Others Do Care Project

Provides discretionary support for children in out-of-home care to participate in activities, lessons, and experiences that enhance their wellbeing. With a focus on children and young people living in rural and regional Victoria, the fund offers up to $400 per child to support community engagement and promote mental health and social connection.

Carers can access funding for needs such as sporting fees, tutoring, educational materials, mental or physical health assessments, and urgent material aid. This financial assistance eases the burden on carers, strengthens community connections, and gives children access to enriching experiences that foster their wellbeing.

In response to the growing complexity of needs among children in care and the shortage of carers across Victoria, the project also works to reduce isolation and strengthen support networks for families, helping to create more stable and sustainable placements.

Helping families in times of need      

The Abbey Solo Foundation supports families living with childhood cancer, and attending the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, by helping to reduce both financial and emotional stress.

It offers relief from the cost of hospital parking. Upon admission, families receive six single-entry parking vouchers, allowing them to exit the carpark free of charge, regardless of how long they have been parked. This can save families thousands of dollars throughout their child’s treatment.

The Foundation also provides fuel, transport, and food vouchers to help ease the burden of rising living costs. In times of crisis, it offers short-term emergency accommodation for families when a child is admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, ensuring families can stay close during critical moments.

Inclusion and Resilience: Optimising Community Mental Health  

Since the 2022 floods, there is a sharp rise in demand for support from people facing homelessness, food insecurity, and mental health challenges.

In response, Agape is running six Be the Impossible eight-week Wellness Programs led by a qualified counsellor. Each program includes one-on-one follow-up coaching to help participants overcome personal challenges. Volunteers support the project by enrolling participants and promoting the program locally.

With rising living costs, housing stress, and increased trauma in the community, Agape expects continued demand. The project focuses on building resilience and life skills, while supporting people affected by mental health issues, domestic violence, and crisis-related trauma.

Nutritious Meals for Vulnerable Communities in Melbourne            

Alex Makes Meals (AMM) works to alleviate hunger and poverty in Melbourne by providing nutritious, high-quality meals to vulnerable communities. In partnership with 35 charity organisations, AMM currently delivers over 3,000 meals each week to people experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, displacement, and economic hardship.

With support from the Sisters of Charity Foundation, AMM is expanding its reach by providing an additional 8,400 meals over six months, targeting areas experiencing rising food insecurity due to economic pressures and the housing crisis. Each meal costs just $1.79 to produce, allowing the project to make a meaningful impact on recipients’ wellbeing and dignity.

In addition to reducing hunger and improving nutrition, the program helps foster community connection and encourages individuals to engage with partner services – including case management, counselling, legal and financial support, and emergency accommodation – designed to help people stabilise their lives and break cycles of disadvantage.

Love Impels Us

Sr Margaret Valentine rsc serves as the Family Liaison Officer for the K–6 Campus at All Saints Catholic College, Liverpool. In this role, she supports the Principal by visiting families and assessing their needs within the school community.

Funding supports her outreach to families experiencing financial hardship – whether at home or in covering the costs of school-related items and activities.

Teaching Afghan Women Australian Roads

Provides driver’s licence support to disadvantaged women and girls. The Driver Knowledge Test program takes place every Friday, with each class running for two hours. Participants receive guided support through each practice exam question for their learner licence, along with in-language assistance to help prepare for the test. Resources such as the NSW driving handbook in Dari are also distributed to participants.

Once a participant obtains their learner licence, AAHYA helps them access a driving school. Recognising that many families from CALD backgrounds face financial hardship, the program includes five free driving lessons with a qualified instructor for those who cannot afford them.

This project aims to reduce barriers to employment, promote women’s empowerment, and ease the settlement journey for migrants and refugees.

Model MATES: Expanding the Reach and Possibilities          

Model MATES is an 8-week program that trains young Australians with disabilities for careers in modelling and promotional work, promoting greater diversity and representation in the fashion and media industries. Through workshops, one-on-one coaching, and hands-on experience with industry professionals, participants build the skills and confidence needed to gain employment and contribute meaningfully to society.

With one in five Australians living with a disability and often underrepresented in mainstream media, Model MATES works to change this narrative. The program has already empowered graduates to take part in professional runway events and paid photography work, boosting their self-esteem and social engagement. It also addresses employment barriers post-education by developing life skills that support confidence, connection, and mental wellbeing.

Based in Caringbah, Sydney, the program is expanding to two new locations, including a regional area in NSW, to reach more young Australians with disabilities. The program concludes with a graduation runway show at Westfield, offering participants real-world experience and visibility.

Empower Her: Bakhtar Women’s Coaching and Focus Group          

A practical, supportive program for women from multicultural backgrounds, including those with disabilities and the LGBTQIA+ community. Led by an expert trainer, it addresses challenges such as family violence, social isolation, and financial dependence.

Through coaching, focus groups, and workshops, participants build confidence, leadership skills, and financial literacy. The program provides a safe space for women to grow, connect, and gain tools for independence.

Empower Her promotes self-advocacy, inclusion, and resilience, creating lasting benefits for both participants and the wider community.

Asylum seeker support project

This project prevents homelessness and destitution for people seeking asylum who lack sufficient financial means. Bridge provides weekly financial support, which serves as a vital lifeline for individuals at risk of being left without shelter or basic resources.

Most Bridge clients do not have work rights or are unable to work due to psychological trauma, serious physical illness or injury, or caring responsibilities – such as a parent with a young child and no access to subsidised childcare. Those who can work often rely on unstable, low-paid casual jobs with little bargaining power, leaving them unable to meet rising rent and living costs.

Many individuals are released from detention with just six weeks of government support to secure employment and housing. When this limited support ends, Bridge steps in to help prevent them from falling into crisis.

Community Outreach Service Pilot Phase II

Staying in Place Busselton is a home-based palliative care service model. Operating in 45 locations, Staying in Place helps elderly residents needing palliative care to stay connected to their communities, reducing loneliness and vulnerability. BHCI manages Home Care Packages for Busselton residents, assisting clients to access tailored care through Mable workers.

It also runs the Miss Doris V. Lowe Resource Hub, a virtual centre supporting ageing, death and bereavement.

Cana’s residence for women and their children who are seeking asylum and/or fleeing domestic violence, ‘Safe’, accommodates up to three women and their children at a time. Residents typically stay for three to four months before moving to permanent accommodation, however, there is no fixed time limit – women and children remain until they are ready to transition safely.

