How We Help
Lighthouse Community Care works proactively to enhance the physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and social wellbeing of people, regardless of their age, gender, race, religion, marital status or political views. Much of its work occurs in Wollongong, New South Wales, around 80km south of Sydney.Since it began housing homeless youth and providing counselling services to people of all stages and walks of life more than 20 years ago, Lighthouse has expanded into a range of innovative community care services. Its heart is to see those less fortunate loved and cared for. Lighthouse Community Care operates as a not-for-profit charitable entity. It is related to Lighthouse Church, a Christian church launched in the heart of Wollongong in 1973.
Your Support
Financial donations to Lighthouse Community Care are tax-deductible and will be used to provide and improve community services,
contribute towards employment costs for staff to facilitate courses and programs where necessary, and to purchase or rent equipment and facilities for community care.
Other ways to support Lighthouse Community Care include donations such as:
- - clothing, furniture or food
- used or new computer systems (Pentium 3 and up)
- Christmas gifts
- loan of equipment for events (some egs: tables, chairs, jumping castles, catering equipment)
- sponsorship of community events
- providing volunteers from your organisation (on a regular or one-off basis this can be a great way to help build your team)
Making A Difference
For toddlers to the elderly, Lighthouse Community Care provides quality support services most at no-cost.
Youth Housing
Partly funded by the NSW Government's Supported Accommodation Assistance Program, Lighthouse's youth housing initiative helps homeless youth or those at risk of imminent homelessness.
Known as "my|place", each residential facility houses up to six males or up to six females, aged 16 to 25.
The goal is to grow this program, which reports to the Department of Community Services, from the two houses currently operating to ten houses by 2011.
Volunteers, many from Lighthouse Church, work alongside fully qualified social workers to help residents achieve independent living.
Programs have been designed to show them how to cook, budget, shop and secure a job.
Lighthouse has been housing homeless young people for over 20 years.
Find out more about my|place.
Free / Low Cost Computers
ComputerBank Illawarra operates as part of Lighthouse Community Services, providing free or low cost computers to people in socio-economic need who cannot afford retail-priced computers.
The motivation is a belief that computers and the internet should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their economic circumstances. Volunteer technicians at ComputerBank test, rebuild and refurbish donated systems.
Since the program began in October 2005, more than 300 computers have been released into the community, with 50 to Botswana and 10 to Fiji.
In recognition of its services, ComputerBank has received a Healthy Cities Award from Healthy Cities Illawarra, part of a global movement founded by the World Health Organisation.
Currently ComputerBank Illawarra is working on donating 100 computers to Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory and 100 computers to Kenya.
For more information, to donate or for an application form visit ComputerBanks website at www.cbi.org.au
Affordable Counselling Services
For around 30 years, Lighthouse has been offering counselling services at reduced fees to people from throughout the community.
Many are not able to afford usual-price counselling.
Hundreds of people have utilised the counselling services, with many marriages restored, children reunited with their parents, and people overcoming anger and anxiety issues as a result.
The counselling services, provided by qualified psychologists, psychotherapists and marriage and family counsellors, are offered to people from all ages and walks of life.
Referrals come from a network which includes Lifeline. Lighthouse Community Care plans to expand its counselling team and also begin offering drug and alcohol rehabilitation counselling.
Life Courses and Support Groups
A variety of courses are offered to the community on topics such as dealing with depression and anxiety, cancer support, divorce care, personal boundaries, raising children, computer training and job preparation.
Some of the courses have been developed in response to needs identified through counselling services.
Each year, around 80 teenage girls benefit from a self-esteem course called "Shine" that's run in local high schools.
This course encourages girls to reach for their dreams and teaches them etiquette skills. Girls are treated to a meal at a five star restaurant to celebrate their completion of the course.
Lighthouse Community Care also runs regular support groups including a carer support group which assists the disabled and their carers.
Practical Support
Whether it's a meal or a mowed lawn, Lighthouse Community Care's volunteer teams spend many hours each week practically helping those in need.
A weekly community barbeque provides lunch for around 50 underprivileged people, including several from the nearby methadone clinic.
This barbeque is more than a free feed. It's a valuable time for these people to socialise and be offered a listening ear and loving heart. Many stay for a support group after lunch.
Meals and practical help are provided to struggling families from the community, with more than 300 meals supplied each year.
An initiative known as "Street Squad" helps those in need from the local neighbourhood with free yard care and home maintenance.
Young Families & Children's Services
As part of its desire to support parents and nurture children.s potential, Lighthouse Community Care operates several programs.
More than 80 families a week participate in activities such as playgroups, music, dance and craft.
As well as valuable opportunities for children and parents to make friends and find support, children can learn new skills.
Playgroups incorporate play, craft and story time while Mainly Music provides an environment where young children can develop skills to
enhance their early education through music-related activities such as rhythm and rhyme.
Free dance lessons are also available for children. Craft classes offer children and adults the opportunity to get creative and learn new skills for only the cost of materials.
Corporate Box for Disadvantaged
During the National Basketball League Season, disabled and disadvantaged children and teenagers are invited to watch the Wollongong Hawks play home games from a courtside corporate box funded by Lighthouse Community Care especially for them. This free invitation has been enjoyed by children from diverse groups including Barnados and Greenacres. Since this initiative launched in 2007, more than 200 youth have enjoyed a major league basketball game from some of the best seats in the house.
Special Events
The Lighthouse Community Care team is always looking for ways to make people in the community feel special.
Events such as pamper mornings for ladies from the women's refuge and a five-star Christmas lunch for the underprivileged are designed to make these people feel valued and loved.
Lighthouse Community Care runs an annual thanksgiving breakfast in conjunction with Wollongong City Council and awards community organisations and individuals who contribute to the community.
It is also involved in helping facilitate an annual "Insight" conference run by Lighthouse Church which seeks to inspire other community organisations and churches from around Australia to serve their community.
Your donation is an investment in people.
- housing
- computers
- counselling
- life courses
- support groups
- meals
- children's services
- corporate box for disadvantaged
- special events
How You Can Help Build Strong, Healthy Communities
All donations to Lighthouse Community Care are tax deductible. Contact Lighthouse Church office on 42 299744. to arrange a one-off gift or ongoing sponsorship or to find out more about how you can support the life-building work of Lighthouse Community Care. Receipts showing tax-deductibility will be sent to you via mail or email, whichever you nominate.