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RAPID TLC Service

About RAPID TLC

The RAPID TLC Service is the fastest referral system of its kind in Australia. Approved healthcare professionals can contact us to request free emotional and practical support for sick children in need, and their families. TLC for Kids is committed to responding to all requests immediately, actioning them within 24 – 48 hours, if not within the hour – hence the name ‘RAPID TLC.’ With rapid turnaround and no restrictive criteria, TLC for Kids strives to ensure that no child misses out. 

More about the Program

Healthcare Referral System

Our services are closely integrated with hospital operating systems, taking requests only through the professional healthcare network across Australia. Upon assessing the needs of the patient, approved healthcare professionals contact us securely to request support for the sick child and/or their family. Referrals are for any child, with any sickness, or any health condition, from newborn to 21 years of age.

RAPID TLC Requests

 Once a healthcare professional has reached out to us, TLC for Kids gets to work on sourcing the very best practical and emotional support for the patient and their family. Requests can range from arts and crafts activities, to dream experiences, to a day or weekend away for the family and patient, to assisting funeral expenses when tragedy does occur. Each request is fulfilled with thought and love from TLC for Kids.

Rapid Turnaround Times

TLC for Kids addresses all requests within 24 – 48 hours, if not sooner. We understand that many unfortunate children, as well as their families, are often in need of immediate practical and emotional support. Other support systems may leave families waiting for up up to a year; at TLC for Kids, we act instantly to help these individuals through stressful situations however we can.

Any Child, Any Condition

Unfortunately, many children who miss out on the help they so desperately need as they don’t qualify for existing support services. We catch those children who fall through the gaps, including accident and burns victims and children with rare illnesses and diseases. With rapid turnaround and no restrictive criteria, TLC for Kids strives to ensure that no child misses out. 

 

The Stats that Matter

Last Financial Year (2016-2017)

Since 1998

239

RAPIDs delivered last year

956

Individuals supported as a result

|

7,225

Total number of Rapids fulfilled

29,384

Individuals supported as a result

More about Requests

Common Requests

  • Items such as prams, car seats and clothes
  • Contributions to funerals and memorials
  • Payment of outstanding bills to ease the financial burden on families in hospital
  • Equipment that can assist in managing conditions and illnesses
  • Contributions to transport and accommodation costs
  • Memorable experiences for kids and their families
  • Toys, games, music and books that can help distract children during long hospital stays

Some recently fulfilled Requests

  • Two projection lights for a teenage boy with acquired brain injury. He doesn’t respond to much, but responded well to lights in a therapeutic sensory room. So, we gave him projection lights to create an amazing night sky similar to the sensory room.

  • A contribution to travel expenses for a bereaved family. After their young son died, the family was travelling to Japan to try to enjoy time together, and wanted to visit the movie studio that made their son’s favourite movie.

  • A special Fisher Price Swing and Musical Mobile to settle an extremely premature baby and assist her development.

  • A contribution to a large seahorse commode for a boy with airway vulnerability and spinal muscle atrophy type 1, to help his showering and personal care.

  • A name badge similar to Royal Children’s Hospital staff for a girl with a life-threatening tissue disease We gave her three fun name badges just the same as the RCH nurses wear on the ward, custom-made with a Butterfly, Bunny and Pig print, with her name at the bottom. We also included a Hello Kitty Bag.

  • Payment of expensive phone and electricity bills to help ease the burden on a struggling family. Less than a week old, their newborn boy with a very rare genetic disorder required intensive lifesaving medical management and was intubated at day 6 of life and placed on CPA. They lived a distance away and the loss of income, cost of travel and mounting bills weighed heavily on the family unit.

  • Transport and accommodation contributions to a number families attending bereavement gatherings around the country.

  • Distraction for a 3-year-old boy who experienced a crush injury to his hand when it was caught in a cement mixer. TLC for Kids provided a portable DVD player and a selection of DVDs with lots of his favourite characters, to help keep him entertained while recovering in hospital.

  • A Personal Alarm System to enable a Mum to contact 000 and Emergency Services with the simple press of a button and not have to hold a phone while attending to her daughter when she is unable to breathe. Her 2-year-old girl has multiple conditions that have resulted in 8 respiratory arrests, and she was struggling financially, unable to afford this equipment. She was in tears and so relieved to hear that TLC for Kids could help out.

  • Cricket World Cup Tickets for a family whose cricket-loving 3-year-old boy suffers from a rare illness with a very poor prognosis.

  • Lego and an awesome comics package to a 16-year-old boy with heart failure, who celebrated his 17th birthday in hospital. We also gave Luna Park tickets to his sister who missed celebrating her 18th birthday due to the family’s struggle.

Reasons for Referral

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