieved through the charity gala, ARA Property Services’ Fundraising Café where staff are treated to a barista and chef. ARA Property Services has also committed staff to volunteer through its Employee Volunteer Program to assist with various VSK-initiated fundraising events throughout the calendar year.
Very Special Kids is a unique organisation that supports families throughout their experience of caring for children with life-threatening conditions, from diagnosis through to recovery or bereavement. The services are offered free of charge by a team of professional family support workers and hospice staff with backgrounds in social work, psychology, family therapy and nursing. These staff are supported by trained family volunteers.
The organisation has operated Very Special Kids House since 1996, as Australia’s first – and Victoria’s only – children’s hospice, providing planned and emergency respite and end-of-life care.
The ARA Group acknowledges the connection of people, land and communities within the areas that we work. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
We seek to maintain meaningful partnerships by undertaking the appropriate engagement practices within our business and for our communities. We know the importance of respecting, understanding and sharing the oldest living cultures in the world.