Tim Conolan is a passionate 47 year-old Victorian man striving to stand up for and protect the lives of hospitalised children. After attending a cancer support group as a motivational speaker at age 21, Tim was inspired by their stories to create an organisation called TLC for Kids dedicated to the support of children in hospital, regardless of age, religion, culture or illness. Tim has made it his life long ambition to endeavour positive change in the lives of hospitalised children, after noticing the lack of healthcare support services for sick kids.
Conolan has demonstrated countless significant contributions to the Australian society, positively influencing the lives of hospitalised kids and their families. Beginning his career as a motivational …show more content…
The principal goal of the organisation was to put smiles back on sick kids’ faces, and Mr Conolan is doing exactly that by delivering over 4 million smiles to kids facing traumatic experiences in hospital. TLC for Kids offers practical and emotional aid to sick and injured children and their families at over four hundred hospitals right across Australia, helping approximately 1,750 sick children and their families each year. TLC for kids involves two main aspects, the rapid TLC service and the distraction box. The rapid TLC service comprises of healthcare professionals requesting free emotional and practical support for a sick child, then contacting TLC who immediately respond to take action to the request. TLC’s unique distraction box program is designed to give nurses and doctors the tools to reduce stress, fear and anxiety in children expecting painful examinations and procedures. The box holds items that engage and distract the attention of the child. Since TLC’s founding 18 years ago, 1,700 distraction boxes have been distributed and used around 80,000 times a year in hospitals all over Australia, over 6,000 rapid services have been fulfilled, over $10.5 million raised and the organisation is reaching more kids in Australia than any other charity in the country. His continuing work and contributions to the …show more content…
Tim’s work relates to Verse 4 of the Beatitudes, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted”. This beatitude expresses that those who are going through sorrowful or painful times (like those of the children in hospitals) are understood by God and God is there for us during these times. Similarly, Tim employs this same value of understanding into his work. Like God, Tim understands the sadness, loneliness, fear and trauma that these children may experience dealing with illness, children worrying about something they shouldn’t ever have to worry about at their age; death. Through Tim’s TLC foundation, he is reaching out to comfort them. Tim and his TLC team are there for these kids when they feel most depressed and isolated. By offering emotional support through various tools like the distraction box, Tim is providing “comfort”, as stated in this beatitude. In addition, families who have lost a sick child will be mourning over them. Tim and TLC offers both financial and emotional support to again “comfort” these families through a difficult time of sadness. For example, TLC helps with funeral funds for the family to ensure a special time of parting for family and friends to both mourn and celebrate peace for the deceased child. It’s in this way that Tim and his TLC for Kids foundation lives out the compassionate mission of
Conolan has demonstrated countless significant contributions to the Australian society, positively influencing the lives of hospitalised kids and their families. Beginning his career as a motivational …show more content…
The principal goal of the organisation was to put smiles back on sick kids’ faces, and Mr Conolan is doing exactly that by delivering over 4 million smiles to kids facing traumatic experiences in hospital. TLC for Kids offers practical and emotional aid to sick and injured children and their families at over four hundred hospitals right across Australia, helping approximately 1,750 sick children and their families each year. TLC for kids involves two main aspects, the rapid TLC service and the distraction box. The rapid TLC service comprises of healthcare professionals requesting free emotional and practical support for a sick child, then contacting TLC who immediately respond to take action to the request. TLC’s unique distraction box program is designed to give nurses and doctors the tools to reduce stress, fear and anxiety in children expecting painful examinations and procedures. The box holds items that engage and distract the attention of the child. Since TLC’s founding 18 years ago, 1,700 distraction boxes have been distributed and used around 80,000 times a year in hospitals all over Australia, over 6,000 rapid services have been fulfilled, over $10.5 million raised and the organisation is reaching more kids in Australia than any other charity in the country. His continuing work and contributions to the …show more content…
Tim’s work relates to Verse 4 of the Beatitudes, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted”. This beatitude expresses that those who are going through sorrowful or painful times (like those of the children in hospitals) are understood by God and God is there for us during these times. Similarly, Tim employs this same value of understanding into his work. Like God, Tim understands the sadness, loneliness, fear and trauma that these children may experience dealing with illness, children worrying about something they shouldn’t ever have to worry about at their age; death. Through Tim’s TLC foundation, he is reaching out to comfort them. Tim and his TLC team are there for these kids when they feel most depressed and isolated. By offering emotional support through various tools like the distraction box, Tim is providing “comfort”, as stated in this beatitude. In addition, families who have lost a sick child will be mourning over them. Tim and TLC offers both financial and emotional support to again “comfort” these families through a difficult time of sadness. For example, TLC helps with funeral funds for the family to ensure a special time of parting for family and friends to both mourn and celebrate peace for the deceased child. It’s in this way that Tim and his TLC for Kids foundation lives out the compassionate mission of