The House of Welcome provides case work and coordinates multi-agency support, while Cana covers all operating costs. Cana volunteers offer daily support and companionship. The home provides a safe, stable environment and wraparound support that helps women and children plan and prepare for their futures.

Food Support Programs

Provides food relief to individuals and families in need across Sunbury and the surrounding urban fringe north-west of Melbourne.

The organisation supplies food hampers containing a balanced diet for 4–5 days, along with bread and fresh produce, to support all household members. These are available for collection or delivered to people who are housebound or have special needs. Bread and produce are also distributed to local school meals programs and a local community facility.

Operational costs include:

• rent, electricity, and water
• insurance (public liability and volunteer cover)
• telephone and internet
• running costs for the delivery van (fuel, maintenance, and insurance)

24/7 security monitored safety devices save lives!

Provides free, 24/7 monitored personal safety devices to people affected by family violence. Violence often escalates when victims leave their abusers, and duress alarms reduce revictimisation rates by up to 70%.

The devices feature a silent duress button that allows wearers to call for help discreetly. When activated, the device vibrates to confirm that trained security personnel are listening and ready to alert emergency services using the wearer’s GPS location. If no threat is detected, a follow-up call is made. If unanswered, a welfare check is initiated.

Change For Sam currently operates across the Bass Coast, La Trobe Valley, and Bayside Peninsula, with plans to expand statewide. Recordings from the devices are admissible in court, supporting the documentation of apprehended violence order breaches.

School Meals that Make a Difference and L2P           

Provides approximately 30 fresh and healthy school lunches weekly to a local high school for young people from trauma backgrounds. Meals support school engagement and improve students’ capacity to learn by addressing hunger and nutrition.

The program also supports the school chaplain by offering weekly take-home meal packs for students to cook with a parent or carer. These packs help strengthen family relationships, provide food relief to households in need, and teach essential life skills.

Additionally, the program offers students who have obtained their Learner’s Permit – but lack access to a supervising driver or cannot afford lessons – around five driving lessons with a qualified instructor. This helps students begin their required 120 hours of driving experience, increasing their future employment opportunities and offering hope for a more independent, secure future.

Foodbank Program    

Supports low-income families, single parents, migrants, survivors of domestic violence and other disadvantaged residents in Hume, Mitchell Shire, and Whittlesea by providing free access to fresh produce, nutritious food, and essential items delivered weekly.

Building brighter futures for children and families  

Provides new and preloved children’s essential items (including cots, bassinets, prams, car seats, clothing, toys, and linen) to disadvantaged families across Greater Sydney and the Illawarra to improve child safety, support family wellbeing and ease financial stress. By enabling safe travel and reducing social isolation, the project helps families connect with their communities and access vital services.

Dandelion supports mothers and children escaping domestic violence, refugees and asylum seekers, First Nations peoples, families experiencing mental health challenges, young parents, those at risk of homelessness, families with children with disabilities, and those struggling with the rising cost of living.

Dandelion works with social welfare partners to identify families in need and distribute safe, high-quality items sourced through donations and trusted suppliers.

Hope is Delicious: Feeding our community 

Provides nutritious, home-cooked meals to people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. Operating as a community restaurant, it serves both paying customers and those in need, ensuring everyone has access to healthy, balanced meals. The team rescues surplus food from local businesses and farms, which is transformed into high-quality meals by skilled chefs and dedicated volunteers.

Defenders Soul Kitchen also offers hands-on training for volunteers and aspiring chefs, helping them build culinary skills and improve their career opportunities.

Employment Passport             

Delivers a range of workshops and activities that support disadvantaged young people. Participants customise their own pathways by choosing the workshops and activities that best suit their goals. Each participant receives a personalised stamped portfolio that tracks their progress and achievements.

Workshop and activity options include:

• Resume preparation
• Mock job interviews
• Work experience and volunteering
• Sports events
• Driver training assistance
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Mentoring and tutoring
• Real-world role plays
• Microsoft Office training, with a focus on spreadsheets
• Digital communication skills, including email, Zoom/Teams, and social media

Additional activities are offered as needed to build confidence and life skills.

Sponsor A Student

Supports children experiencing financial hardship by helping cover essential education-related costs for public high school students. On average, each student requires approximately $5,000 annually to access the same opportunities as their peers, including:

• Uniforms: $400
• Camps and excursions: $500
• Laptop: $1,000
• Programs and courses: $1,100
• Tuckshop: $2,000 (often due to no food at home)
• Additional school-based activities and program costs

Sponsorships have a direct impact on the families of financially disadvantaged students, easing pressure on household budgets and allowing limited finances to be directed toward essentials like food and rent.

High school guidance officers identify students in need – specifically those with a clear goal of completing their education. School welfare teams provide valuable insight to ensure support reaches those most in need, and all applications are endorsed by school principals.

Eyes of Hope  

Provides free eye care and glasses to homeless and vulnerable populations in NSW. The organisation operates mobile clinics in community centres and shelters, delivering essential vision care directly to those in need and removing financial or geographical barriers to access.

Eyes of Hope improves the quality of life for marginalised individuals by enhancing their vision – supporting overall wellbeing and greater community inclusion. Those requiring care beyond basic services receive referrals to specialised treatment, including surgery and advanced diagnostics.

By delivering timely eye care, the project helps reduce preventable blindness and vision impairment. Educational outreach raises awareness about eye health, encouraging early detection and treatment. The program also strengthens community connections by involving local volunteers and partnering with healthcare providers and support organisations.

Bowl of Love: nutritious meals            

Provides healthy, balanced meals to some of the community’s most disadvantaged members, including people experiencing homelessness, refugees, seniors, and families struggling financially. Cooking sessions run five days a week from 9am to 4pm, creating not only nourishing meals but also a welcoming space for young people with disabilities, disadvantaged students, seniors, and socially isolated residents to connect and build community through food.

The program helps alleviate poverty and hunger while offering participants valuable life skills, teamwork experience, and increased confidence and self-esteem through hands-on involvement in meal preparation.

In FY24 FoodFilled delivered 204,840 meals with the help of 393 volunteers, saving over 100 tonnes of food from landfill.

With momentum building and community need rising daily, FoodFilled is growing by onboarding new retailers and charity partners, expanding the volunteer base, and strengthening operational capacity.

