All aboard the Christmas presents sleigh

Santa Claus and his elves delivered presents to more than 6,000 children and young people in out-of-home care and in family support cases for Christmas. The annual collaboration involved more than 40 generous organisations this year.

The Department of Communities (Communities) once again led the Christmas present drive which started in November and involved many 'elves' working together, including Chief Elf Malcolm Tsang.

"This year, we're very happy to have enlisted even more elves from the WA Police Force, TransWA, the Health Department, the Department of Premier and Cabinet and other ministerial offices, and many other organisations across Western Australia, to ensure the children and young people receive some Christmas joy," Malcolm said.

"Our colleagues at Communities have also been extremely generous in providing presents to the children, and we are very grateful to everyone who has spent time wrapping and labelling presents, boxing them up to be transported to the regions and helping out where they could."

Delivery coordination this year involved the WA Police Air Wing, TransWA’s Prospector train, Woolworth’s and their transportation partner Primary Connect, Main Roads and their partner agency, the Fitzroy Bridge Alliance, Pilbara Kimberly Universities, True North Adventures, Bishop Transport, Skippers Aviation, Geraldton Transport and Communities' own “sleigh” drivers.

In the Goldfields region, it took one month from the call-out time for 233 presents to be packed and delivered, which included ‘elves’ dashing between the East Perth train station and Jandakot airport to ensure presents were delivered on time by 6 December.

Communities’ Matt Haines, who also works with the Care Bags charity in his spare time, was delighted to report that 6,300 chocolate stockings were donated for Santa to hand out at children and carer Christmas parties around the State.

The Christmas Presents for Children in Care drive starts when Communities staff and supporting organisations are asked to register as a gift donor.

Staff from Child Protection teams nominate children and young people who would benefit from a Christmas present.

Priority recipients are those who have recently entered care, are unlikely to spend time with their parents or siblings over Christmas, are in residential care facilities, are teenagers living on their own, have carers or limited financial means and who have experienced other recent hardship.

You can access ‘Teddy’s Christmas Journey’ on YouTube; a two-minute video capturing the journey of a Christmas present to a child in care.