Kids Under Cover is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to preventing youth homelessness.
We offer young people the unique combination of supported housing options with scholarships
Kids Under Cover supports vulnerable young people at risk of homelessness by building studios
There are many ways to get involved and help at-risk young people and their families.
For almost 30 years, Kids Under Cover has grown and adapted to changing needs, but the vision of our late founder remains at the heart of everything we do.
For decades, Ken Morgan enjoyed great admiration for his extraordinary work in the automotive industry and was a familiar face and friend to many. A much loved and popular personality, Ken’s public persona masks a very difficult past. At 16, he became a homeless teenager after his mother’s unexpected passing.
After hitting the road with little direction and no funds, Ken found himself sleeping on a park bench in Sydney’s Kings Cross. Woken by a local policeman on the early morning beat, Ken appeared dazed and confused. The officer took pity and sat down beside him. Three hours later Ken’s life had been changed forever. A complete stranger had taken time to show Ken there were people out there who really did care. Ken never forgotten the message of hope delivered on that significant day.
Ken continued to honour the commitment he made all those years ago to helping build better future prospects for young people doing it tough.
In 1989 the federal government released “Our Homeless Children – Report of the National Inquiry into Homeless Children” by Brian Burdekin. The disturbing findings moved Ken to raise the funds to build a house for homeless young mothers. This coupled with Ken’s passion to increase the support offered to young people facing homelessness instigated the birth of Kids Under Cover.
Ken was a recipient of a Humanitarian Award from the Australian Humanitarian Foundation (2000), and the Centenary Medal (2003) for his services to the community – in particular youth homelessness.
Chair of the Variety Club (Vic) for four years, Ken also became a Variety Club National Board Member.
A Life Governor of the Royal Children’s Hospital, Ken was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2010. He received this award in recognition of his philanthropic work with sick children through the Royal Children’s Hospital and Variety Club Australia; and of course his work over the years in the fight against youth homelessness.
Ken’s passing in 2022 was felt deeply within the Kids Under Cover family and across philanthropic circles, but his legacy continues to thrive through the success stories of the families and young people for whom he cared so deeply.
