Lighthouse is thrilled to announce that we’ve officially opened our new Southern Hub Home to support foster and kinship families in Melbourne’s southern region. This is our second home dedicated to our Family Support program, the first being in the northern suburbs.
As part of our Family Support program, this home will provide a safe space for young people in foster and kinship care. It will also allow for foster and kinship carers to access support, including therapy, training, and practical help such as assistance with school drop-offs and grocery shopping. The Hub Home can also be used for overnight stays and provide a place to connect with other families.
“This model, unique to Lighthouse, is rewriting the way foster families and kinship care families are supported,” Dr McCarthy said.
“Providing adequate support is the key to preventing foster carer burnout, and frequent placement breakdown – which further traumatises the child.”
On Thursday 28 March, we officially opened the home called ‘Leonie’s Place’, named after our long-standing donor, Leonie Van Raay, who generously gifted the home to Lighthouse. Leonie cut the ribbon with the Mayor of the City of Greater Dandenong, Councillor Lana Formoso, to mark the opening, and invited supporters and members of our community who were involved in this important project. Guests were able to walk through the home and get a sense of how warm and inviting the space will be for the young people and families that will use the home. The Mayor gave a heartfelt speech about the importance of this Hub Home in the local community, and our CEO, Dr Eamonn McCarthy spoke about the difference this home will make to increasing the impact of our programs.
We couldn’t be more thankful to the following members of our community who contributed to the acquisition and opening of the Southern Hub Home. This home will provide young people, families and carers with community and a sense of belonging.
Supporters
Lighthouse’s Southern Hub Home has been made possible thanks to the following Donors, Trusts and Philanthropic Partners:
- Leonie Van Raay
- Brian M Davis Charitable Foundation
- Equity Trustees
- Make A Difference Group
- Quintessential
Thanks also to our corporate partners for turning the house into a home and making it look so beautiful for our kinship and foster care families:
- T-House’s Tina Nettlefold and her team who have managed the interior design and styling of the home.
- GlobeWest which has supplied beautiful furniture for the home
- Southern DFFH who partnered with us and supported the program development
- Lighthouse’s care team and staff who all worked tirelessly to make our Southern Hub Home possible.
