Target Australia has partnered with the Australian Childhood Foundation (ACF), to support vulnerable young mums and their children.
The partnership will see Target, with the help of its customers, donate $250,000 to the Foundation, which provides specialist counselling and support programs to young Australians and their families who have been traumatised by abuse and family violence.
The donated funds will be used to enable the development of a specific adaptation of the Foundation’s 'Bringing Up Great Kids' program that will focus on vulnerable young mums as they build positive and nurturing relationships with their children.
Customers can get behind the cause by purchasing an exclusive set of Christmas gingerbread pyjamas where $2 of every pair sold will be donated to the ACF.
Target MD Richard Pearson said the business is proud to support the ACF.
"Our Target family is at the heart of our business, and that family extends right across Australia – from our team members and customers, to their families and our community partners.
"We know that what we do today, helps to shape our tomorrow, and we want to ensure that we can have a lasting and positive impact to our people, and our communities, every day.
"By supporting our community – from mothers, fathers and grandparents to parental figures and children – to be safe, strong, and healthy, we can help to grow a society that holds children with safety and love.
"We’re proud of our rich heritage, and the role we play within our Target communities and that’s why we’re passionately supporting the ACF’s Bringing Up Great Kid’s Program, to help provide quality and specialist care for vulnerable parents and children in their care.
"Being a father is one of my most rewarding achievements in my life, and I feel proud that through this partnership with Target and the ACF, we can share and raise awareness about the resources available to parents, carers and families to ensure that everyone can build loving and safe relationships with children," he said.
According to research conducted this year by the ACF, child abuse and the continuing impacts on families from abuse is still largely unseen and ignored.
ACF CEO Dr Joe Tucci added that Target's support will help the Foundation support the 1000 children accessing the Foundation's services.
"At any one time, there are over 1000 children who receive specialist therapeutic support from the Foundation to heal from the trauma of abuse and family violence.
"The support of Target Australia will help us strengthen our Bringing Up Great Kids Program and make it more accessible to more parents around the country.
"Children who are hurt and denied safety face significant disadvantages.
"The stress of violence and other forms of harm also affect the mother’s well-being and safety.
"Our new partnership with Target Australia allows us to offer more support programs to mothers and their children who are affected by violence and toxic levels of stress.
"It will support parents to raise confident and happy children, who are safe and loved in all of their relationships," he said.
The adaptation to the Bringing Up Great Kids Program will focus on the first 1000 days of a child's life, helping to empower mothers to provide the care required by children to recover from the traumatic impacts of abuse and family violence, which can include mental ill-health and social and learning difficulties.
The dedicated pyjama set is available to shop in Target stores across the country, as well as online.
Customers can also make a donation to the ACF at the self-serve checkouts at their local Target store.