Lighthouse Foundation

31/08/2026

Lighthouse Executive Director of Child, Youth and Families, Emma Gniel, recently presented at the ISPCAN Congress contributing to this year’s conversation about transforming approaches to out-of-home care and youth justice.

Emma presented “Bringing Systemic Change through Lighthouse Foundation’s Unique Family Support Program for Kinship Carers, Children and Families”, exploring what transformation in kinship care can look like in practice.

As Emma explained:
“My contribution to that conversation is a practical one: rethinking kinship care — what transformation looks like when an out-of-home care program is built around relationships, and held together by a genuine, embedded therapeutic model of care.”

Through our Family Supports program, Lighthouse provides therapeutic support to kinship carers, children and families, recognising the complex trauma, disrupted attachment and loss that many children and young people have experienced.

We’re proud to see Emma sharing Lighthouse’s work in this important international conversation about creating safer, more healing approaches to care.

28/08/2026

💜🌈 Every young person deserves to feel at home in who they are.

Today, on , we’re celebrating rainbow young people and the courage it takes to be yourself, speak up, ask for support and live proudly.

At Lighthouse, we know that a safe home is about more than having a roof overhead. It’s about having people around you who see you, respect you and make you feel like you belong.

For rainbow young people, that sense of safety, acceptance and belonging can make all the difference.

That’s why we’re committed to creating homes and spaces where every young person can be themselves, have their voice heard and know they are valued.

This Wear It Purple Day, we’re proud to show our everyday support for LGBTQIA+SB young people and stand alongside them with courage, pride and care.

26/08/2026

We’re incredibly proud to welcome television and radio presenter Mel Tracina as a Lighthouse Foundation Ambassador. 🧡

Known for her work across Big Brother Australia, The Cheap Seats and Nova, Mel is passionate about raising awareness of youth homelessness and the experiences of young people growing up without the safety and stability every child deserves.

Having grown up in a loving and stable home, Mel says it was only as an adult that she realised not every child has that same experience. Learning more about the realities facing young people experiencing homelessness and trauma left a lasting impact and inspired her to get involved.

We’re so grateful to have Mel as part of our Lighthouse community, and we can’t wait to work together to help more young people feel seen, valued and cared for.

Read more about Mel’s journey to Lighthouse via our website. 🧡
https://ow.ly/g42l50ZFs8i

19/08/2026

35 years of Lighthouse. One story at the heart of it all.

Our Founder, Susan Barton AM, recently joined Aintree Group's Q&A Podcast to share the story behind Lighthouse, reflecting on the experiences that shaped her life’s work and what more than four decades of caring for young people have taught her about safety, relationships, community and belonging.

From opening her own home to vulnerable young people to growing Lighthouse into the organisation it is today, Susan’s story is woven through 35 years of Lighthouse.

Hear Susan tell the story of Lighthouse in her own words. https://aintreegroup.com.au/podcasts/

Read the story and listen to the podcast: https://ow.ly/RzmR50ZBav7

For 35 years, Lighthouse Foundation has been creating safe homes, therapeutic care and communities where children and young people experiencing homelessness and trauma can heal, grow and belong. But to...

11/08/2026

A heartfelt thank you to Allens for their generous $25,000 donation to Lighthouse Foundation's Young Women's Freedom Program.
This support will help provide safe homes and therapeutic care to young women escaping, or at risk of, modern slavery practices including forced marriage and domestic servitude, as well as other forms of gender-based violence. Together, we're helping young women regain agency over their lives, heal from trauma and build a future of safety and independence.
We're so grateful to the Allens for recognising the importance of this work and supporting these brave young women.
Read more about our Young Women's Freedom Program here: https://ow.ly/inht50ZxYhE

10/08/2026

A big thank you to the Neary Family Charity, long-term supporters of Lighthouse’s Community Connect program, for bringing the community together at Friday’s Youth Homelessness Forum on the Mornington Peninsula.

Our CEO Brenda Boland and Head of Partnerships Jo Stanley spoke in the presence of local leaders, MPs and community organisations, with around 60 people coming together to discuss youth homelessness in the region and how we can work together to prevent it.

The need is clear. 15% of young people in the region are worried about having a safe place to stay, compared with 9% across Victoria. Last financial year, 62 young people experiencing homelessness or sleeping rough were identified or accessed support services on the Peninsula.

Through Community Connect, Lighthouse is working locally to support young people and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness, connecting them with the right support.

We’re grateful to the Neary Family Charity for their ongoing support and commitment to young people in the region.

05/08/2026

Everyone deserves a safe place to call home.

This , we're recognising the thousands of children and young people across Australia experiencing homelessness and reminding them they are not alone.

Last year, more than 42,000 children and young people under 25 sought help from homelessness services across Australia. Behind every statistic is a child or young person who deserves safety, stability and the chance to thrive.

At Lighthouse, we know that ending youth homelessness is about more than providing a roof over someone's head. It's about creating a place where young people feel safe, supported and have the stable relationships they need to heal from trauma.

For 35 years, we've helped more than 1,650 children and young people break the cycle of homelessness through long term, trauma informed care.

Together, we can help end youth homelessness. Learn more, share our message or give. Every action helps create lasting change.🧡
https://ow.ly/7QoQ50Zwqj6

04/08/2026

Today is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day.
This year’s theme, “Living Our Truth”, celebrates the strength, identity, culture and stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people. It is a reminder of the importance of children growing up connected to Culture, family, Country and community.
At Lighthouse, we honour this day by acknowledging the importance of self-determination and unique strengths that shape the lives of First Nations children and young people. Culture and belonging are fundamental to a child’s identity, wellbeing and connection. We are committed to providing culturally safe, inclusive and trauma-informed care that is informed by young people, celebrates their stories, and creates environments where they feel safe, valued and connected.
Today, we celebrate the strength of First Nations children and young people and reaffirm our commitment to listening, learning and walking alongside communities to support their culture, aspirations and futures.🧡

27/07/2026

For many years, the Wesley Parents Committee has generously rallied their community in support of Lighthouse, and this year's event was no exception.

Thanks to the generosity of the Wesley community, more than $4,000 was raised to help provide vulnerable young people with safe homes and the therapeutic support they need to heal, grow and thrive.

We're so grateful for this longstanding partnership and for everyone who continues to make a difference through events like La Dolce Vita. Thank you for standing alongside Lighthouse and the young people we support. 🧡

23/07/2026

The Lighthouse team attended The Space Between training at the Melbourne Holocaust Museum. Exploring themes of identity, belonging, difference and prejudice, the session encouraged us to reflect on lived experience, cultural safety and the importance of creating communities where everyone feels they belong.

At Lighthouse, we work alongside young people from diverse backgrounds, cultures and faiths. Continuing to build our understanding strengthens our ability to provide compassionate, trauma informed support and create environments where every young person feels seen, respected and valued.

A sincere thank you to Simon for sharing his knowledge and guiding such an insightful and meaningful session.