World Kindness Day: Commentary from Kath Koschel, founder of Kindness Factory.
What does World Kindness Day mean to you as an individual, and to the Kindness Factory as an organisation?
This year marks our tenth birthday as we officially launched on World Kindness Day in 2015. It's a beautiful reminder that kindness is important, but we do need to practice kindness every day!
Why is it important for the Kindness Factory to partner with a brand like KIND Collective?
We like to partner with brands that walk the walk, not just talk the talk. KIND Collective walks the walk in all areas of business.
What does the Kindness Factory’s partnership with KIND Collective mean to you? What will a contribution of $40,000 mean to these school initiatives?
For me, it's about the people. I love all of the staff at KIND Collective, and I love their mission. $40k would mean that we can reach 40 schools with our Social and Emotional Learning curriculum platform
In 2024, you were announced as the NSW Australian of the Year. Can you tell us about what this means to you and the Kindness Factory?
To be honest, the thing that makes me most proud about that honour is that Kindness is being taken seriously for the first time that I am aware of. Anthony Albanese also referenced kindness six times in his acceptance speech when being named our Prime Minister again this year, so it's certainly making headway!
The Kindness Factory highlights 8,405,262 acts of kindness that have been logged. What does this mean/ track?
This means that 8,405,262 acts of kindness have been afforded to or by someone. Things as small as offering someone a compliment or smiling at a stranger, to larger things like donating a kidney or giving someone a loan of their car!
The Kindness Curriculum is inspired by the Kindness Factory’s mission to make the world a kinder place. Can you explain a bit more about what this involves?
Kindness must start with our kids, as they are our future. Teaching them basic kindness literature means that we will automatically see an increase in kindness behaviours
The Kindness Curriculum focuses on the development of core attributes that underpin Kindness, namely: Collaboration, Compassion, Empathy, Gratitude, Honesty, Humility, Humour, Mindfulness meditation, Perspective, Positivity, Self-Acceptance and Trust.
Can you elaborate on why these attributes were selected?
When researchers and academics became involved, we very quickly realised that kindness was an umbrella term that embodies these 12 attributes. I like to think of it as differentiating niceness and kindness. Kindness is only powerful when it embodies these 12 attributes.
How do people/ teachers register and get involved with The Kindness Curriculum?
Just shoot us an email or head to our website and use a contact form.
How important is it to foster kindness early in life?
The earlier the better, as our brains are more open to absorbing kindness' impact at an early age.
How important is fostering kindness in local communities?
Australians have shown time and time again that we are stronger when we stand together. Whether it’s natural disasters, social or political challenges, or moments of personal hardship, we’ve always pulled through by helping each other and showing kindness. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, what you believe in, or who you love—kindness transcends all boundaries. It’s the force that binds us together in times of uncertainty.
What are your top tips for being kind?
The first rule of kindness is to be kind to yourself. Start there, and the rest will look after itself!
https://kindnessfactory.com/
