At Lighthouse Foundation, we believe every child and young person deserves a safe, loving home and a sense of belonging. Over the past year, we’ve taken big strides in addressing youth homelessness and breaking the cycles of intergenerational trauma. Here are some highlights from our Annual Report for FY23/24.
Expanding Our Impact
In the past year, Lighthouse Foundation achieved a remarkable 39% growth in services, demonstrating our commitment to reaching more children and young people in need. This growth has allowed us to extend our programs to new communities and increase access to care for vulnerable children and youth.
One standout achievement was the grand opening of Leonie’s Place, a new hub home in Southern Melbourne, named after long-time supporter Leonie Van Raay. This beautifully designed space is a community hub that fosters a sense of belonging. It offers therapeutic care, support for kinship families, and a safe environment for young people to heal and thrive.
Additionally, our Community Connect program was expanded to the Mornington Peninsula, a region facing an urgent need for youth homelessness services. This program provides vital early intervention support, helping young people access housing, education, and employment opportunities while building lasting community connections.
Lighting The Way For Young Women
The Young Women’s Freedom Program is a Lighthouse program designed to provide a safe haven and therapeutic care for young women escaping modern slavery, forced marriage, and gender-based violence. Launched in 2018, the program operates across two transitional homes and supports young women aged 16 to 23 from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
This year, we celebrated the completion of a newly renovated home for this program, supported by an inspiring fundraising effort led by TEN Women—a group of philanthropic women from Melbourne’s property and construction sector. Their efforts raised an incredible $650,000, which was used to create a welcoming, supportive environment where young women can reclaim their independence and build brighter futures.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity and inclusion are central to everything we do at Lighthouse Foundation. This year, 15% of the young people we supported identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Through our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), we’ve strengthened partnerships with Indigenous organisations and prioritised cultural safety in our homes and programs.
Our RAP initiatives include:
- Cultural Awareness Training for staff and carers, led by Traditional Custodians.
- Events celebrating NAIDOC Week and Reconciliation Week, fostering cultural connection for young people.
- Collaborations with Indigenous organisations like the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) to ensure culturally safe practices.
These efforts ensure that every young person in our care feels respected, valued, and connected to their culture.
The Role of Community
Lighthouse Foundation thrives because of the dedication and generosity of our community. Foster carers, volunteers, and donors are the backbone of our mission, helping to create environments where young people can heal and grow.
Foster carers like Lize and Sean, who balance raising their own children with providing care to vulnerable youth, exemplify the heart of our community. Volunteers have also made incredible contributions, from organising school holiday activities to helping young people transition into independent living.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the 470 volunteers who donated their time and talents, collectively donating over 1500 hours of time.
2,600 people like you donated to support our work, ensuring high quality care operations took place for kids in need and we can’t thank you enough!
Learn More
Youth homelessness remains a critical issue, with nearly 23% of homeless Australians aged 12 to 24. By supporting Lighthouse Foundation, you’re doing more than just providing shelter—you’re giving young people the tools and opportunities they need to lead safe and fulfilling lives.
Read our full Annual Report to learn more about our impact in FY23/24.
