Satellite Foundation

Satellite Foundation A NFP connecting children & young people who have a family member with mental health challenges.

Established in 2009 in Melbourne, Satellite Foundation has evolved from over 25 years of work by many who have recognised the challenges facing families where a parent or carer experiences challenges to their mental health, including mental illness. We believe children and young people are the changemakers of the future and have enormous potential to positively influence and shape the way our society functions. Mental health challenges can have an impact on all members of the family, and this often goes unrecognised. Satellite takes a whole-of-family approach to support and sustain connections between children, their parent/s or primary caregivers and the wider community. At Satellite, we aim to nurture children and young people to realise their full potential and become more resilient to the challenges of living within a family facing mental illness or mental health challenges. Satellite puts children, young people and their lived experience at the heart of everything we do. Together we build awareness and provide a safe, inclusive space that enhances the health, wellbeing and connectedness of children, young people and their families. Satellite offers peer support in a range of in-person and online programs, workshops, activities and projects that are centred on connection. We use a combination of creativity and lived experience to work through challenges faced in the areas of mental illness, mental health challenges and social and emotional wellbeing. We work in partnership with young people and their families, available services, practitioners, similar organisations, and the wider community.

🙌🏽 Volunteer with Satellite this January!We’re looking for caring, enthusiastic people to support our online creative wo...
06/10/2026

🙌🏽 Volunteer with Satellite this January!

We’re looking for caring, enthusiastic people to support our online creative workshops for young people aged 8–17 who have a parent or carer experiencing mental health challenges.

As an Online Workshop Support Volunteer, you’ll help create a safe, welcoming and engaging space by supporting facilitators, encouraging participation, building rapport and helping young people connect with their peers.

We’d especially love to hear from people with experience in youth work, social work, education, mental health, disability support, peer work or creative facilitation, but if you have experience working with young people and are keen to get involved, we’d love to hear from you too.

đź“… Applications close Friday 23 October.

👉🏽 Apply via our website:
https://www.satellitefoundation.org.au/volunteer-at-satellite-foundation/

Or contact Satellite’s Volunteer Manager, Lou Malcolm, at [email protected].

Please share with anyone in your networks who might be a great fit!

Behind every person with a mental health challenge is a carer. Too often, that carer is a child or young person.At Satel...
06/10/2026

Behind every person with a mental health challenge is a carer. Too often, that carer is a child or young person.

At Satellite, we’re calling for sustained investment so children and young people impacted by family mental health challenges can be identified and supported earlier — before they reach crisis.

This sits alongside the shared advocacy of the Statewide Young Carer Network, calling for greater awareness, earlier identification and funded support for young carers across Victoria.

Because young carers shouldn’t have to reach crisis before they are seen.

Learn more:
đź”— Satellite advocacy: https://www.satellitefoundation.org.au/resources/behind-every-person-with-a-mental-health-challenge-is-a-carer/

đź”— Make Young Carers Visible: https://www.satellitefoundation.org.au/resources/make-young-carers-visible/

05/10/2026



This month's creative activity is Paper weaving! ✂️🎨

Created for young carers, families and friends, this is the second activity in our monthly creative series.

In the video, we use painted paper, but you can experiment with all sorts of materials, creativity has no limits.

Follow along with the video or download the instructions from our website and create at your own pace.

Find the resource here:

https://www.satellitefoundation.org.au/resources/paper-weaving/

Know a young person, family or friend who might enjoy it? Share it with them too.

Satellite’s engagement team recently visited Hester Hornbrook Academy in Sunshine, an independent alternative secondary ...
30/09/2026

Satellite’s engagement team recently visited Hester Hornbrook Academy in Sunshine, an independent alternative secondary school that provides flexible education and wellbeing support for young people aged 15–25.

The team connected with the young people by leading a paper water lily craft activity and running two zine making workshops. The activities combined creativity with gentle, focused handwork, encouraging mindfulness, relaxation, connection and shared enjoyment.

We’re grateful to everyone at Hester Hornbrook Academy who supported our team and collaborated with us to make this activity happen.

