Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project

Lighthouse was honoured to be named a finalist in this year’s Victorian Early Years Awards in the 'Supporting Parents to Build Their Capacity and Confidence' category. This recognition celebrates initiatives that help families feel confident in their parenting role and strengthen children’s early learning and development. Congratulations to all the winners and finalists who were nominated. Our finalist recognition highlighted Family Haven, a Mooroopna-based program supporting families with children under five. Family Haven provides early help that strengthens children’s learning and family wellbeing. The program is open to all families, no referral required, and offers a safe, welcoming space for those experiencing housing pressures, isolation, or other challenges. Since opening our doors in 2020, our Family Haven has supported over 600 families by connecting them with health, education and community services, as well as peer support and practical assistance. Through this support, parents gain confidence in their role, and children engage in play-based learning, early development checks, and activities that help set them up for school. Sarah Pain (Early Years and Primary Manager), Courtney Wilson (Mooroopna Family Haven Coordinator), Amy De Paola (Communications Coordinator) and Board Member Mohammed Yassin proudly represented Lighthouse at the presentation evening, joining organisations committed to outstanding practice and positive outcomes in the early years. While Lighthouse didn’t take home the award, being acknowledged alongside such dedicated organisations and individuals was a privilege and a reminder of what’s possible when communities work together for children and families. The Lighthouse team would also like to acknowledge supporters of Family Haven who have contributed to this nomination: Our wonderful volunteers St Alban’s Anglican Church Equity Trustees GV Health Foundation Fairley Foundation Pratt Foundation Margaret Attwood Trust Backbone support from Department of Education enabling this community led initiative and its impact. All the service clubs and community members whose contributions are critical to enable us to continue to address rising need in community.

At Lighthouse, we work with many young families who are struggling to afford essentials, including nappies. While our wonderful supporters and partners help us provide a range of practical assistance, we are currently spending a significant portion of our budget on purchasing nappies to keep up with demand. Each month, Lighthouse supplies 70+ packets of nappies to the families we work with. To ensure we can continue this support, we’re calling on individuals and local businesses and organisations to donate to our online Nappy Drive. Whether you can fund a week’s supply for $20, a month’s supply, a one-off contribution or an ongoing commitment, Lighthouse's small and dedicated team will ensure that 100% of your donation stays local and directly supports local families. By meeting the basic needs of our families, we can then focus on the broader challenges that hold them back, helping families move from crisis to confidence and build a better community for all. To contribute, hit the link below or if you would like to learn more email our Early Years Manager, Sarah Pain via spain@gslp.com.au DONATE HERE: https://lnkd.in/gpApXWx8 All cash donations are tax deductible. Note: While we do welcome donations of packs of nappies we encourage online cash donations that enable the efficiency of bulk orders and the purchase of the sizes in high demand.

It’s been a busy few weeks at Lighthouse, but we couldn’t let this milestone pass without celebrating the local partnerships that make a real difference in our community. Last month marked one year of partnership with Orange Sky Australia, delivering free laundry services and connection from our Family Haven in Mooroopna. This initiative is a great example of how collaboration between organisations can create practical, non-judgemental support for those who need it most. In just 12 months, our volunteers have supported 562 loads of washing and shared 626 hours of meaningful conversation with locals, helping to build connection and trust within our community. We sincerely thank Orange Sky, St Alban's Anglican Church Mooroopna, Gouge Linen and Garment Services, and our dedicated volunteers. Together, we’re creating a weekly hub of support that shows what’s possible when local partners work together to achieve better outcomes for our community. #GreaterSheppartonLighthouseProject #OrangeSkyAustralia #CommunityPartnership #Mooroopna #FosteringEquity #LocalImpact #Collaboration

Big Thanks to GIVIT! Today Chris and Melanie from GIVIT popped in to visit our Family Haven Mooroopna. GIVIT are an amazing organisation that matches donors to need. Through our partnership with GIVIT Lighthouse has been able to deliver critical support to children and families in Greater Shepparton, including material aid support, food vouchers, baby items, furniture and white goods. To date, this partnership has leveraged $168,851 in community support. Thank you GIVIT and all of your supporters. We are enormously grateful for your support To learn more about supporting GIVIT check them out here: https://www.givit.org.au/

