Because
of You

As a young woman, Susan travelled to Sri Lanka to volunteer in a children's hospital. It was there she held a small child who was severely malnourished — only to find out the very next day that the same child had passed away during the night.

Her life was forever impacted. She returned to Australia a very different woman — one who couldn't live in a world where there were so many kids on the streets and not do anything about it.

That was the beginning of the Lighthouse Foundation — a youth homelessness charity that has now, thirty years on, helped get thousands of kids off the streets and into loving homes. Susan, her amazing team, and everyone who has played a part in Lighthouse over the years have created a beautiful space for children to heal the trauma of their past, in a loving family environment where they feel a sense of belonging — many for the very first time.

As youth homelessness continues to rise across Australia, The Lighthouse Foundation approached their 30-year milestone with a clear message: community support is needed now more than ever.

To continue transforming lives by providing homes and therapeutic care to young people — when they need it, for as long as they need it — Lighthouse needed a film that would move people to act, not just feel.

We paid tribute to 30 years of Lighthouse through the stories of those who have been there since its inception — and the very young people whose lives have been transformed through their model of care.

Because of You highlights the need and the urgency for Lighthouse's work to continue — and encourages the community to get behind their mission to stamp out youth homelessness in Australia once and for all.