The Charlie Perkins Children's Trust was formed in 2002 in the memory of the late Dr. Charlie Perkins AO.

The Trust was initially set up to assist in the following areas: improving the health of Indigenous children; educating and training Indigenous children; undertaking research into improving the status of Indigenous children; addressing the welfare of Indigenous children; and making donations to cultural organisations that promote issues relevant to Indigenous children.

In October 2008 the Trust's purposes were expanded to include the education of students as well as children and the Trust was renamed the Charlie Perkins Trust for Children & Students.