A big shout-out to our engagement team, for putting together activities like this that aim to start conversations and create meaningful moments of connection with young people.

"I noticed a huge difference in his confidence with contact with Satellite. It's being the beginning of him feeling much...
29/09/2026

"I noticed a huge difference in his confidence with contact with Satellite. It's being the beginning of him feeling much better about himself. This year he's tackled school, he has barely missed any days. Last year, it was a struggle for me to get him to school. He wasn't confident in himself. It didn't feel that way. And part of him building that confidence, I think was connecting with the kids online with Satellite" - Parent of a Satellite Participant*

Sometimes, connection can be the beginning of something much bigger.

At Satellite, we walk alongside children and young people aged 8–25 who are navigating family mental health challenges, creating opportunities to connect, build confidence and feel less alone - with support that reaches young people early, before challenges escalate.

With sustained investment, we can reach more young people earlier, extend our reach across Victoria and strengthen the pathways of support around them.

Because when young people have the right support at the right time, new possibilities can open up.

Discover more about the difference Satellite can make and how you can partner with us.

https://www.satellitefoundation.org.au/resources/behind-every-person-with-a-mental-health-challenge-is-a-carer/



*Source: Lapsing Report Satellite Foundation

We were grateful to be part of Banyule Youth Fest once again, connecting with young people and the wider community on a ...
28/09/2026

We were grateful to be part of Banyule Youth Fest once again, connecting with young people and the wider community on a beautiful sunny Melbourne day.

Gab and Luke from our Engagement team represented Satellite with a welcoming stall, where young people could take part in a creative keychain-making activity. Throughout the day, they had the opportunity to chat, create and connect with attendees, as well as catch up with our friends from the Mental Health & Wellbeing Connected Centre North East Metro.

The festival brought together live music, food trucks, games, rides and a range of activities, creating a vibrant space for young people to come together, have fun and connect with their community.

We’re thankful to everyone who helped make the day so special and to Banyule Youth Fest for continuing to create opportunities for connection, creativity and wellbeing.

We look forward to being part of it again next year.

“For families and young carers, there is hope.”Grace could see her daughter was taking on significant caring responsibil...
23/09/2026

“For families and young carers, there is hope.”

Grace could see her daughter was taking on significant caring responsibilities while also experiencing anxiety.

She wanted to find the right support, somewhere her daughter could build confidence, feel understood and connect with other young people who shared similar experiences.

Through Satellite, she found that connection.

And for Grace, it meant seeing her daughter begin to feel more supported, more confident and less alone.

Read Grace and her daughter’s story and discover how your support is helping young carers feel more connected, confident and hopeful.

https://www.satellitefoundation.org.au/news/impactstory-grace/

đź“· Photo for reference

250,000* Victorian children and young people live with a parent or carer who has a mental illness. *ÂąMany of those child...
22/09/2026

250,000* Victorian children and young people live with a parent or carer who has a mental illness. *Âą

Many of those children and young people take on caring responsibilities, from buying groceries and cooking to helping manage household finances and providing emotional support.

Caring responsibilities affect every young person differently. For some, the impact on their mental health and wellbeing can be significant.

Without access to timely support, these challenges can become harder to manage.

At Satellite , we’re calling for sustained investment so more children and young people with caring responsibilities can be reached earlier, access the support they need and stay connected and well.

Learn more about our campaign and how Satellite can make a difference: 
https://www.satellitefoundation.org.au/resources/behind-every-person-with-a-mental-health-challenge-is-a-carer/

Source: Âą VicHealth, COPMI: Key Project Outcomes and Learnings (2006).



Do you work with young people and are unsure if Satellite services are a good fit? Satellite has created a simple flowc...
21/09/2026

Do you work with young people and are unsure if Satellite services are a good fit?

Satellite has created a simple flowchart to help referrers to understand whether our support could be a suitable option for a child or young person navigating family mental health challenges.

đź”— Learn more here:
https://www.satellitefoundation.org.au/resources/young-carer-identification/

Address

22 Easey Street, Collingwood
Melbourne, VIC
3066

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+611800973444

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