For Saurav Patel, nominating Kookaburra Kids for a grant through the Milford Community Connection Program was an opportunity to bring together two important parts of his life: financial advice and volunteering to support young people.
The program allows Advisers to nominate a charity to receive a grant, supporting causes with a connection to their communities. For Kookaburra Kids, that support will help continue camps and activity days for young people impacted by family mental illness across Australia.
Saurav, an Associate Director – Investment & Strategy Adviser, began volunteering with the Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation in 2022. Initially drawn to the opportunity to give back through social and activity-based programs, he soon saw the value of the charity’s mental health education.
“I know how important funding and donations are to the Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation,” Saurav says. “It was also great to be able to support the charity financially and complement the work I do personally.”
His nomination was not the only one. Elizabeth Harburg, Head of Partnerships at Kookaburra Kids, says the charity was nominated independently by two Milford Advisers: Saurav, a regular volunteer with its Canberra team, and Archana, who is newer to the Kookaburra Kids community.
“Having two Advisers independently recognise the value of our work means a great deal to us, we simply can’t achieve our mission without the support of the broader community and we are thrilled to have both Saurav and Archana as such strong supporters,” Elizabeth says.
Archana, a Financial Planner and the owner of Freshwater Wealth Solutions, began volunteering with the charity in 2024. “I have been inspired by the positive impact it has on young people and their families,” she says. “Through my involvement, I have seen firsthand how the organisation provides meaningful support, encouragement and opportunities to those who need it most. This experience made it an easy choice when selecting a charity to support.”
Building skills, friendships and connection
Kookaburra Kids delivers programs in every Australian state and territory, with a focus on enabling young people impacted by family mental illness to thrive. Its programs offer a safe, supportive environment to build friendships, develop mental health knowledge and learn practical skills to support wellbeing.
“Our programs combine evidence-informed mental health education with recreational activities and opportunities to connect with other young people who understand what they are going through,” Elizabeth says.
Almost every weekend, the charity runs camps and activity days across Australia. Elizabeth says the Milford Community Connection Program grant will help Kookaburra Kids continue offering these programs, supporting young people to build skills, knowledge and connections. Saurav’s grant application also highlighted the opportunity to make more program places available to young people on the charity’s waitlist.
Archana says her motivation for applying for the grant was a passion for supporting young people facing challenges. “Providing them with access to programs, guidance and opportunities can help them develop into confident, responsible citizens who positively contribute to their communities and Australia’s future economy,” she says.
When Archana shared news of the grant with the charity, the response was immediate. “They were absolutely delighted,” she says. “The additional funding will help support the development and delivery of new programs for children and young people, allowing the charity to extend its reach and make a greater impact in the community.”
Community support that makes a difference
For Elizabeth, a strength of the Milford Community Connection Program is the way it draws on Advisers’ local connections to identify charities making an impact. She says this helps bring attention and support to charities and communities that might otherwise go unnoticed.
“It means a great deal to us to know that people within the Milford community believe in our mission and want to help us achieve it,” she says.
Archana agrees, saying the program’s greatest strength is its focus on giving back. “The best thing about the Milford Community Connection Program is its focus on giving back to the community and supporting organisations that make a genuine difference,” she says. “By investing in programs that support young people, the initiative helps create positive opportunities and stronger outcomes for future generations.”
Saurav hopes the relationship between Milford and Kookaburra Kids will continue to grow. For him, the program has created a meaningful connection between his professional life and a cause he supports personally.
“It’s not every day that financial planning crosses over into mental health education, but the Milford Community Connection Program allowed me to bridge two areas of my life that I am passionate about and deliver support for an important charity in the form of the Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation (AKKF),” he says.
For Archana, taking part has been just as meaningful. “Being part of this program is both rewarding and humbling,” she says. “It provides an opportunity to combine my professional role with my passion for community involvement and to support an organisation that is making a real difference in young people’s lives.”
Archana also thanked Milford for its support. “Programs like this not only provide valuable financial support but also raise awareness of the important work these organisations do every day,” she says. “I am proud to be involved and look forward to seeing the positive impact these funds will have on the lives of young people and their families.”
Elizabeth’s message to Milford and the Advisers who nominated the charity is one of thanks: “Every dollar we raise helps us get closer to a future where every young person impacted by family mental illness is supported and given the opportunity to flourish without limits.”