Mum’s Connection Space: DV Support          

A vital program that supports women and children, many of whom have experienced domestic and family violence. MCS operates every Friday morning, providing a safe, nurturing environment where isolated mothers receive social and emotional support. Many participants also care for children with disabilities or face health challenges.

The program allows mothers to attend with their children, removing barriers to participation. It includes therapeutic activities such as shared meal preparation and craft sessions, while children engage in enriching, play-based learning through a dedicated children’s program. These sessions help build practical skills and emotional resilience.

MCS also fosters social connection through small group discussions that encourage friendship, trust, and a sense of belonging. It offers a soft entry point into the Domestic and Family Violence Peer Support Group, helping women build safe, supportive networks.

The program empowers mothers, prevents further abuse, and supports recovery through collaboration with domestic violence and related services.

Empowered Youth       

The Empowered Youth program is an interactive online platform designed for individuals aged 15–24 who face mental health challenges and socio-economic disadvantage. It provides accessible educational resources and skill-building tools to support young people, such as:

• Video tutorials, interactive modules, quizzes, and practical exercises developed by qualified counsellors
• A curriculum focused on essential life skills such as communication, decision-making, problem-solving, and financial literacy
• Resources addressing mental health issues; including stress management, resilience, coping strategies, and healthy relationships
• Multimedia content that promotes active learning, with customisable modules aligned to individual goals.

Key objectives of the program are:

• Improved mental health outcomes through reduced rates of anxiety and depression
• Enhanced life skills, equipping young people with tools to face everyday challenges
• Increased community engagement and reduced social isolation
• Greater accessibility for marginalised groups through user-friendly design
• Breaking the cycle of disadvantage by improving long-term opportunities for youth in need.

Weekend Support

The Foundation operates a supported rooming house for adults living with a mental illness who are at risk of homelessness in Warrnambool.

This project employs a staff member for three hours on both Saturdays and Sundays, ensuring residents receive consistent support. The weekend worker takes on domestic and food preparation tasks, maintains hygiene and cleanliness standards, engages with residents, and provides general support, including occasional recreational activities. This weekend presence helps ensure residents’ needs are met with care and dignity.

Family and Domestic Violence: Recovery and Empowerment Program      

This comprehensive three-part empowerment and recovery initiative is designed to support women who are currently experiencing or have recently left family and domestic violence.

The initiative empowers participants through education, mentoring, and support, helping them recover from the impact of violence and build a foundation for independence and long-term wellbeing.

Through interactive sessions on topics such as healthy relationships, tactics of abuse, self-esteem, the effects of violence on children, and grief and loss, participants develop the tools and confidence needed to rebuild their lives and move forward with hope.

Eating Disorder Support for our Young People           

Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses. This project provides six months of support to 10 young people aged 14 to 20, along with their families, with a professionally trained Eating Disorder Coach. Each young person attends fortnightly individual coaching sessions, alternating with fortnightly group sessions that bring the participants together for peer support and shared learning.

In between sessions, free wraparound care and support are provided for both the young people and their families. This initiative offers vital emotional and financial relief, giving families peace of mind that their loved one has someone to turn to for help.

For these young people, access to consistent, compassionate support is life-changing – and potentially life-saving.

Meals for Northern Rivers Communities

Provides 250–300 free meals each week to disadvantaged families and individuals across the Ballina, Tweed, Murwillumbah, Byron, and Lismore Shires. Meals are distributed through a network of existing community partners, including community centres, drop-in centres, pantries, and hubs.

The program addresses food insecurity and poor nutrition while also supporting social inclusion through shared meals. All meals are vegan and gluten-free, ensuring they are accessible to the widest range of people – including those with allergies or dietary restrictions who often miss out on traditional meal support services.

Operation Family Protect        

The organisation purchased land in Mt Perry, Queensland, to establish short-term emergency accommodation for victims of domestic violence. The building plan includes three cottages.

This funding allows the purchase and installation of two large water tanks and one large fire tank (the latter a mandatory safety requirement due to the location).

The water tanks will allow the use of rainwater, helping reduce operational costs and enabling support for more women and children in crisis. In a region where emergency accommodation options are scarce, this project provides a vital lifeline – offering safety, dignity, and a chance to rebuild lives, while helping restore strength to the broader regional community.

WomEmpower              

A program for young women aged 15–25, primarily from African and Muslim backgrounds living in Melbourne’s inner north. It offers weekly sessions that promote community, leadership, cohesion, and recreation. Participants often come from asylum seeker or refugee families, public housing, or are international students living with disability. Most have limited access to government support and face significant barriers in education and social inclusion.

Safe Reconnect Pathways (SRP)        

The program re-engages young people who struggle with school attendance by offering inclusive, non-confrontational activities in a supportive and nurturing environment. Designed for students experiencing anxiety or resistance toward school, SRP fosters self-expression, confidence, and recalibration through interest-based, participant-driven sessions.

Activities include:

• Upcycling projects
• Building and painting
• Craft activities
• Mindfulness sessions

The program was co-designed with Year 12 students (many of whom were once school refusers themselves) who now serve as Program Mentors. Guided by Imagine volunteers, they help run the program, build meaningful connections, and encourage participants to re-engage with their schools and communities.

The program aims to transform the lives of marginalised young people by offering a path back to education and community belonging.

Rural Community-driven Palliative and Aged Care Support

In Home Hospice Care (IHHCare) ensures seniors live with dignity and connection while providing essential support to those who care for them.

Key activities include:

1. Growing the volunteer base and delivering essential training
2. Collaborating with Seniors Clubs, Retirement Homes, and Aged Care Facilities.
3. Tailored In-Home Care: Providing personalised support, including transport, companionship, and respite care.
4. Reducing loneliness through meaningful companionship and community connection.
5. Caregiver Support: Offering respite care, advance care planning, and grief counselling.

The program helps seniors maintain independence and dignity, and fosters social interaction and emotional well-being.

Oven replacement and related fit-out             

Based out of a kitchen facility in Hawthorn, It’s the Little Things Community provides homestyle meals and acts of kindness to vulnerable, displaced, and disadvantaged members of the community.

The existing oven, which has supported the preparation of over 61,000 high-quality meals for outreach organisations, will be replaced. The project includes the purchase and installation of a new energy-efficient oven, along with essential updates to kitchen fixtures such as countertops, storage units, and ventilation systems. These upgrades ensure a safe, hygienic, and efficient environment for volunteers and staff.

