Margo Ward is the founder and CEO of KidsXpress Life. Her vision and inspiration for this world-first program was bestowed on her by the children she worked with as Head of Play Therapy at the Sydney Children’s Hospital.  While working predominantly with chronically ill children within Oncology and ICU, Margo saw the opportunity to broaden the scope of creative approaches to therapy with children, and she began to develop a new model for looking at trauma and grief counselling.

In 2005, Margo shared her vision for a unique expressive therapy program with potential investors from the private sector.  Margo realised that by uniquely combining music, art, drama and play therapies in a group therapy context, the program would have incredible potential to transform young lives. Investors from across the private & corporate sectors believed in the potential of the program, and so KidsXpress was born.  In a short time, Margo established a highly credentialed board (including renowned economist Dr John Hewson as Chair), a talented and passionate team of therapists and sponsors, referral pathways and a robust set of program effectiveness metrics to get the attention of government and other youth support services.

In 2011 Margo was awarded a scholarship to attend the Executive Leadership Program at Stanford University, an experience that has not only underpinned the next stages of expansion of her social impact interests but also opened up opportunities to address societal issues on a broader scale.

Margo’s vision continues to shine through the work of KidsXpress; transforming the lives of hundreds of children, their families and communities through leading expressive therapies.

Hi there, my name is Nimisha but you can call me Nim, I have the fabulous job of leading the marketing team at KidsXpress.  We enjoy sharing with the world all the great work that KidsXpress does to support children facing adversity. The team along with our donors and supporters have a direct and positive impact on their lives.

Prior to joining KidsXpress I have been fortunate to have varied marketing experiences in different industries. Initially in tourism, marketing hotels and resorts. Then working in consumer marketing at Arnott’s, Nestle and Canon creating innovative campaigns for some of Australia’s well known and loved brands. I have developed new products and decided on the next flavour of chocolate to launch!  After a stint of running my own business I found myself looking for something new and more rewarding, I found it at KidsXpress.

I hope to make a difference to KidsXpress and the not for profit sector by bringing new ideas and learnings from other industries. I believe in a planned and strategic marketing approach grounded in a solid understanding of our audience and supporters.

When I am not at Kidsxpress, I am a chauffeur, cook and cleaner…..also known as Mum to two young kids!  To relax I love to go for walks, read books, catch up with friends and play board games with my family.

I am a professional who has worked in the Not-for-Profit sector since 1999. I feel fortunate that I have found what gets me bounding out of bed in the morning, which is working for organisations that help others. I am passionate about the Finance, Administration, HR and Governance of NFPs and Charities (everything that keeps the engine running), feeling the greatest work satisfaction when I can implement structures that make client-facing staff’s worklife easier. I know I’m in the right job because when I’m budgeting, I’m in my happy place.

Previously I have worked for organisations such as Helping Minds WA, Kulcha Multicultural Arts of WA, Qld Artworkers Alliance, Playlab Inc, Netball NSW and I met my husband, Jas, while working for the Woodford Folk Festival. Jas and I have two amazing boys, Xavier and Felix. Whilst I have lived all around Australia and the world, my family and I moved to Sydney in early 2014 and absolutely love it here.

Other than that, I am an avid stay-cationer, spending as much of my time as I can on our back deck reading books, playing pool, cuddling our beautiful puppies, swimming in the pool and inching ever closer to “the Good Life” by tending our fruit trees, vege patches and chooks.

Hi, I’m Kirsty and I am very grateful to be able to bring to the KidsXpress Team a broad range of expertise including management and operational experience in the not for profit sector.

I have held management roles with Wesley Mission and The Butterfly Foundation where I was responsible for the leadership, direction and oversight of Programs and Corporate Services respectively.

As Head of Business Services at KidsXpress I am responsible for the day to day operations of the organisation and provide leadership and support to the management team to drive organisational performance in line with strategic priorities and objectives. I am passionate about extending the reach of KidsXpress Programs so that we can provide support to more children.

Hi, my name is Erin and I love being a part of the KidsXpress team as a Registered Music Therapist! I believe that music is a powerful resource that we can use for our physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing, and I am passionate about working alongside children in creative and playful ways to explore what this looks like! I have experience working with younger and older children, and their families, to support healthy relationships, emotional wellbeing, resilience and empowerment, using music to foster beauty, connection, and self-expression. It’s such a privilege to share in the lives of children as they grow and develop; I love seeing them build skills and self-confidence to creatively express themselves and learn adaptive ways of coping through meaningful, strengths-based interactions.

Hi. I’m Jade and I’m honoured to be an expressive therapist at KidsXpress. I have a Master’s degree in Art Therapy from La Trobe University and I am also a certified Synergetic Play Therapist and trauma-informed yoga instructor through Yoga Impact Charity. I love using art and play with mindfulness, breath and movement in therapy to help build safety, self-regulation skills, and emotional awareness.

