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About Us

Little Stars Kids runs programs to improve the lives of children who have experienced abuse and neglect and are living in foster care in Queensland. A volunteer Board of Directors provides a focus on strategy through extensive experience in a variety of fields. We have a team of amazing staff and volunteers who keep our programs running. We are supported by Corporate partnerships with our Gold Partners, Hyundai Help for Kids, QBE and Keema Children’s Foundation. We also have financial and in kind support from an amazing number of Corporate businesses and individuals. We rely on these donations to continue our work for children in care.

Our Little Stars Kids Camp Program for children aged 4-10 living in long term foster care, is designed to assist in a non-therapeutic setting, to help children who have experienced abuse and neglect and been separated from their primary caregivers, to rebuild self–esteem, build a sense of trust in others and improve their long term mental and physical health prospects. Our program achieves this by providing an environment where the children can grow through fun, laughter and building strong and lasting relationships with members of the Camp community. Little Stars Kids is a registered charity and public benevolent institution.

Meet the Board

Little Stars Kids Board of Directors are all volunteers and are passionate about creating a better life for children living in foster care and have extensive and varied experience across a variety of sectors. Find out more about our Board below:

Lisa Honeychurch

Director

Lisa is passionate about helping children who have experienced abuse and neglect. Lisa has practised as a litigation and employment lawyer for over 20 years and was previously a partner in a mid-size law firm in Brisbane City. Lisa ran her own legal practice for 9 years in Brisbane City, Honeychurch Workplace Lawyers, specialising in advising employers and employees on all aspects of employment law and providing training to managers and staff in risk management. She currently provides consultancy services in employment law to a large enterprise.

Lisa has provided pro bono legal services to Act for Kids and was a member of the previous Act for Kids Research Committee for some years where she assisted in the decision making process regarding allocation of funds for research relating to children who have experienced abuse.

She has also acted for foster parents in relation to matters pertaining to long term custody and the best interests of the child. She is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of children who are living in foster care who have experienced abuse or neglect.

Megan Laraghy

Director

Megan has been an educator in the field of early childhood education for over 26 years. She is currently a teacher at Lady Gowrie Love Street Community Kindergarten. In 2014, the Queensland University of Technology acknowledged her for excellence in Mentoring Early Childhood Pre-service Teachers.

As teacher-researcher, Megan takes on an active role in researching relationships, friendships and the role of the teacher in the early learning environment. She has presented at the Lady Gowrie Conference, speaker at Gowrie Symposium, and was a key note speaker for the Jean Ferguson Memorial Lecture at Queensland University of Technology.

Megan has a particular interest in the role of trauma in the developing brain and early attachment. Megan also takes an active role in the Camp program and has been involved with the camp program as volunteer camp leader since 2016.

Tristan van Riel

Director

Tristan is the Dealer Principal and Chief Operating Officer of the Keema Automotive Group in Queensland which operates over 5 sites across Brisbane and employs around 250 staff.

Tristan has an accounting background and was previously the Chief Financial Officer of the Keema Automotive Group.

Tristan has significant experience in financial matters and developing the strategic direction of the Keema Group.

Tristan is committed to making a difference in the lives of children living in care through the work of the Keema Childrens’ Foundation. He has been a Pyjama Angel with the Pyjama Foundation for several years, working with children in care to increase literacy and numeracy.

Kerrie Taylor

Director

Kerrie has a background in marketing and communications and runs Pollen Communications.

Kerrie combines her bright and creative personality with her formal qualifications in integrated marketing communications producing results with an innovative edge. With more than 15 years’ experience across public relations, events and marketing, Kerrie has built a solid yet diverse clientele across the property, construction, retail, mining, tourism, health and fitness, not-for-profit and luxury product sectors.

A passionate and experienced communicator with a love for writing, Kerrie is passionate about using her skills to assist Little Stars Kids to build its presence to enable it to continue to support children in foster care.

Randall Bryson

Director

Randall is a Director at BDO Australia, an international accountancy firm, and has extensive experience in retail, particularly in the automotive sector but also more broadly with experience in food and beverage retail. His employment with a multi franchise dealership and a national automotive retail chain, as well as 15 years in chartered accounting, provides an excellent platform for specialist professional services. He is able to understand and support his clients with their operational and statutory requirements.

Randall is committed to making a difference in the lives of children living in care through the work of the Little Stars Kids and our Little Stars Kids Camps which provide so much Fun and laughter.

David Brown

Director

David is the General Manager for the Keema Automotive Group in Queensland which operates over 5 sites across Brisbane and employs around 250 staff.

David has a Mechanical Background which lead to him starting with the Keema Automotive Group 18 years ago, and along with many other roles, is directly in charge of Operational matters for the Keema Automotive Group.