In addition to supporting continued meal production, the improved kitchen will create a more welcoming and functional space for volunteers, many of whom experience social isolation and find connection and purpose through their time in the kitchen.

By investing in this critical infrastructure, the organisation strengthens its capacity to meet growing community needs and continues to offer comfort, nutrition, and support to those most in need, while also nurturing community among its volunteers.

Foodbank Project       

To provide basic food and toiletries to people seeking asylum and refugees.

Renal Patient Transport Service         

Provides a transport service for renal patients travelling to and from hospital for dialysis and medical appointments. Operating six days a week from 6am to 9pm, the service is delivered by volunteer drivers. Without this service, clients must rely on taxis or family to attend dialysis three times a week.

Each of the Network’s eight vehicles averages 4,000 kilometres per month. The organisation is replacing its oldest vehicle, which has reached the end of its safe service life due to high usage. Replacing the vehicle ensures the ongoing safety of both patients and volunteer drivers.

Blanket assembly program    

Each year, KOGO receives between 60,000 and 80,000 individual knitted and crocheted squares and distributes over 7,500 blankets across metropolitan Melbourne, regional Victoria, regional New South Wales, and Alice Springs. Volunteers craft the squares, which are then sorted into blanket kits by two dedicated volunteers. These kits are mailed or couriered to KOGO’s 2,500 blanket assembly volunteers, who compile the squares into full blankets. Completed blankets are returned to KOGO at its expense for distribution.

Blankets are distributed to people experiencing financial vulnerability, including the residents of homeless shelters, new mothers, asylum seekers, Indigenous communities, children in out-of-home care, and women escaping domestic violence.

In addition to meeting material needs, the project fosters social inclusion and connection through meaningful volunteer engagement.

Youth Development Program 2025

A year-long mentoring and youth development program for at-risk teenagers in Perth. The program provides one-on-one mentoring alongside multiple large group activities, offering young people consistent support, positive experiences, and a trusted role model within a safe and encouraging community.

The program begins with a weekend-long camp and includes four single-day events throughout the year. These group activities give mentors and mentees the opportunity to connect, bond, and grow together through structured development experiences designed to build confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging.

Shine Bright Mentoring Program

Supports students who face challenges such as trauma, social isolation, and academic difficulties. These students often live in low socio-economic areas and risk falling behind in their education due to circumstances beyond their control. The program also extends support to families, recognising that lasting impact requires a holistic approach.

Shine Bright delivers in-school and community-based educational sessions focused on emotional regulation, resilience, and community safety. Through interactive workshops and one-on-one and group mentoring, students build life skills through discussion and hands-on learning. Mentorship is central to the program, with mentors serving as positive role models who guide students through personal challenges, goal-setting, and confidence-building.

The program provides targeted support through wellbeing checks and access to resources, while also helping families create a stable, nurturing environment.

Crisis Accommodation

Provides temporary housing and rental support for families affected by the rental shortage, those fleeing domestic violence, and older single women unable to secure stable accommodation.

For short-term housing, the program covers the cost of commercial hospitality providers such as motels or tourist accommodation. Each stay includes a planned exit strategy to help prevent homelessness while individuals seek more permanent housing.

Rental support is offered to those who, due to temporary hardship, are unable to meet their full rent. This includes assistance until their financial circumstances improve – for example, by taking in a boarder or securing better employment.

Family Assistance Project

Assists families with a range of needs whose children attend Mary Immaculate Catholic School in Wollongong.

Educational Scholarship Program

Provides up to 50 high school students with educational scholarships valued at up to $2,000 each. Primarily supports disadvantaged students entering Year 11 or completing the final stages of vocational courses.

Scholarships are awarded to students who show strong determination to succeed in their education, despite financial hardship. Selection is based not on academic performance alone, but on a demonstrated commitment to achieving their goals.

The program’s core aim is to help disadvantaged young people remain in school or vocational training, complete their studies, and build a brighter future.

Gwara Health and Cultural    

Provides a welcoming, safe space for everyone in the community. The centre opens its hall to all and runs programs that include cultural storytime and a variety of services for children. It offers afternoon drop-in sessions for kids, where they can play music, learn traditional dances and instruments, and connect with peers in a supportive environment.

Mingaletta continues to seek greater outreach across the Peninsula to expand access to its programs. It provides a computer room for job searching, Centrelink reporting, and other employment-related needs.

Community members are encouraged to come in for a yarn and seek support. If Mingaletta cannot assist directly, staff offer referrals to trusted services that can help.

The program promotes a healthy lifestyle, the transmission of cultural knowledge, and community safety. It helps address homelessness by offering a safe meeting space and empowering people to have a voice. Benefits include increased community participation, access to housing, improved health education, and stronger social connections.

Music Therapy at Special Needs Schools

Funds a specialist teacher to deliver music therapy to students with moderate to severe physical and/or intellectual disabilities or special needs. These students attend nine Schools for Specific Purposes and two hospital schools. The teacher is a professional musician with extensive experience working with this cohort.

The musician visits each school one day per week, offering every student the opportunity to participate in the program. They familiarise themselves with each student’s specific needs and tailor music sessions accordingly, based on individual abilities, interests, and developmental goals. This approach ensures that all students can actively engage in and benefit from the sessions.

Gladstone Project: Workshop Series              

In Queensland, older women are the fastest-growing cohort experiencing homelessness. Many retire with an average superannuation of just $137,000, making them ineligible for social housing yet unable to afford home ownership. Most rely on their superannuation to supplement their pension, covering basic costs such as rent, food, electricity, and medical care. Research shows these funds are typically exhausted within 3–5 years of retirement, placing older women at serious risk.

This ten-part capacity-building and life skills program empowers participants to ‘self-select’ compatible groups of five residents with shared values to form a supportive co-housing community.

Throughout the series, the Foundation fosters strong social connections, combats isolation and loneliness, provides both practical and emotional support, and, where needed, guides participants toward alternative housing solutions or social assistance.

Woman and Children’s Weekly Lunch            

One Meal offers community meals in Narrabeen, Dee Why and Manly that are predominantly attended by men and a few elderly women, which often discourages younger women and children from returning due to discomfort and unsuitable facilities or timing for children.

