Tips for sharing your wish story
Hi wish families. Throughout the Wish Journey there will be opportunities to share your story with the media or via your own social media pages.
We know that being involved in a wish is a really exciting time – and it’s only natural you’ll want to share the experience! As a trusted children’s charity, protecting your child and family’s privacy is of utmost importance. There are also key differences between sharing wishes in your personal channels and public media. This page will guide you through how to handle media requests and what you can post online.
Media and publicity requests
How to handle requests from the media
Print, online and broadcast (such as radio and TV) media
There are different types of media organisations that may want to talk to you about your story.
Most media outlets know to contact Make-A-Wish and it’s our role to ensure any requests are safe and appropriate for you and your family. If you are approached by media directly, please explain that Make-A-Wish has a media policy and put them in touch with our media team (media@makeawish.org.au or 1800 032 260).
If you’re actively seeking media coverage or want to help raise awareness, please speak with the Wish team or contact media@makeawish.org.au. Make-A-Wish will guide and support you with any media, content or Wish Ambassador opportunities that arise.
Prior to choosing to share your story, we ask that you talk with your child and discuss your potential involvement together.
For more information see our guide to Sharing Your Story.
What to do if you receive unsolicited requests or messages
While very unlikely, if someone you don’t know gets in touch regarding your child’s story, please ask them to contact Make-A-Wish.
If they persist, you can block them and forward the email or a screenshot of the message to media@makeawish.org.au or to your Wish team contact – we’re happy to respond on your behalf.
What can you post on your social pages?
Anything that excites you and your child along your Wish Journey and is something you'd want to remember in the years to come! Your Wish Coin, anticipation activities, meeting with your Wish team volunteers (just check they're comfortable first!) – it's your wish experience, and you can share it how you choose. Just remember social media rule #1 – everything posted online is public.
In your caption, please speak about your personal experience of Make-A-Wish and how you feel about your wish, rather than sharing information about the charity.
If you'd like us to see your pics, you can tag @MakeAWishAust – that way, we'll get a notification and can interact with your content! We’d love to share in your Wish Journey!
Please be aware, if you do tag us, a much larger audience will be able to see your content.
To help protect your identity here's some suggestions:
- Check your social account privacy settings and make sure you're comfortable with them.
- If you're posting about your child online, ensure they're not identifiable. Check for things like school uniforms, school bags etc.
- Be conscious of your background: licence plate, letter box, etc.
- Check your child is comfortable with what's being shared.
Reposting content
Make-A-Wish Australia is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.
The Make-A-Wish social pages have thousands of followers. If you agree to share your story publicly and we post it online, friends and family are likely to see the post and reach out.
Some families love the support, while others can find it overwhelming. Commenting on a post of your child in a way that identifies you as the wish family may lead to comments from people you don't know. Be mindful of where you are in your journey and if you're prepared to hear from lots of people!
You're welcome to share any of our posts on your page. We encourage you to speak about your experience as a wish family and what it means to you.
Ways to support Make-A-Wish
- Share your wish story.
- Share Make-A-Wish campaigns to encourage donations or fundraising to help make more wishes come true.
- Become a Wish Ambassador after your wish takes place. This involves staying in touch, sharing your experience at events or with media.
How to get involved
If you'd like to share campaigns or become an ambassador, you can let the Wish team know or email alumstars@makeawish.org.au.
When there is a campaign or activity that you can support, we'll guide you through the process and share a toolkit with content, wording and tips to help you spread the word and generate support for wishes.
Wish children whose images feature on this page:
Jazzaiah, 14, cardiomyopathy - I wish to have a guitar pack to continue my passion of playing music.
Abigail, 6, cystic fibrosis - I wish to fly on a unicorn to unicornland.
Archie, 6, congenital heart disease - I wish to be Australia’s newest Cricket Captain.
Rory, 5, disseminated glioneuronal tumor - I wish to spend a day with my friend Batman.
Audrey, 6, retinoblastoma - I wish to go to the snow in my own rocket.
Lailah, 4, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - I wish to count all the animals at the zoo.
Grace, 9, cerebral palsy diaplegia - I wish for a pug puppy called Bella.
Armani, 8, metachromatic leukodystrophy - I wish to swim with dolphins.
Ollie, 5, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - I wish for a buffet breakfast every day.