Big Group Hug

Big Group Hug Supporting vulnerable children in Victoria one Big Group Hug at a time 🧸 This is unacceptable and unfathomable.

At Big Group Hug, we're on a mission to inspire you to support the immediate needs of vulnerable children and their families. Together, we can redistribute free essential aid for children aged newborn
to 16 years - items of absolute necessity including toiletries, clothing, books, infant formula,
nappies, car seats, prams, bedding and more - through our extensive network of health and welfare agen

cies and community organisations. The children and families we support are living in financial crisis due to family violence, unemployment/underemployment, homelessness, and seeking refuge. Carers are often forced to choose between providing dependent children with warm clothing and safe bedding, or a hot meal.

1 in 6 children in Australia live below the poverty line. As a community, we can join forces to ensure these children have the essentials they need to thrive. We are all individuals with a strong belief in ensuring that all children deserve the best start in life, and that communities have the ability and a desire to give less fortunate families a big group hug and some practical support in their time of need. Join us today.
- Pass on your children's hand-me-downs for us to repurpose with another family
- Volunteer your time from home or at one of our hubs in Thomastown, Airport West or Tarneit (Victoria).
- Donate funds to keep our work going
- Partner with us, you'll be surprised what a small or big business can achieve
- Tell a friend about us

Where to find us:
Thomastown HQ (City of Whittlesea)
337 Settlement Rd, Warehouse 12
• Mon – Thu, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
• First Saturday of the month, 10 am – 12 pm

Airport West Hub (City of Moonee Valley)
4/29 Hawker St, Airport West
• Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
• First Saturday of the month, 10 am – 12 pm

Tarneit Hub (City of Wyndham)
2-28 Goddard St, Tarneit 3029
• Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
• First Saturday of the month, 10 am – 12 pm

* Closed all public holidays

After more than five years of dedicated service, we'd like to extend our sincere thanks to Melinda Whitehouse as she ste...
31/08/2026

After more than five years of dedicated service, we'd like to extend our sincere thanks to Melinda Whitehouse as she steps down from the Big Group Hug Board of Directors.

Melinda has generously shared her time, expertise and thoughtful leadership to help guide our organisation through a period of growth and increasing community need. Her commitment to our mission and the children and families we support has been deeply valued by our Board, team, volunteers and wider community.

As a grassroots charity, we're incredibly fortunate to have passionate people who choose to give their skills in support of our work. Melinda's contribution has helped strengthen Big Group Hug and ensure we can continue supporting thousands of vulnerable children with dignity and care.

On behalf of everyone at Big Group Hug, thank you, Melinda, for your dedication, wisdom and unwavering support over the years. We wish you every success in your next chapter and look forward to seeing all that you achieve.

It's more than just a bag.It's the small, ordinary items most of us never have to think twice about: shampoo, deodorant,...
28/08/2026

It's more than just a bag.

It's the small, ordinary items most of us never have to think twice about: shampoo, deodorant, a toothbrush. For families doing it tough, these everyday essentials can be one more thing to find room for.

Today's packs were tailored by age and stage: baby bath products for the littlest ones, toothpaste and deodorant for older kids and teens, each one filled with essentials that support a child's health, comfort and confidence.

Thank you to Big Group Hug for turning what we fund into thoughtfully packed toiletry bags that reach the families who need them. 💙

A huge thank you to Kiara from Westbourne Grammar School, who recently organised a clothing drive with her friends and c...
28/08/2026

A huge thank you to Kiara from Westbourne Grammar School, who recently organised a clothing drive with her friends and collected a generous bundle of winter warmers for the children we support! Kiara also donated $50 and shared that she looks forward to continuing to support Big Group Hug in the future.
Such thoughtful actions like hers make a real difference for children who need to stay warm this winter.

A huge thank you to the students, staff and families at for their incredible support of Big Group Hug.Last term, the sc...
27/08/2026

A huge thank you to the students, staff and families at for their incredible support of Big Group Hug.

Last term, the school rallied behind our Winter Warmers Appeal, collecting much-needed winter essentials to help keep local children warm through the colder months. They didn't stop there, also hosting a Pyjama Day fundraiser that raised an amazing $500 to support vulnerable babies and children across our community.

Thank you, Davis Creek Primary School, for your kindness and generosity!

A big thank you to Fundraising Institute Australasia - FIA for the opportunity for our Head of Partnerships, Natalie Jon...
26/08/2026

A big thank you to Fundraising Institute Australasia - FIA for the opportunity for our Head of Partnerships, Natalie Jones, to join the panel at the FIA For Purpose Partnership Program.