This initiative aims to provide a nurturing environment for women – particularly single mothers, those who have experienced domestic violence or other trauma, or who are simply isolated. It offers a free nutritious meal and a chance to connect with others in similar circumstances, while feeling supported and included.

One Meal sought funding to create a warm and inviting space. Meals are prepared by volunteers, with most ingredients donated.

Open Pantry   

Delivers a coordinated set of food relief and community programs that address food insecurity and social isolation in Melbourne’s inner north. Provides vulnerable residents – particularly those experiencing economic hardship and isolation – with access to nutritious food and inclusive spaces that foster connection and belonging.

Key activities include:

• Community Lunches: Weekly meals prepared by volunteers that bring people together in a welcoming, vibrant setting to reduce loneliness and strengthen social ties.
• Pop-Up Fresh Food Bank: Operates alongside the lunches, offering fresh produce and pantry staples to those who may struggle to access nutritious food.
• 24-Hour Community Pantry: Located at the North Fitzroy Library, provides discreet, round-the-clock access to food, helping reduce the stigma often associated with food relief.
• Free Food Markets: Held bimonthly at the Fitzroy public housing estate, these markets provide easy access to essential supplies and connect residents with local services in a friendly, community-driven atmosphere.

With more than 1,000 volunteer hours contributing to its success, Open Pantry fosters community engagement and ensures consistent access to healthy food – building a more resilient, connected inner-north Melbourne community.

Inclusive Impact program      

Supports at-risk children aged 5-18, and their families, in the Collingwood Public Housing Estate community in Melbourne through:

• Individual Tutoring: Provides personalised academic support for over 140 at-risk children, focusing on homework help, test preparation, and study skills to improve academic performance and confidence.
• Teen Support: Establishes peer support groups to foster belonging, build resilience, and enhance social and emotional wellbeing.
• Family Support Services: Delivers parenting support, workshops, and resources to families affected by poverty and domestic violence, aimed at strengthening family connections.
• Skill-Building Workshops: Offers sessions on life skills, cultural awareness, and personal development to empower young people to make positive choices.

By addressing the complex needs of vulnerable children and families, the project creates meaningful, lasting change for individuals and the wider community.

Assisting the Socially Disadvantaged             

Provides support to disadvantaged individuals and families in the local community through distribution of food-only cards.

These cards are essential because traditional food parcels do not always meet the dietary or medical needs of recipients. Families also use the cards to purchase essential items that are not typically included in food parcels, such as baby formula, baby food, nappies, wipes, butter, eggs, fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, and laundry products. This flexibility ensures dignity and better health outcomes.

Oz Assist distributes food-only cards to people across all age groups, from infants to elderly individuals aged 85 and over, including victims of domestic violence. This targeted, respectful approach helps ensure vulnerable members of the community receive the support they truly need.

Stronger Together

Supports 50 women released from prison who have experienced family violence. Upon release, these women face significant barriers in securing employment, finding stable housing, and reconnecting with their children – often while carrying the stigma of a criminal record. This initiative creates a supportive community of peers who share lived experience and are committed to helping one another overcome these barriers.

With the guidance of a specialised support worker, participants meet fortnightly, join monthly social outings, and take part in an annual weekend retreat. These activities offer a sense of belonging, community, and strength – reducing the risk of further exposure to family violence and re-incarceration.

The project is delivered in both metropolitan and regional Victoria. It builds on a proven model already operating in Melbourne and includes resource development and adaptation for the regional context, such as in Bendigo.

Weekly Food Delivery Program

Ensures people have enough food to eat and access to essential household items, while being treated with dignity, respect, protection, and care. Volunteers deliver groceries directly to individuals and families in need, ensuring they have meals on the table and food in their children’s lunchboxes each day.

ProjectKindness aims to:

• Build strong, supportive relationships that increase social connectedness
• Reduce stress, anxiety, and anger among vulnerable people
• Combat depression and mental illness, helping people feel valued and hopeful
• Boost physical and mental health through improved nutrition and connection
• Provide reliable access to essential goods and services
• Improve overall wellbeing in the communities it serves.

Drop-in Centre – Holistic Services Clinic for Immigrants, Refugees, and First Nations Peoples

Operates a drop-in centre that delivers accessible, culturally sensitive, and trauma-informed services. Provides a safe, welcoming environment where individuals can seek support and guidance on employment, housing, mental health, and legal rights. It addresses the urgent need for services that bridge systemic gaps and respond to the social exclusion often experienced by these communities – particularly those hesitant to seek help due to fear of discrimination or harmful bias.

The drop-in centre strengthens social cohesion by offering support programs that reflect the lived realities of marginalised communities. It acts as a critical safety net and contributes to the overall wellbeing, dignity, and resilience of its visitors.

RTT Maverick Program: Empowering At-Risk Youth Through Equine-Assisted Learning

Developed by mental health and allied health professionals, Maverick is tailored to support young people at risk of disengagement from education, family, and community. Participants are referred by youth support agencies and schools to build essential life skills such as resilience, emotional regulation, self-confidence, and behavioural awareness.

Each program consists of weekly 90-minute sessions where participants work in small groups of 2–3 young people per horse – a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental space where young people grow in confidence and emotional capability.

No Filters Needed

Equips students in Years 7–9 with practical skills to manage anxiety, improve self-perception, and navigate mental health challenges. The program follows a structured approach using student workbooks, guided discussions, and basketball-based activities. These activities simulate real-world scenarios to build teamwork, communication, and resilience in a dynamic, supportive setting.

The program places a strong emphasis on fostering self-awareness and teaching students how to form safe, healthy relationships. Through interactive sessions and reflective exercises, participants gain emotional insight, improve their social interactions, and strengthen their peer connections.

Improving young lives through group mentoring       

Delivers weekly in-school group mentoring programs  that provide an effective intervention for young people experiencing isolation, mental health challenges, and school disengagement, targeting communities with the greatest need in Melbourne and surrounding regional areas.

The program is built around sustained, in-depth mentoring relationships rather than short-term interventions, leveraging presence, role modelling, and peer support to improve youth wellbeing and prevent negative life outcomes for both young men and women.

Update Rosies Coffee Van     

Provides friendship and support through a free hot or cold drink to those experiencing homelessness or social isolation.

The coffee van had leaking water dispensers and broken coffee and Milo machines. This project will upgrade the van and replenish essential drink products and related supplies, ensuring the service remains reliable and effective in supporting those in need.

