Christmas can be a challenging time for children and young people in State care. Some may be unable to spend Christmas with their family, others may have recently entered care with very few belongings. Some may be spending Christmas in a residential care home.
To help brighten the season, the Department of Communities (Communities) runs a Christmas Presents for Children in Care initiative each year to bring joy and comfort to thousands of young people across Western Australia.
Run by volunteers, this initiative has been in operation since 2012, with more and more Government Departments and organisations taking part each year.
2024 wrap-up
Last Christmas, thanks to the incredible generosity of donors, volunteers and over 40 partner organisations, this initiative delivered more than 6,000 gifts to children and young people. It was a heart-warming effort supported by Communities staff and over a dozen government departments.
Check out what we did last year:
2025
We’re wrapping up for the year! The 2025 Christmas Presents for Children in Care initiative is almost complete! While we no longer need additional donors, we still need some support for deliveries to Bunbury. If you can assist, please email us at northpole@communities.wa.gov.au.
Thank you to every organisation—and the incredible staff and members behind them—who generously donated gifts or lent a helping hand. Your kindness has made Christmas brighter for thousands of children and young people in care across Western Australia.
FAQs
How does the drive work in my organisation?
Show moreOne or more staff members from your organisation act as coordinators (your “Elves”).
- Your Elves promote the drive internally and gauge interest among staff.
- They then advise Communities of how many children your organisation would like to support.
- Communities provides a list of children (first name only, sometimes with an initial), along with their age, gender and interests to help guide gift selection.
- Your Elves distribute these details to participating staff.
- Staff bring in their wrapped and labelled gifts by an agreed date.
- Presents are then either delivered to or collected by Communities and distributed to children across WA via carers, Christmas parties, or Communities staff on home visits.
Can I register for more than one child?
Show moreAbsolutely! Many donors support more than one child. Tell your Elf how many children you would like to support.
What kind of gift should I buy?
Show moreYou’ll receive age, interests, and gift suggestions for your assigned child. If you’re giving a gift card, please ensure the child can access the store – especially if they live in a remote area.
What’s the deadline for gift drop-off?
Show moreYour Elf will set an internal deadline for collecting gifts, based on the agreed delivery or pickup date with Communities. To ensure timely delivery, gifts must be at Communities by:
- Monday 24 November 2025 – North West and Murchison regions
- Thursday 4 December 2025 – everywhere else
How can I promote this initiative further?
Show moreYou can download our promotional poster (ZIP, 9.43MB), fill in the blank space with any relevant details specific to your organisations, and share it with your networks – whether that’s your workplace, community group, school or social media.
Can I volunteer in other ways?
Show moreYes! If your organisation will be travelling to locations such as the Kimberley, Pilbara, Midwest, or Southwest in late November or early December and can assist by transporting a few boxes of gifts, please contact us at northpole@communities.wa.gov.au.
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