I have worked in schools for 18 years, as well as child and adolescent mental health and community organisations, where I have witnessed the benefits of expression and creativity in helping children build resilience, increase self-awareness and self-esteem, improve relationships and facilitate change.

I am also passionate about trauma-informed education and teacher wellbeing, and I am so excited to be part of the school partnership program at KidsXpress. I would love to one day see trauma-informed expressive therapists in every school.

Hello, my name is Robyn, and am a Trauma Informed Consultant at KidsXpress.

As a team member in the schools program, I invest my time and energy sharing the importance and benefits of a trauma informed approach within primary education. I work collaboratively with staff, parents and students to find ways to make education an accessible and a positive experience. The best learning happens when children and teachers feel safe, valued and connected. The work that teachers, principals and support staff do with children is so crucial, and I am passionate about staff wellbeing.

I am a Social Worker with over twenty years’ experience. Most of my work has been in out-of-home care and adoption, and I have experience with children and families seeking asylum in the United Kingdom. I have seen the challenges children with developmental trauma face in the education setting and have witnessed how resilient kids can be who have experienced significant adversity.  It is encouraging to see new developments in research on the impact of trauma on young brains and to know there are ways to support and empower students and educators.

I have completed a Graduate Certificate for Art and Play Therapy and have two years’ experience in play therapy. I love the spontaneity and creativity of children and young people and am always amazed by the different ways children find to express their inner world. Working with schools who are supportive of expressive therapies and actively applying trauma informed practice is a real privilege.

Welcome to KidsXpress, my name is Samantha Fieldes. I am a registered Social Worker bringing over 30 years of passion, professional development and experience working therapeutically with individuals, groups, families and communities living with the effects of trauma including adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). I am driven by a strong commitment to Relationship, Resilience and Recovery; whole person health and wellness, working in collaboration with individuals to realise their inherent human rights whilst mobilising social justice, inclusion and self-determination. These values are central to my work ethic, reflecting on what a wonderful privilege and responsibility it is to bear witness to human resilience and recovery, guiding my pursuit in building a more nuanced framework for exploring each person’s lived experience, remaining curious, responsive, creative and reflective.

I have worked in a variety of settings including mental health (children & adults), sexual & reproductive health, child development & early intervention, domestic violence & coercive control, family support, disability services, GLBTIQ+ and HIV services, education and health.  My underpinning theoretical concepts informing practice include attachment, neurodiversity, trauma informed, systems, psychodynamic, strengths, culturally responsive and somatic theories. My current work includes delivering evidence guided training and psycho-education to community including parents and carers, educators and teachers, mental health professionals, health clinicians and corporate personnel. I have acquired extensive experience in the provision of clinical supervision and student placement supervision, along with academic teaching within a Social Work Undergraduate program.

I have a degree in Social Work (University NSW/Aus Catholic University), and currently undertaking a Masters of Counselling Social Work (University of NSW) whilst acquiring accreditation as a Registered Mental Health provider via the Australian Association of Social Workers.  I am a mother of two beautiful children (13 & 21 years old) and a 1 yr old fur baby.

Hi! My name is Yvette. I enjoy bright colours, playing board games, and drinking tea. I am scared of spiders. I am a Social Worker by training, and have experience working with young people and families who have experienced trauma. Chapters of my story have included being a counsellor, case worker, volunteer mentor, music teacher, student, practitioner, and now ‘expressive therapist’!

It is such a joy to be a part of this team, and to work alongside young people and hear their unique stories. I am passionate about creativity, self-expression, empowerment, exploring strengths and resilience, and having fun.

I can’t wait to meet you and hear your story!

Hi, my name is Liz and I am thrilled to join the KidsXpress village. I have been in awe of KidsXpress and their work for years. So much so it inspired me to study a Masters of Art Therapy which I completed in 2019. I have worked with children and their families for 10 years, and I have seen how expressive therapy has been such as powerful tool to support children and their families heal.

Throughout my time working with children I have always been challenged to think in new ways to support and help children and their families. They have taught me to think outside the box and challenge the ways that I work all the time. Children’s views and opinions are very important to me, and I always believe in listening to children and their ideas about how we can create a world they want to live in.

I’m a dedicated art therapist, health worker and a practicing professional artist with a double masters in Art and Art Therapy/Counselling. I have extensive experience working with numerous mental health & community organisations, in the disability sector and in youth drug and alcohol addiction services.  My own artistic practice is multifaceted and focuses on capturing time through movement as well as stillness.

Through my drawings, and series of still lives that encase the essence of an individual, I urge my audience to ponder upon the subject of existence and non-existence and I’ve been fortunate to have exhibited in numerous shows across India and Australia.