Sanctuary Community Welcome Program

Provides essential support to newly arrived refugees. Many arrive with minimal English and are traumatised, making it challenging to manage medical concerns, safety issues, utility services, study and job applications, and connections with businesses and government agencies.

A good-quality recycled laptop is given to refugee families, helping them address some of these challenges. Laptops, donated by businesses and colleges, are wiped, reset, and refurbished by two skilled volunteers – providing a valuable service while also preventing e-waste from ending up in landfill.

STEM Mentorship program for CALD students in regional Qld

The STEM Spotlight mentorship program aims to inspire high school students from CALD backgrounds to pursue STEM subjects by delivering motivational lectures from STEM professionals from CALD backgrounds.

By hearing from mentors who share similar cultural experiences, students gain the confidence to pursue their own ambitions and overcome self-doubt. Seeing someone who looks like them succeed in STEM helps students believe they too can thrive in these fields.

Keeping the pantry supplied

Each week, volunteers travel to Sydney to collect fresh produce from Coles SecondBite Penrith, which is then distributed to community members in need. The Centre supports between 400 and 500 individuals weekly, providing groceries to families and offering coffee, toasties, or soup. Support extends beyond direct visitors to the Centre, with families also referred by local schools.

The pantry frequently runs low on essential items, with the Centre spending up to $300 per week on long-life milk, sugar, rice, pasta, and sauces to prepare hampers and keep the pantry supplied.

Rise High: Pilot Support Program for our most vulnerable refugee women living in high-rise community housing             

Empowers refugee women in South Melbourne’s high-rise community by reducing social isolation, strengthening language, cultural, and economic skills, and helping participants take their first steps toward financial independence in Australia.

Stage 1: Meet-Up Sessions
Over six months, the program hosts weekly meet-ups for 10–15 women. Led by Space2b’s outreach worker, these sessions focus on arts and crafts and incorporate practical topics such as Centrelink, healthcare, English language support, and cultural adaptation. The sessions aim to build confidence, increase knowledge, and prepare women for further engagement.

Stage 2: On-the-Job Training
From the meet-up group, six women progress to the Space2b Experience, a structured six-month work training program. Participants gain hands-on experience in Space2b’s café or shop, with a focus on developing language and job-readiness skills. Each woman receives a $600 stipend to assist with travel, childcare, and meal costs during training.

Help More

Supports homeless young people to maintain stable housing, achieve personal goals, and gain independence. Through the program, participants enter transitional housing and receive dedicated case management support. The case manager works one-on-one with each young person to develop a personalised case plan that focuses on education, employment, mental health access, and building life skills.

The program empowers young people to transition out of homelessness and into stable, independent living.

Yarra Valley Winter Shelter    

Provides overnight crisis accommodation for 25–30 people experiencing homelessness in the Yarra Valley. In partnership with seven local churches, the shelter opens its doors each night during winter, with each church responsible for hosting one evening per week. Approximately 150 volunteers from 30 churches and the broader community assist by cooking meals, setting up beds, and creating a warm, welcoming environment for guests.

The program aims to offer a place of care, rest, and refreshment while fostering a sense of community, connection, and belonging. It addresses the extreme isolation and loneliness often experienced by those without stable housing. By providing a consistent and compassionate space, the shelter supports guests in taking steps toward long-term, secure housing.

To better respond to the complex needs of guests – including trauma, mental health challenges, employment barriers, and housing obstacles – the shelter will employ a dedicated Welfare Coordinator. This trained professional focuses on individual wellbeing, working directly with guests to identify and overcome personal challenges. Through tailored support and guidance, the shelter empowers individuals to move forward and achieve lasting health and housing stability.

Circle of Security Parenting Program for Female Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA)

Supports female survivors of CSA, many of whom are mothers experiencing attachment disorders as a result of trauma during their formative years. These women face significant challenges in forming healthy, secure bonds because their own childhoods were shaped by betrayal and trauma.

Four eight-week sessions of Circle of Security parenting groups will help 24 CSA survivors who have children aged 0–12. The goal is to break the cycle of intergenerational trauma by equipping mothers with the skills and support needed to provide their children with the emotional stability they themselves were denied.

Street Cares Community Cupboard

Supports disadvantaged and struggling families in Brisbane by providing access to free, nutritious food. Through partnerships with multiple Woolworths stores, dedicated volunteers collect a variety of essential items throughout the week (including proteins, fruits, vegetables, and bread). These items are stored in the Community Cupboard’s industrial fridges and freezers to maintain freshness.

The Community Cupboard opens two days a week for families and individuals enrolled in the program. During these sessions, volunteers prepare and distribute food hampers for collection at no cost. By providing this service, the program helps alleviate financial pressure on vulnerable households, allowing them to redirect limited resources toward rent and other essential expenses. Ultimately, the Community Cupboard works to reduce the risk of homelessness in Brisbane by offering consistent nutritional support to those most in need.

Australian Dreaming: Helping Aboriginal and refugee mothers and small children through pregnancy, birth and the first four years of life

This initiative comprises two projects:

Intensive Psychotherapy Support: Delivers long-term, intensive psychotherapy – spanning three to five years – to young pregnant women or their partners who have experienced severe trauma and who are Aboriginal, stateless, or refugees affected by war and displacement. The program offers weekly therapeutic sessions tailored to address complex trauma and support recovery during pregnancy and early parenting.

Refugee Mothers’ Group in Schools: Delivers weekly three-and-a-half-hour therapeutic group sessions at schools with a high refugee population. Each group includes up to 25 mothers, from pregnancy through to when their children reach three years of age. Led by a main therapist fluent in Levantine Arabic, the sessions provide culturally and linguistically appropriate support. The groups offer mothers a safe space to reduce social isolation, foster peer connection, and support their children’s early social development – strengthening the bond between mothers and infants in the critical early years.

Empowering Women in Regional, Rural and Remote Queensland 

Delivers virtual styling and career support services to women living in regional, rural, and remote communities across Queensland who are exiting correctional facilities or transitioning out of domestic violence shelters.

Empowers 100 women as they prepare to begin new chapters in their lives, providing access to virtual styling consultations and clothing support. It equips participants with a curated capsule wardrobe that allows them to outwardly reflect the aspirations they have developed while in incarceration or while rebuilding after domestic and family violence.

