Foundation House

A Statement of Solidarity following the Bondi shootings from the Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma.

A historic milestone for Australia.

On November 28, the Department of Home Affairs announced that Australia has now granted one million refugee and humanitarian visas since the end of World War 2.

This is much more than a number - it represents one million stories of courage, loss, resilience and hope. It reflects Australia’s long tradition of offering safety and hope to people fleeing danger, persecution and torture.

At Foundation House, we celebrate the strength and contributions of individuals and families who have rebuilt their lives here. Their cultural, social and economic contributions shape the communities we are proud to be part of.

We are honoured to walk alongside people from refugee backgrounds every day - and we remain committed to supporting recovery, healing and belonging.

The whole Foundation House team came together last week for our All-Staff Strategic Planning Session — a rare, meaningful (and happy) chance to pause, connect, and align.

It was an opportunity to reflect on where we’ve come from, understand where we are now, and imagine the road ahead.

Together, we’re strengthening our shared purpose: achieving the best possible outcomes for the people from refugee backgrounds we support, their communities, and the broader worlds they interact with.

We're grateful for the dedication, heart and expertise every single team member brings to this work.

We're hiring. Don't miss this opportunity.

https://tinyurl.com/2ynddv62

We’re delighted to share that a new video, “Supporting the inclusion of families and children from refugee backgrounds”, was officially launched last month at Holy Child Primary School.

This project is really special.

Created by our Early Years team in partnership with the Hume Advisory Group, the video features heartfelt messages from families from refugee backgrounds. They share, in their own words, what helps them feel welcomed, included, and valued when they engage with early years services and schools.

What makes this work unique is the active involvement of families at every stage: consultation, planning, filming, and final refinement. Their voices guide the message, ensuring authenticity, respect, and deep insight.

Funded by the Department of Education, Victoria, the video features children from infancy through the early years of school - a deliberate choice to highlight how relevant these messages are for maternal and child health teams, playgroups, early learning services, and schools.

We hope this resource inspires and supports early years professionals to create environments where families feel empowered, and where every child’s learning, development and wellbeing is supported.

A huge and heartfelt thank you to the families and the Hume Advisory Group for their leadership, wisdom and generosity.

Watch:

Supporting the inclusion of families and children from Refugee Backgrounds This video showcases powerful, firsthand messages from families from refugee backgrounds with young children, sharing what makes them feel truly included and valued…