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN ... Lift Off Education Scholarship Applications for study in 2026 are now open! Scholarships are awarded to Goulburn Valley school leavers or people returning to study for approved pathway and higher education courses including Diplomas and Bachelor programs. Applications for Post Graduate studies and from students who have taken a gap year are welcome. Scholarships ranging from 1 – 3 years of up to $10,000 are awarded. To CHECK YOUR ELIGIBILITY and to APPLY ONLINE for a Lift Off Education Scholarship please follow the link - https://lnkd.in/gdJpGgeE

Attention teaching staff, school leaders, and wellbeing teams! The Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project produces a regular e-newsletter, Schools Connect, designed to keep schools up to date with programs, initiatives, and opportunities that support students to thrive. Our latest edition is coming soon! If you haven’t already, sign up today to stay informed: https://conta.cc/4ne1Ifa

Lighthouse is delighted to be part of the Disruption Art Experience! Another great program for young people in our region.

The Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project, in partnership with the Centre for Public Impact and with the support of the Minderoo Foundation, invites community members to join us for an open conversation about community, connection, and belonging. We want to hear what community means to you, what helps you feel connected to the people and places you love, and what makes it harder to engage. Shepparton is home to many vibrant communities and local projects that celebrate belonging and strengthen connection. We’re keen to learn from your experiences and insights about what helps communities thrive. Your voice will help shape tools and approaches to guide philanthropy in better supporting communities like ours. We’d love for you to be part of the conversation. When: Wednesday 13th August Time: 11:00 am Where: Fryers Street Food Store Duration: 30 - 60 minutes Complimentary coffee and cake included To register your attendance email: Amy Robinson via arobinson@gslp.com.au

At Lighthouse, we are deeply committed to improving outcomes for children and young people in Greater Shepparton. Our efforts are grounded in community, focused on impact, and driven by the belief that every child deserves opportunity. We’re grateful to the Brian M. Davis Charitable Foundation for recognising the importance of this mission and investing in it through a multi-year grant. This funding will enable us to: ✔️ Strengthen volunteer and partnership networks ✔️ Build deeper connections across the region ✔️ Support young people as they transition to adulthood ✔️ Enhance data and evaluation systems to track progress and continuously improve “This funding is not just an investment in Lighthouse, it’s an investment in the potential of our community. It enables us to build stronger connections, scale what works, and stay focused on delivering better outcomes for children and young people,” shared our Executive Officer Amy Robinson. Thank you to the Brian M. Davis Charitable Foundation for backing community-led solutions and the collective efforts driving change in Greater Shepparton. To read more, visit: https://lnkd.in/dkya3pSM Pictured: Amy Robinson, Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project Executive Officer, with volunteers (L-R) Pam, Karen and Irene from the Family Haven. #BetterOutcomes #CommunityDriven #InvestInYoungPeople #ThankYou #LighthouseProject #PlaceBasedChange Anita Hopkins

Got a spare laptop? Give it a second life with Laptops with Love. The Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project is calling on individuals, businesses, and organisations to donate laptops for our Laptops with Love program. With generous support from Data Parts Shepparton and Advance Computing, we refurbish donated devices and gift them to students, apprentices, and community members, helping to alleviate the cost of education pressures while reducing e-waste. To date, we’ve distributed over 550 laptops, thanks to incredible support from partners like Goulburn-Murray Water, Goulburn Valley Water, Goulburn Valley Grammar School Ltd, and Greater Shepparton City Council. But demand continues to grow! Whether you’re an individual with one device or a business with 50, we’d love to hear from you! 🔧 Laptop donation criteria: Devices should be under 5 years old and in good working condition Donors are responsible for removing any data or intellectual property 📞 For more information or to donate, contact Kathy Fuller on 0404 091 758 or email kfuller@gslp.com.au. By working together, our community can make tech accessible—and keep it out of landfill. #LaptopsWithLove #GreaterShepparton #CommunitySupport #DigitalInclusion