Frequently Asked Questions
Our most commonly asked questions:
What are the criteria for acceptance into a Lighthouse home?
Where do the young people live?
How long do young people stay with Lighthouse?
Lighthouse offers “life membership” and all young people qualify for this opportunity. The form and nature of the life membership reflects the capacity within the individual young person.
Who are the Lighthouse young people?
Psychological assessment of the young people that use the Lighthouse services reveal that many suffer from some degree of psychiatric pathology. The most common of these are Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression Dissociative Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder.
In every circumstance the safety and security of the young person is of primary concern. And while every effort is made to maintain or reconcile family relationships, safety for everyone is Lighthouse’s priority.
Where do the young people come from?
How many young people does Lighthouse Foundation support?
How is Lighthouse Foundation funded?
We have established our own trust fund to generate further sustainable income and will soon be commencing a bequest program. Talks continue with government for financial support but we do not receive any recurrent government funding. The Victorian State Government has provided interest-free loans for the purchase/construction of Lighthouse homes.
Many of our Lighthouse homes are provided rent-free by partners or benefactors. Each Lighthouse home has a voluntary local Community Committee responsible for raising $20,000 towards operating the home.
How does Lighthouse work with the community?
Each Lighthouse home, supported by its own local Community Committee, is an example of how community can be woven into the lives of our young people – using community to help them build positive futures.
Volunteers from a range of professional backgrounds are enlisted to support the young people’s specific needs (eg recreation, tutoring, mentoring). Where it is not possible to provide these services using volunteers, funds are raised to cover the cost of the services required.
People in the community are very supportive of Lighthouse and its young people. Local businesses provide goods, and volunteers garden, cook and ‘grandparent’ the young people. For many of our young people Lighthouse is their first experience of traditional family/community life.
We place high value on the safety and protection of our young people and we stringently screen all paid and unpaid staff prior to commencement of service.
How successful is the Lighthouse Therapeutic Family Model of Care?
Why support Lighthouse young people?
The Lighthouse Foundation model demonstrates that it is possible to work co-operatively to achieve a common end – to care for our young. Everyone needs a community and requires a sense of belonging in order to achieve a sense of worth and meaning in life.
Volunteer frequently asked questions:
Can I volunteer if I work full time?
What skills and experience do I need to volunteer?
Does Lighthouse accept internships and student placements?
Are there ways I can contribute to Lighthouse without Volunteering?
Did we answer your question?
If your question wasn’t answered above, please give us a call on 03 9093 7500 or send us an email.