Our Journey

April 2003: From a desire to support youth Allan Murray, Peter King and Xavier Clarke embarked on a series of consultations with indigenous health workers,educators and community leaders to identify social issues urban Indigenous peopleswere facing in Melbourne. The most talked about issues within the consultations was the staggering school drop out rate, inclusiveness, nutrition, career prospects,meaningful activities, cultural displacement and homelessness in indigenous youth.Allan, Peter and Xavier agreed that the best focus would be to invest their timeprimarily in the area of homelessness in order to impact the issue and population.

September 2003: Allan, Peter and Xavier researched a number of not-for-profitorganisations who provide services to homeless youth and identified the Lighthouse Foundation as most suited to the identified area of homelessness. After meetingwith the Founder and Executive of the Lighthouse Foundation, Allan Murray, Peter King and Xavier Clarke set out to establish the first Indigenous Lighthouse. The first task was to form a committee consisting of members from the Indigenous community, Lighthouse Foundation staff and volunteers. The purpose of the committee was identified to assist the Lighthouse Foundation in becoming inclusive of indigenousparticipation in its work with homeless youth, raise funds, and to advise the Lighthouse Foundation in determining best practices that would provide change forindigenous youth at a long term systemic level.

May-June 2004: With the support of the St.Kilda Football Club, Allan and Xavier setout on a major media campaign to promote the concept of the Indigenous Lighthouse. The Melbourne Age, Hearld-Sun, Channel Nine's Footy Show,Channel Ten's before the game, SEN and St.Kilda Football Club all got behind thispromotional campaign.

June 2005: The Unity Foundation concept was launched and the Unity Breakfast Club commenced. Unity's breakfast program is delivered by indigenous athletes who have been trained to connect with young people, teach life skills and develop a young people's problem solving abilities in a supportive manner.

November 2005 The Unity Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Lighthouse Foundation. The MoU was signed in support of Unity Foundation's commitment to reducing indigenous youth homelessness and other activities aimed at inspiring young Australians to reach their potential.

March 2006 The Unity Foundation commenced delivery of Life Skills Programs to schools in the Southern and Northern Metropolitan Regions of Melbourne.  Schools receiving Unity's programs include Worawa Aboriginal College, Northlands Secondary College, Fitzroy Secondary College and Northcote Secondary College.   Facilitators from Melbourne Storm Rugby League Club and the St.Kilda Football Club participated in a 6 week training course and facilitated the Three Cs and Core Life Skills programs.

July 2006 The Unity Foundation arranged for 300 primary school students from St.Kilda and surrounding suburbs to attend a day of culture, fun and games during 2006 NAIDOC week. A number of community members also turned up on the day, with several families bringing their kids along.  This event introduced primary school aged youth to life skills and will become an annual event during NAIDOC week celebrations.

November 2006 The Unity Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with RMIT University.   The MoU was signed in support of Unity Foundation's commitment to educating youth in the development of essential life skills and other activities aimed at inspiring young Australians to reach their potential.

December 2006 The Unity Foundation opened the first house for our homelessness program in Frankston, Vic.

December 2006 The Unity Foundation entered talks with Family Life to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at supporting the development of a range of Indigenous specific services in the Southern Metropolitan Region of Melbourne.   In addition to discussions, Family Life and Unity Foundation have partnered to open a home under Unity's Homelessness Program in the bayside region from March 2007.

January 2007 The Unity Foundation formed a partnership with St.Leonard's College to offer two Indigenous students full fee Scholarships at St.Leonard's College.   With the support of our partner RMIT University, these scholarships will seek to offer a pathway to a Unityversity/TAFE for the receipients of St.Leonard's College Scholarships.

March 2007 The Unity Foundation opened our second house for our homelessness program in Brighton, Vic.   Family Life partnered with Unity Foundation in approaching the Bayside City Council to facilitate this process.