It was a great opportunity to hear from others working in corporate partnerships and to share ideas, experiences, and the realities of building real, meaningful partnerships in the NFP sector.

As Natalie put it, "sharing a room with my peers, discussing openly our world in corporate partnerships in the NFP space is just electric, because of the passion, the inspiration and energy. I always come away feeling so proud of our sector because it's hard and we have to be resilient, so sharing and supporting each other is a gift."

Our CEO Bernadene Voss also joined the session and loved hearing the wisdom and experience around what it takes to build an authentic partnership and, of course, the lengths some people will go to find their perfect partnership match!

We’re grateful to the FIA for creating the space for these conversations and for giving people like Natalie an opportunity to contribute to them.

If you work in a business and would like to get involved with Big Group Hug, please contact Natalie at [email protected]

We urgently need clothes for older kids. We’re running extremely short of good-condition boys’ and girls’ clothing in si...
26/08/2026

We urgently need clothes for older kids. We’re running extremely short of good-condition boys’ and girls’ clothing in sizes 8–16.

For a child growing up in a family under financial pressure, having clothes that fit can make a real difference in helping them feel comfortable, confident, and ready for school and everyday life.

If you have quality pre-loved or new clothing in these sizes, we’d love to give it a second life with a child who needs it.

Please like, comment, and share this post to your Stories and WhatsApp groups to help us reach families who may have clothes to spare.

Drop-off locations:

Thomastown
12/337 Settlement Rd
Mon–Thurs, 9am–2pm

Tarneit
2/28 Goddard Street
Tues–Thurs, 9:30am–12:30pm

Airport West
4/29 Hawker St
Mon & Wed, 9:30am–12pm

All locations are also open first Saturday of each month, 10am–12pm.

Two incredible Big Group Hug volunteers have been announced today as Westfield Local Heroes finalists! And we need your ...
26/08/2026

Two incredible Big Group Hug volunteers have been announced today as Westfield Local Heroes finalists! And we need your votes for both!

We are so proud to share that Jeremy Grassie has been nominated for Westfield Plenty Valley and Ann Butcher for Westfield Airport West!

Week after week, they give their time to help ensure disadvantaged children and families experiencing hardship can access the essentials they need. Their volunteering makes such a huge difference to the people we support.

Now, we just need our community to get behind them!

Jeremy and Ann each need individual votes, so please take a moment to vote for both of our finalists. Share this with your friends, family, and networks to help us spread the word.

Every vote counts!

Vote for Jeremy > https://bit.ly/WLH26_Vote_Jeremy

Vote for Ann > https://bit.ly/WLH26_Vote_Ann

Please let us know in the comments once you’ve voted so we can celebrate the support behind these two wonderful volunteers!

24/08/2026

Never played pickleball? No worries!

Pickleball for Purpose is designed to be fun, social, and inclusive, bringing workplace teams together for a day of friendly competition, connection, and community impact.

You don’t need to be a pickleball pro. Just bring your team of two or three and be ready to have some fun.

Get your team together and register to play for a purpose at the link in the comments. Early bird pricing available now!

A huge thank you to the incredible Year 3 students at Ruyton Girls' School for creating the most beautiful handmade gift...
24/08/2026

A huge thank you to the incredible Year 3 students at Ruyton Girls' School for creating the most beautiful handmade gifts for the children we support.

As part of their learning about textiles, fabrics, waste, and upcycling, the students brought in clothing and fabric from home that could no longer be donated and transformed it into hand-sewn soft toys. With the help of some wonderful mums and nannas, every toy was lovingly stitched, filled with fabric scraps and given a new purpose.

The really special touches made these gifts even more special (and had us wiping away a tear or two). Some students created tiny hearts to tuck inside their toys, and each child wrote a beautiful note to accompany their creation before presenting them to us individually.

It's hard to put into words how much love has gone into every single toy. We know they will bring comfort to kids who need it most, and we're so grateful to Ruyton for these beautiful keepsakes.

In case you missed it, registrations are now live for Big Group Hug's Pickleball for Purpose event!Your next team-buildi...
20/08/2026

In case you missed it, registrations are now live for Big Group Hug's Pickleball for Purpose event!

Your next team-building activity could involve a little friendly competition, a bunch of fun, and a lot less PowerPoint!

Pickleball for Purpose gives your team a chance to get out of the workplace, do something different and connect with colleagues away from the usual desks and deadlines.

With teams of just three, it’s easy to get involved, whether you’re a small business or a large organisation. And you can register as many teams as you like!

Don't delay as spaces are limited! Register your workplace team today > https://www.pickleballforpurpose.org.au/

Address

12/337 Settlement Road
Thomastown, VIC
3074

Website

, ,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Big Group Hug posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category