Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal launches for 2026
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has launched the 2026 Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal, with a call for Australians to help brighten Christmas for those doing it tough.
Commissioner Miriam Gluyas (Territorial Commander) and Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Hateley (Secretary for Communications) represented The Salvation Army at the launch on Monday 26 October at Parliament House, alongside other dignitaries including the Honourable Angus Taylor MP, Leader of the Opposition, and Managing Director of the Kmart Group Aleks Spaseska.
With the Kmart Wishing Tree now in its 39th year, the Prime Minister said he was proud to support the appeal. He said the appeal captured the generosity of Australians and the power of communities looking out for one another.
“For almost four decades, the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal has given Australians a simple way to show generosity at Christmas,” the Prime Minister said.
In 2025, Australians donated more than 350,000 gifts to the Appeal. Each gift supports a child, adult, senior or family experiencing hardship. The Salvation Army’s Paul Hateley said every donation helped bring joy at Christmas and practical support throughout the year.
Images: Nadia Benussi
“Every year, Australians support The Salvation Army and the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal to bring hope to people in our community who need a hand. Through the generosity and kindness of people who donate a gift, we are able to help make Christmas a little brighter while also providing practical support to people throughout the year,” Paul said.
The Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal is Australia’s largest and longest-running gift collection drive, and since its inception, more than 14 million gifts have been distributed to people in need.
Aleks Spaseska said as the Kmart team looks towards 40 years of the Wishing Tree in 2027, they wanted this year to be the biggest yet.
“For 39 years, our customers and communities have made the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal what it is today – one of Australia’s most powerful traditions of giving. It starts with one simple act: choosing a gift and placing it under the tree. For the person who receives it, that gift can mean so much more. It says to them that they matter and that their community cares,” Aleks said.
“At Kmart, our purpose is to make everyday living brighter. That includes using the reach of our stores and the strength of our partnership with The Salvation Army to make it easy for customers to support families facing hardship in their own communities. We’re incredibly proud of what Australians have made possible through this Appeal.”
This year, the most-needed gifts are for teenagers, along with family-focused gifts such as board games, outdoor equipment, arts and crafts as well as headphones, backpacks, educational toys and gift cards.
You can donate a new, unwrapped gift (does not need to be purchased at Kmart) at a Wishing Tree in any Kmart store. You can also make a financial contribution via QR code, $2 donation cards, self-serve checkouts or collection boxes, or through the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal website: kmart.com.au/kmartwishingtree.
This article was prepared using information contained in a media release about the event.