Services include one or both of the following components:

Virtual Styling

• A one-on-one session with an experienced stylist offering personalised advice on interview presentation, outfit selection, and styling.
• A clothing package to keep, including 15–20 items such as clothing, shoes, belts, accessories, handbags, toiletries, and makeup.

Career Hub Support

• Resume refresh
• Job application support
• Interview preparation
• Career mentoring on topics such as job search planning, setting career goals, and building resilience.

This project supports women in rebuilding their confidence, presentation, and professional readiness, helping them move toward employment and long-term independence.

Start of Life Safety Program

Supplies essential baby safety items to low-income families, single parents, and those experiencing complex life challenges, including homelessness and domestic violence.

Rising economic pressures leave many families unable to afford essential safety equipment. Each week, case workers and health professionals submit requests on behalf of families in need – often seeking car restraints for newborns or high chairs for toddlers who risk developmental delays due to lack of appropriate seating for self-feeding. Additionally, inadequate safety measures around heating sources pose serious risks, particularly in colder regions.

The program supplies Australian-approved safety items, including car restraints, highchairs with proper harnesses, safety gates, and safety kits (cupboard latches, power point covers, and other essentials). Items are purchased and distributed through an online ordering system, ensuring efficient delivery to families most in need.

Harvest with Hope      

Supports domestic violence survivors, people experiencing homelessness, and individuals facing food insecurity. The organisation prepares nutritious meals onsite and provides them to clients to take home, ensuring access to healthy, balanced food.

By offering regular meals, the program delivers immediate relief and promotes physical health, mental wellbeing, and a sense of dignity. Meals include meat and vegetable options, as well as vegetarian and meat-free alternatives, along with fresh fruit to support overall nutrition. Volunteers play a vital role in the program, gaining an understanding of clients’ experiences while learning about nutrition themselves.

Positive outcomes include healthier diets, improved nutrient intake, support for weight management, and diabetes prevention. Home-cooked meals offer essential vitamins, minerals, and fibre, contributing to improved physical and mental health for the entire community.

Repair Workshops and DIY Skills Training for Youth and Disadvantaged   

Supports 12 community outreach workshops where up to 150 people gain practical skills to improve their lives and contribute to their community. Delivered alongside other programs by The Bower, the initiative fosters a stronger sense of community spirit through collaborative, hands-on learning that promotes life skills and environmentally sustainable practices.

The workshops aim to build a better future and foster intergenerational trust, particularly among younger members of the community. By bringing people together through group activities, the project strengthens social inclusion, enhances connectedness, and reduces social isolation, cultivating a sense of belonging and social responsibility.

The program specifically engages young people by sparking their interest in working with their hands in a sustainable way. Participants learn to use hand and power tools, work with wood and other materials, and carry out basic household repairs – such as fixing a leaking tap, detecting wall studs, and hanging a picture. These life skills build confidence and self-reliance through mentorship and the transfer of practical knowledge.

Community Outreach Program

This community engagement project takes place within low socio-economic housing complexes, bringing together some of the most vulnerable people in a familiar and comfortable environment. It encourages residents to connect with their neighbours, fostering awareness and mutual support within the complex.

Also offers access to support services without the stress and anxiety often associated with attending formal appointments. By bringing agencies directly into the community, it creates a low-pressure environment where residents can engage more easily.

Carevan provides fresh meals, muffins, bread rolls, and any additional food that can be sourced.

This outreach helps support individuals facing mental health challenges who may otherwise never seek help. Through regular contact, Carevan is able to offer guidance, make referrals, and slowly break down barriers. Many who would not attend a sit-down meal or ask for assistance begin to open up, planting seeds for new ways of coping and connecting.

Boxes of Hope: Dignity in Every Gift

Provides essential resources with dignity to individuals experiencing homelessness, with a focus on at-risk youth, First Nations people, and survivors of domestic violence. The organisation delivers beautifully packaged boxes filled with high-quality essential items, such as food and hygiene products, to support those in need. Each box includes a personalised note of encouragement to foster a sense of care and connection.

By prioritising dignity and respect, the initiative not only meets immediate needs but also uplifts spirits during challenging times. This approach empowers recipients, reminding them they are valued members of the community.

No One Should Go Hungry

Serves as a lifeline for more than 8,000 families and individuals each year, providing emergency food parcels to those facing financial crisis. Beneficiaries include people who are unemployed, homeless, newly arrived migrants, refugees, temporary visa holders, international students, and victims of domestic violence.

Support for Indigenous mothers on Bundjalung Country    

Recognising the importance of a child’s first 2,000 days in shaping physical, cognitive, social, and emotional health, and the critical need to support new mothers, this program delivers support services and meals to Indigenous families during the first six weeks after the birth of a child.

Meal packages are delivered directly to the home and contain nutrient-dense, culturally appropriate meals designed for the immediate postpartum period. These meals are developed by an Indigenous chef and incorporate traditional bush food ingredients such as macadamias, kangaroo, and ooray (Davidson plum), supporting both nutrition and cultural connection. Research shows that access to traditional foods significantly improves health outcomes and wellbeing for Indigenous Australians.

In addition to meal delivery, the program connects mothers and families with broader community services and not-for-profit organisations to access donated goods such as car seats, cots, prams, and clothing for older children.

Key outcomes include reduced social isolation, improved mental and physical wellbeing, reduced financial and emotional stress at mealtimes, increased community connection and support, and a higher uptake of breastfeeding.

Community Sewing Program

Serves as an initial step for members of the refugee community to engage with The Social Outfit, share their sewing and craft skills, make friends, and practise conversational English.

The program offers domestic sewing classes twice a week across four 10-week terms, held at a community venue in South Granville, generously hosted by the settlement support non-profit the House of Welcome.

Each class runs for three hours and is taught by two highly skilled refugee women who have completed the organisation’s training and are now ready to teach others. The final session of each term is facilitated by the Production Manager at the Marrickville Workroom, where students receive an introduction to industrial sewing, followed by a certificate presentation and lunch to celebrate their achievements.

The Young Warrior Woman Program

According to the Create Foundation, up to 28% of young women leaving care become young mothers. These young mothers are ten times more likely to have their own children removed, compounding their trauma and perpetuating a generational cycle of disadvantage.

The program empowers participants to become independent and self-reliant, breaking the ‘revolving door’ of care and creating a brighter future for young women transitioning from care, as well as for future generations.

