When Every Second Counts: The Rapid TLC Program

In hospitals across Australia, there are moments that stop everything. A diagnosis. A phone call. A parent trying to hold it together while their child faces medical trauma. In those moments, there is no time to wait for approvals or forms. Families need help right then and there. That is why the TLC for Kids’ Rapid TLC Program exists.

The Rapid TLC Program is one of the first initiatives ever created by TLC for Kids. Since 1998, it has provided immediate, practical and emotional relief for sick children and their families. It is trusted by healthcare professionals nationwide and continues to respond to urgent needs within hours, not days.

This program began with one simple idea,  that no child should suffer because help took too long to arrive.

How It Works

When a family faces a crisis, hospital staff can send a Rapid TLC request directly to TLC for Kids. The process is fast, compassionate and free from red tape. Doctors, nurses, social workers and allied health professionals can complete a simple online form that goes straight to the TLC for Kids team. Healthcare professionals can find the referral process and eligibility on our health care portal.

From there, the response begins almost immediately. Each request is personally reviewed, approved and processed by our team, who contact suppliers or partners to deliver the needed support as quickly as possible.

It might be accommodation near the hospital, groceries for a family in financial distress or fuel vouchers so parents can stay close to their child. The goal is always the same, to ease pressure, restore calm and show families that someone cares.

Real Support in Real Time

One of the things that sets the Rapid TLC Program apart is its speed. Many support systems are important but can take weeks to deliver help. Rapid TLC operates differently. It is designed to step in during those small but critical windows when a child’s wellbeing, or a parent’s hope, is at risk of slipping away.

“When I make a Rapid TLC request, I know help will come within 48 hours”

A nurse once told us, “When I make a Rapid TLC request, I know help will come within 48 hours.” That confidence matters. It gives hospital teams an extra layer of reassurance that they can offer real relief, right away.

Through this program, thousands of families have received emergency accommodation, meals, travel assistance, respite assistance and more, all within hours of being referred. These small actions create moments of stability when everything else feels uncertain.

The Power of Compassionate Care

The Rapid TLC Program does not focus on grand gestures. It focuses on the power of small moments that restore dignity and peace.

One mother told us that after weeks in hospital with her daughter, they were both exhausted. They had been sleeping in a foldout couch beside the bed, unsure how to manage another day. The hospital social worker submitted a Rapid TLC request, and within hours, we were able to provide hotel accommodation nearby. That night, the mother said she finally slept without fear. The next morning, she returned refreshed and ready to support her daughter again.

That is what Rapid TLC is about: giving families the strength to keep going.

Trusted by Healthcare Professionals

From the beginning, TLC for Kids made the decision that only healthcare professionals could submit Rapid TLC requests. This ensures that every response is genuine, targeted and timely. It also builds deep trust between TLC for Kids and the hospital community.

Across more than 22 hospitals, staff know that they can rely on TLC for Kids as an extension of their own care. For many, it is one of the few services they can call on instantly, knowing a compassionate response will follow. That partnership has become one of the strongest pillars of the charity’s success. It bridges the gap between medical care and emotional support, ensuring that families receive both.

Small Acts with Big Impact

Each Rapid TLC request might seem small,  a meal, a gift card, an Uber ride, but the collective impact is immense. These are not transactions. They are gestures of kindness that ripple through hospitals every day.

When families are supported, children cope better

When parents can stay nearby, hospital teams can focus fully on treatment

When kindness enters a hospital room, it changes the atmosphere

Rapid TLC has now created thousands of moments of impact across Australia. Every one of them represents a story of hope, a moment of calm or a parent’s sigh of relief.

Stories That Stay With Us

There was a young boy who lost his favourite teddy bear during an ambulance transfer. He refused to sleep without it. A Rapid TLC request came through, and the team located the same bear and delivered it that afternoon. The boy’s smile lit up the entire ward.

Another family, stranded far from home while their child received emergency treatment, had been sleeping in their car. Within hours of receiving the request, TLC for Kids arranged accommodation nearby. That night, the family had a bed, a shower and peace of mind.

Every story is different, but each carries the same message, that compassion, delivered swiftly, can change everything.

A Program Funded by Kindness

The Rapid TLC Program runs entirely through community support. Donations from individuals, businesses and foundations make it possible for us to respond immediately whenever a new request arrives.

Every dollar goes directly toward a family in need. Each request is handled by a real person, not a computer. Our team calls, checks, organises and delivers because every second counts.

This is what makes TLC for Kids unique. It is not just a charity. It is a lifeline built on humanity and trust.

Still Making a Difference After 25 Years

More than two decades since the first request, the purpose of the Rapid TLC Program has never changed. We respond quickly, we act with heart and we make sure no family feels forgotten.

As hospitals and families continue to face new challenges, TLC for Kids remains ready to adapt. With stronger systems, better technology and community partnerships, we are making sure that our response stays as fast and personal as ever.

The Rapid TLC Program represents everything we believe in, empathy, immediacy and impact. It shows that even the smallest act of kindness, delivered at the right moment, can make a world of difference.

Since 1998, TLC for Kids has helped over 9284 times, with just the Rapid TLC program impacting over 37,643 individuals.

How You Can Help

You can help families across Australia by:

• Making a donation to the Rapid TLC Program
  
• Becoming a Friend of TLC for Kids with a small weekly contribution
  
• Partnering as a business to fund a set number of requests each year
  
• Sharing this story so more people know that immediate help is possible

Together, we can ensure that whenever a nurse or social worker says, “I know who can help,” TLC for Kids is always ready to answer.

How Rapid TLC Fits With Our Other Services

We have developed four complementary services that work together to provide the most inclusive impact for sick children and their families: TLC Distraction Boxes in more than 400 hospitals across Australia and New Zealand; our Rapid TLC program, which delivers acts of kindness that provide immediate moments of relief in Australia; TLC Ambulance trips to treasured places to create one lasting memory in Victoria and South Australia; and a free distraction-based app called Tap 2 Distract available worldwide.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who can request Rapid TLC? Healthcare professional via our secured healthcare portal
  
• Is there any cost to families? Not at all all our services are free.
  
• How quickly do you respond? We strive to respond within 24-48 hours, or sooner if possible.
  
• Do you operate Australia-wide? Yes, our TLC Rapid Program is for any sick child and their family across our country.
  
• What kind of support can you give? Anything that brings moments of relief to a sick child or their family. These reliefs are powered by your generosity. To learn more, read our TLC Rapid Service page.

Make an impact and help kids and families in Australia

“When I make a Rapid TLC request, I know help will come within 48 hours”