A decade of difference: The Jellis Craig Foundation’s lasting impact across Victoria

The Resilience Project

A major milestone in our ongoing partnership with The Resilience Project was met this year, supporting 24 schools and early learning centres, positively impacting over 7000 students across Melbourne and regional Victoria. With a focus on regions where our Jellis Craig staff live and work, we are proud to continue to strengthen the emotional wellbeing in our communities.

Lighthouse Foundation

Launched in 2024, our partnership with the Lighthouse Foundation is already having a powerful impact. Staff have embraced a wide range of volunteering activities – from maintaining care homes and preparing meals to packing bags of essential items for young people transitioning through Lighthouse programs. This handson involvement reflects our deep commitment to supporting vulnerable youth in practical and meaningful ways.

The Big Umbrella

Our long-standing partnership with The Big Umbrella continues to grow. Jellis Craig staff regularly volunteer in the Food and Street Services program, providing direct support to Melbourne’s most vulnerable. In addition to providing volunteers, the Foundation has contributed critical funding for essential infrastructure including a new volunteer vehicle, a walk-in freezer and on-site offices helping to expand the organisation’s capacity to serve the community.

LifeChanger Foundation

In May 2025, we launched an exciting new partnership with the LifeChanger Foundation to support youth mental health and empowerment. Our funding is helping deliver mentoring, personal development and mental health education through schools. Jellis Craig staff are also stepping up as trained mentors, working side-by-side with LifeChanger counsellors to support young people on their journey towards resilience and self-belief.

McAuley Community

Services for Women Our support for McAuley focuses on education and employment support initiatives for women and children affected by family violence and homelessness. Our funding is helping provide access to laptops, training resources and employment pathways. These tools are essential in fostering financial independence and empowering families to rebuild their lives with confidence and dignity.

The Playground Project

The Jellis Craig Foundation’s Community Contribution Fund enables local offices to support grassroot initiatives across Victoria. A standout project this year is The Playground Project, which opened in June 2025 in central Melbourne. This globally recognised play and learning space will host curriculum-aligned excursions led by education officers. Our contribution will support the Schools Program and help develop educational kits for continued learning.

As we look to the future, the Jellis Craig Foundation remains driven by a clear purpose: to make a lasting, positive impact on the communities around us. With strong partnerships and a dedicated team, we are excited for what lies ahead.