Variety brings sunshine to the lives of thousands of children via its Sunshine Coach program. Since its inception, more than 1,100 Sunshine Coaches have been launched around Australia.

Children in some of our communities do not have access to wider environments, and through either disadvantaged circumstances or health issues, are unable to attend extra-curricular activities including sporting lessons, educational programs, holidays and excursions.  Sunshine Coaches are also used to take children to and from school on a daily basis.

Variety offers 12-14 seater and 22-25 seater coaches, which, depending on the needs of the children using the buses, may be modified with wheelchair access.

We request that organisations fund two-thirds of the cost of the coach, and Variety funds the balance. We understand that sometimes organisations cannot raise the two-thirds of the funds required, and Variety can accept a lesser contribution in these cases.

The steps involved in an application:

1. The organisation fills out a Variety application form.
2. The application is tabled at the next monthly Sunshine Coach committee meeting, where a committee member is assigned to work with the organisation.
3. The committee member will visit the organisation for a “meet and greet”, discuss finances and also fill out an extensive evaluation form.
4. The committee discusses the application and, if it is satisfied that the organisation is a suitable recipient for a Sunshine Coach, the application will be presented to the NSW Variety Board at the next meeting.
5. Once approved, and the money is received from the organisation, the Variety office will order the coach, including wheelchair conversions if necessary, and also organise the sign writing. The Coach will be registered in the name of the organisation.
6. Once the organisation has the Coach, Variety will liaise with the organisation for an official presentation and local publicity.

To apply for a Sunshine Coach for your school or community group, please download the Application Form.

If you have any questions, please email: appeals@varietynsw.org.au, or call Deb Gibbons on 02 9819 1003.