Bridge It

20/08/2026

Creating Cocoons - Takes Great Partners

For the last year, we have navigated numerous hurdles to get Cocoon 2's doors open. We are not experts in building or renovation, and we have had to get the right people and businesses behind us!

We knew we needed the very best building surveying advice, so we were over the moon when Florence Smith jumped on board to support us.

For the last 2 weeks, we have been doing the demo of the kitchens and bathrooms. To do this, we needed a demo permit, and we were so lucky to have had Floreancig Smith's support with getting this all through, they have continued to guide us through a heap of regulation requirements, and later this year, Floreancig Smith will support us to get the occupancy certificate that will allow us to welcome our first residents to Cocoon 2!

Thank you so much, Floreancig Smith, for believing in Bridge It, our mission, and for helping us to launch Cocoon 2, which will become a safe home to around 240 young people over the next 2 decades!

18/08/2026

Our partnership with StreetSmart began before Bridge It even had a name.

They believed in the vision before there was proof. We didn’t have an annual report, audited accounts, or an evaluation, all the things most funders want. They invested in an idea because they believed that young people deserve safe homes, and they trusted us to make that happen.

This is what makes StreetSmart special. They help ideas get off the ground which has enabled so many organisations like Bridge It to get started. And they have chosen to stay on the journey with us year after year.

Check out Alan White, StreetSmart's CEO to hear why they choose to back Bridge It.

Thanks for being awesome StreetSmart Australia

14/08/2026

Merry People X Bridge It

understands that businesses can play a meaningful role in creating positive social change, and they've made sure this philosophy is central to everything they do. Yes, their gorgeous boots are made for adventure, built for comfort, and loved by people around the world, but they also deeply care about doing good!

Merry People's Founder is an incredible female leader, demonstrating that business doesn't have to be just about profit. She has taken the time to visit the Cocoon on multiple occasions and has heard directly from our young people about the impact of Bridge It. She's donated her amazing boots and sandals to both our team and young people, and even launched a limited-edition Bridge It X Merry People gumboot!

The values and approaches of our two organisations are so deeply aligned, and we're incredibly grateful to have partnered with Merry People over the past few years. Their support has helped fund our courtyard, our frontline wellness staff member who supports our young people to thrive and has donated towards the renovation of Cocoon 2.

We're incredibly grateful for their ongoing support and are in love with their brand and boots!

11/08/2026

Collective Generosity

Cocoon 2 is an example of what’s possible when people come together to be part of the solution to youth homelessness.

We are in awe of the generosity of a local couple who brought an apartment block for us and leased it to us for $1 a year for 20 years. And want to share a big thankyou to all the businesses and people who said yes to getting behind the project to date.

Check out the article in Herald Sun and realestate.com.au Media! Link in bio 🔗

Brea Dorsett (Bridge It’s Lived Impact Lead) shares about her experience and the power of being provided with housing and support by our friends at the The Foyer Foundation.

Hear from the couple and why they said yes to getting behind this.

And some of Carla Raynes 🦋 Bridge It’s Founders thoughts on the project!

03/08/2026

When Carla first met Jane Tewson from , she was feeling deeply disillusioned with the homelessness sector. After years of working within the system, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was part of the problem, not part of the solution. Jane suggested that if she wanted to have the impact she craved, she might need to start a new charity.

Igniting Change wrapped their arms around Carla to help make that happen, providing early funding and support, but also so much more. They connected us to Lee Ridder, who became a close friend and mentor in the early days, and to her husband, Greg Ridder, who became Bridge It's Founding Chair. They introduced us to Ed Ring, who joined Bridge It's Board and connected us to , who trusted us enough to transform a building into Cocoon #1. They connected us to Ben Lilley and .co, who created Bridge It's name and brand, and to Linda Fox and Thomas Jessup, who helped establish Bridge It as a registered charity.

They also introduced us to many of our earliest supporters, including , Mutual Trust, the Brian M Davis Foundation, and so many others, whose funding and belief helped get Bridge It off the ground.

Jane also joined our very first Board and has remained by our side throughout the past five years.

We knew we needed a second Cocoon so we could meet the demand from the many young people without a safe home. True to form, Jane and her team made another game-changing connection to a beautiful local couple who agreed to buy us a building, which we now lease for just $1 a year over the next 20 years.

As we work towards opening the doors to Cocoon 2, we're reminded that innovation in the social sector doesn't happen in isolation. It happens because courageous people are willing to back new ideas, take risks, and believe in both the ideas and the people making them happen.

31/07/2026

Turner & Townsend came to the rescue!

Bridge It was so excited when a local couple purchased an apartment block for us to transform into Cocoon 2 last year. After the initial excitement we went on the hunt of a project manager.

We got close several times to securing a project manager, but it just never eventuated.

We worked hard to find a project manager, but everyone was too busy to support this project probono.

Then one phone call changed everything.

A huge thank you to Tisha Lee from , who connected us with Anne Leong, who in turn introduced us to Turner & Townsend.

From our very first conversation, the team didn't just understand the project, they believed in it. They wanted to get behind it because they saw that this was more than a project, it was a genuine opportunity to change the lives of young people.

Today, thanks to Jason Veale, Julian Kerwood, Gregor Moodie, Tony Jones, James Longmuir and Lee-Rose Latta-Harms, Cocoon 2 is moving full steam ahead. Gregor has been an absolute superstar, bringing energy, expertise and genuine passion to the role of Project Manager, while Jason and Julian have been incredible champions of our vision from day one.

They've also opened doors to other organisations and skilled professionals who have joined the project, creating a ripple effect that's helping make Cocoon 2 possible.

To the entire Turner & Townsend team - thank you. Your generosity, expertise and belief in what we're building will help create a future where more young people have a safe place to call home. 💛

27/07/2026

Netwealth x Bridge It

For the past three years, Netwealth has been an incredible partner to Bridge It, backing our vision and supporting our growth so we can have an even greater impact on the lives of young people.

Their support has helped make the journey from Cocoon 1 to Cocoon 2 possible. Cocoon 2 will provide another safe, supportive home where young people can rebuild their lives, develop independence, and feel connected to a community that believes in them.

The Netwealth team has gone above and beyond by rolling up their sleeves to support fundraising for Bridge It!

To everyone at Netwealth - thank you. Thank you for believing in our vision, investing in our growth, and helping create lasting change for the young people we support.

Together, we're proving what's possible when business decides to be part of the solution.

22/07/2026

We're excited to share that recruitment for the Cocoon Coordinator at Cocoon 2 has begun!

This role is critical to the success of Cocoon 2, with a key focus on the day-to-day running of the Cocoon and coordinating support for all 14 residents.

We're particularly interested in hearing from applicants who bring both specialist practice knowledge and a commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for our young people.

It truly is a gift to work at Bridge It, providing you the opportunity to change lives and help mend a broken system.

If you think you could be the next member of our amazing team, apply on Ethical Jobs now!

Watch this video to meet your future coworkers!

15/07/2026

15/07/2026

swung down to Cocoon 2 yesterday! What a pleasure it was to connect with such an awesome human. He also gave us a shoutout on ABC's Melbourne Drive with ! Have a listen!