I look forward to working as an Expressive Therapist with the team at KidsXpress.

Hello, my name is Kristen and I am one of the art therapists here at KidsXpress. I love creating and exploring! While volunteering at an organisation for women and children in Mexico, I discovered how art can not only support creative expression and healing, but also build meaningful connection between two people when words are not available.

After completing my Masters in Art Therapy at the University of Western Sydney, I worked for many years as an art therapist at a long term residential rehabilitation unit for women and children. During this time I also received training in the Circle of Security Parenting Program. I cherish the many opportunities of 'being-with' children as we create, explore and navigate their world together. Collaborating with my team to discover the endless possibilities for supporting children through the creative therapies is a dream come true.

Hello, my name is Rebecca and I am the Manager, Fee for Service/Training

I love working with children, young people and families and am passionate about creating and supporting resilient families and communities.  I am a people-person and find that interacting with people brings joy and awe to my life. I have an honours degree in Psychology (UNSW) and have completed numerous post-graduate courses over my working life.  For the past 25 years I have been working in the Out of Home Care system supporting children, young people, families and carers as a caseworker, intensive family support worker, adolescent specialist caseworker and more recently as the main recruiter, assessor and trainer for a non-government foster care agency.

My aspiration is to encourage and support educators, parents, and carers to gain a greater understanding of developmental trauma, trauma-informed practices and emotional intelligence and utilise and apply this knowledge in their attachments and relationships with children, young people and the community.

As Nelson Mandela said “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.

Hi, I am the Coordinator – Induction & Professional Development / Expressive Therapist at KidsXpress.

I graduated from the University of Technology Sydney in 2001 with a Post Graduate Diploma in Music Therapy.  With 20+ years’ experience, I have practiced both here in Australia as well as overseas and was part of the start-up team at KidsXpress in 2006.

I am passionate about people strengthening their sense of self, belonging and connection and see expressive therapies playing an important and unique role in healing.

What I enjoy most about my role at KidsXpress is being completely ‘in the moment’ with children when they recognise they do have a “voice” – a “voice” they can use to freely express their feelings and emotions about themselves and their lives, with or without words.

Hi! My name is Sarah . Creativity, self-expression and art have always been a huge part of my life and I feel extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to work within a field which allows me to explore these passions with others every day. Whilst working across a number of creative support roles within the humanitarian sector (specifically with recent arrival refugee and asylum seeker families), I was made aware of the intrinsically healing nature of creative expression and its capacity to create connection.

During the completion of my Master of Art Therapy at Western Sydney University, I was lucky enough to complete my student placement at KidsXpress. I absolutely adored the opportunity to work with the children and the dynamic therapeutic team which explores feelings, emotions, connections and identity using a collaborative creative landscape. Having now secured work as a registered art therapist at KidsXpress, I can honestly say my job is a dream come true and I am inspired everyday by the incredible children and the creativity they bring!

Hi, my name is Tammy, I am the Programs Operations Manager with KidsXpress. I previously worked in a Chartered firm for many years, and have since been fortunate to work as Company accountant for a number of small businesses across many industries including manufacturing, property development, real estate and events. I am inspired by the kindness and creativity of the KidsXpress team and am grateful for the opportunity to facilitate the wonderful work they do.

Hi, I'm Jaye, I love the colour purple, my favourite flowers are pink peonies and I love being creative wherever and whenever I can.

I am passionate about working in the Not for Profit sector, having had many years experience and I have a genuine love of helping people.

It is my hope that my industry and work experiences can help KidsXpress to continue to be an organisation that is efficient, effective and sustainable.  I have qualifications and industry experience in Administration, Property Management, Event Management and Coordination, Retail Management, Human Resources and Floristry.

As Events and Administration Manager at KidsXpress, I am responsible for the efficient management of the Sydney Office, Supplies Management, the development and implementation of KidsXpress Policies & Procedures as well as all of our Fundraising Events.

Hi! I’m Maria and I joined the KidsXpress village in 2018. With over 20 years’ experience in the not-for-profit world, working for an organisation that affecats real change is of utmost importance to me. KidsXpress is one such amazing organisation.

As Communications Manager, my role here is to tell our story and share our vision of creating a future all children deserve. Essentially, I get paid to spend my time on social media. It doesn’t get much better!

I’m also responsible for convincing foundations and philanthropists to part with their well-earned money through grant applications – it’s incredibly touching when they recognise our impact and join us as partners in creating a better future for vulnerable children in Australia.

When I’m not at KidsXpress, I love spending time with my husband and two children – both of whom are already avid social media and gaming fans. They’ve even convinced me to create my own Fortnite account and then tweet about how badly I play the online game!