David is committed to making a difference in the lives of children living in care through the work of the Little Stars Kids and our Little Stars Kids Camps which provide so much Fun and laughter.

Jan van Riel

Director

Jan is a director of Keema Automotive Group.

Jan has a background in early childhood education, having been a school teacher for many years.

Jan lived overseas in Indonesia for many years and has a passion for helping children who have been abused or neglected.

Our Staff

Heather Rapkins

Camp Program Co-Ordinator

Heather volunteered with Little Stars in 2016 inaugural camp providing knowledge and experience from her 20+ years experience as a volunteer with Camp Quality in various positions Companion, Camp Leader, Program Committee Member and Volunteer Interviews and Training.

Heather has over 10 years experience in senior management delivering Family Centred Services to families to improve their hospital experience and is currently developing an entertainment and distraction program for Hummingbird House, Qld’s only Children’s Hospice.

Katie Vaughan

Program Administrator

I began working with Little Stars Kids in March 2019 as Program Administrator after having spent 10 years at home, being a Mother to my children. The majority of my working career prior to this had me supporting a successful team of Financial Advisers in the high-pressure world of Mergers and Acquisitions.

Having had such a long break from working, I felt a need to balance my life with caring for my children, running my household, personal health and fitness and something for me. Enter Little Stars Kids! There was no better way to fulfil this need than by using my skills for a charity working at bettering the lives of children in care.

My role is to handle the day-to-day administration related to our Camp Program – there is a huge amount of work that goes in to ensuring our camps are a success. It is wonderful to be able to communicate with the carers whose children attend the camps, deal with the volunteers who give up their time to attend camps to support these children and liaise with the many suppliers, supporters and donors that make up the balance of what Little Stars Kids stands for. I am grateful every day that I have such a role in this wonderful charity!

Ana Jeanmonod

Cuddle Case Liaison

I joined Little Stars Kids in 2019 as a volunteer in the camp program and love getting to know and support the children. I studied law in Brazil and hold a Diploma of Community Services in Australia and have a passion for human rights and helping people, particularly the most disadvantaged in society.

Being able to help children in foster care through the LSK Cuddle Cases Program is immensely fulfilling and to see the difference it makes to a child entering care – its huge. These children are so helpless and we owe it to these children to do all we can to help them feel safe and protected.

Nou Nou Kinnavong (Volunteer)

Project Support and Cases Program Manager

I have been a volunteer with Little Stars Kids since 2018 and absolutely love seeing the positive difference we are making to these children. It’s been great to see them grow and develop through having fun, sharing laughter and building strong and lasting relationships. I love what Little Stars Kids stand for and I’m excited to further contribute to this wonderful charity.

My background has been working as a professional Business Development Manager at leading retail financial services organisations over the past 18 years. Whilst I’ve enjoyed building long term relationships with financial advisers and helping them to grow their businesses, I felt it was time to make a change.

The role of Project Support and Cases Program Manager will enable me to use some of my professional skills in building relationships with the Foster Care agencies and Department of child safety, a role where I can make a positive difference to the lives of children who have experienced abuse and neglect.

Our Ambassadors

Katie Taylor

Katie Taylor and her husband have been fostering for over ten years. In that time they have fostered respite, emergency and long term children. Katie has a passion for caring for kids with special needs.

Katie is kept very busy with ten full time children and one part time, ranging from 7-16 years of age. Between travelling between multiple schools, arranging family time, attending a multitude of therapies, transporting kids to and from jobs, and homeschooling one of her kids she also volunteers with QFKC as a fast rep supporting other carers to navigate what can be a very challenging system.

Di Watson

Di Watson grew up in Brisbane in the suburb of Yeronga. She and her partner Greg live at Toowong. Between them they have five children and 10 grandchildren.

A keen writer, Di has been involved in magazine publication since the early 90s. She worked on the university based social political magazine, Social Alternatives, then, in 1992, bought Brisbane Circle magazine – a community focused publication keeping Brisbanites informed of the latest happenings.

In February 2019 she produced her final printed magazine and now focuses on the social media component of the business.

Di has long been a supporter of young people and in the past worked with young women who attended a school for underprivileged girls. She mentored girls and raised funds for the improvement of life for these students. She was also commissioned by the school to gather stories and poetry from the students and publish their work.

Through the connections she made with this school she went on to design and edit books for Aunties of the Indigenous community.

Helping Little Stars reach for the stars is close to her heart and she has supported this charity through her magazine in the past. Di is looking forward to strengthening her connection with Little Stars in the future and says being an ambassador to this wonderful organisation is an absolute privilege.