Key activities in the program include:

• Mentor training
• Psychoeducation
• Workshops on financial literacy, work skills, and life skills
• One-to-one mentoring

Expected outcomes include increased:

• Knowledge of healthy lifestyle choices
• Understanding of healthy relationships
• Awareness of mental health
• Financial literacy
• Employability
• Engagement in education
• Housing security
• Knowledge of safe sex practices

Supporting Women to Succeed Scholarships

Addresses the financial pressures faced by women and non-binary individuals undertaking apprenticeships or traineeships in male-dominated trades. It provides life-changing support to 14 participants, enabling them to succeed in their chosen fields and easing cost-of-living stress.

Project goals and objectives include:

1. Provision of 10 x $2,000 apprenticeship support scholarships
2. Provision of 4 x $600 start-up scholarships
3. Project promotion to encourage registrations and raise awareness
4. Unbiased assessment of scholarship applications
5. Delivery of robust project evaluation
6. Advocacy and support from community partners
7. Post-award promotions featuring stories of scholarship finalists
8. Free Tradeswomen Australia membership for all applicants, offering ongoing connection, support, and opportunities

EmpowerED Youth

Supports vulnerable youth in crisis by addressing barriers and stigma to accessing help. Skilled facilitators and youth mentors with lived experience deliver an eight-week cycle of interactive sessions with a focus on personal development, mental wellbeing, and goal achievement. Physical activities – including stretching, running, and immersion exercises – are integrated, as well as mental wellness tools to build resilience and inner strength.

Expected outcomes include improved academic and personal development, increased motivation and resilience, enhanced emotional intelligence, better physical and mental health, stronger community connections, and long-term personal growth.

Begin Bright Hunter: safety essentials for a child’s first 2000 days 

The first 2,000 days of life (from pregnancy to age five) in shape lifelong physical, social, and emotional health outcomes. Access to safe sleeping, transport, and developmental equipment directly influences how a child learns, grows, and develops.

The program aims to give up to 1,000 vulnerable children in the Hunter region the best, safest, and brightest start in life, providing essentials such as: bassinets, cots, mattresses and sheets, doonas, and blankets, car restraints for ages 0–4, newborn-suitable prams, and double prams, safety gates, nappies and wipes, books, developmental and craft items, and specialised equipment for children with additional needs.

Community Reach Out Days in the West       

Broadens outreach to refugee and asylum seeker clients in Melbourne’s western suburbs, including the LGAs of Brimbank, Wyndham, and Melton. Events provide participants with the opportunity to gather at accessible centres and choose from quality donated items, including clothing and toiletries. This model addresses immediate material needs while promoting dignity and social inclusion. Participants value the ability to select items that suit their personal needs and enjoy connecting with others in a supportive setting.

All venues are accessible via public transport, ensuring more people can attend. Dedicated volunteers play a vital role in delivering these events. Additionally, the events promote environmental sustainability by diverting usable goods from landfill.

Resource distribution

With You We Can’s knowledge hub debunks myths that discredit victims and excuse perpetrators, breaks down legal terminology by jurisdiction, and contextualises victims and offenders within Australia’s policy landscape. It uniquely outlines processes for victims – from police reporting to criminal proceedings and post-court complaint options – and offers guidance on alternatives to reporting, restorative justice, and healing.

As the first and only resource of its kind, it remains inaccessible to victims who lack consistent or safe internet access, such as those whose internet use is monitored by an abusive partner, or those living in regional and remote areas.

This project seeks to increase accessibility by distributing physical resources through service partners, including police, prosecutorial offices, and sexual assault services, as well as to isolated locations such as mining sites. The goal is to ensure that every service partner, beginning with NSW, has physical copies of pamphlets, infographics, and posters available to support all victims, regardless of location or circumstance.

One to One counselling           

Provides intensive support for children and families who experience the death of a parent. Children aged 5 to 18 are referred through a GP for counselling to help them process their understanding of the death, use play and grief-related books, develop a coherent narrative of what has happened to their family, and rebuild family strengths and connection. Counselling is delivered by registered psychologists and mental health social workers.

Support is also available for parents or caregivers to ensure they are equipped to understand their children’s grief responses, which vary by age and developmental stage, and to connect them with additional services as needed.

Children who lose a parent often struggle to speak openly with the surviving parent, as they may try to shield them from further pain. Likewise, parents may feel unsure or reluctant to talk honestly with their children. When parents receive guidance on how to have these conversations, it reduces stigma, confusion, and mistrust, and helps rebuild stronger, more open relationships.

This counselling is offered as part of a holistic, long-term relationship with families through the full cycle of grief.

Healing from Within  

Employs a Youth Worker to facilitate group sessions for girls at Reiby Youth Detention Centre one day per week for 22 weeks, with extended sessions offered during school holidays.

Group sessions focus on Creativity, Culture, and Connection. They are guided and co-facilitated by women with lived experience of custody, addiction, and trauma who have successfully transformed their lives. By sharing their stories and insights, they demonstrate to the participants that positive change is possible and that a happy, healthy life is within reach.

Maintaining the service and continuing free support to those in need in the community

Hope Shed is a community outreach service that provides free clothing, household items, baby goods, hampers, and meals to families in need.

The team regularly visits families living in emergency accommodation, motels, and caravan parks to deliver meals and encourage residents to come out of their rooms and connect with others in the community. They offer support through food, essential items, companionship, and practical help in any way they can. Many of the people they assist experience anxiety, trauma, hopelessness, depression, and isolation. These regular visits help build resilience and restore hope.

Empowering Futures: School Ready In-Home Learning Program    

Supports 150 children aged 4–6 in the Nambucca Valley as they prepare to transition into kindergarten. The program specifically targets children at risk of starting school without essential readiness skills.

Each child receives an in-home learning pack, including a School Ready Learning Binder designed to develop literacy, numeracy, problem-solving, and social-emotional skills. Additional educational resources foster engaging, play-based learning. Parents also receive a Parent Handbook to guide them in using the materials and understanding key developmental milestones. The team leads monthly educational sessions to further equip and support parents.

Project Outcomes:

• Improved School Readiness: Children gain the essential skills needed for a confident start to kindergarten.
• Empowered Parents: Parents feel better equipped to support their child’s learning journey.
• Long-Term Success: Early intervention lays the foundation for ongoing educational achievement and resilience.