Tony skinner
Hi, and welcome to the podcast channel for podcastsmybusiness.com.au. And we’re joined by Eamonn McCarthy from Lighthouse foundation.com.au. And Eamonn, I’ll let you explain what that is.
Eamonn
Thanks, Tony. Lighthouse Foundation is a youth homelessness service. It’s been in operation for just on 30 years. And it’s an organization that really not only seeks to address and and youth homelessness as it currently exists, but to really work with the community, both private and public, to achieve not only a solution for the young people of today, but certainly to do something about the sad but, unavoidable fact that there is an increase of young people in the next generation who come through to similar circumstances.
Tony skinner
Yeah, exactly. And we were talking before we started that there’s lots of challenges, and lots of good things have happened in the past 30 years. But considering that we’re at the end of the year, and we’re talking about that. Okay, I left home when I was 16. And I’ve done okay. And support wasn’t there that much. But one of those supports is school and university. Absolutely. You know, how to use and will clarify youth is 15 to 25? Yes. All right. So the challenges they have finding that support, you don’t have the teachers, it can be difficult to catch up with their friends and whatever. If they’re in a poor, poor in a. How do I describe that disadvantaged household?
Eamonn
Yeah, look disadvantaged is often a very good word. It’s, you know, obviously, it can go well beyond disadvantaged and impoverished and traumatic and violent and all the rest of it, but oftentimes, you’re right, it’s a disadvantaged or, you know, resource scarce. 
Tony skinner
So, what how would they use? Youth youthful? This is one of those things, how do you adequately and correctly use that term?
Eamonn
It’s, it’s very difficult isn’t and it sounds like a case of semantics, but we spend surprisingly, you know, high amounts of time considering those very components. So for example, does a five year old identify with, you know, a youth service? And equally does a 20 year old want to be associated with a children’s or young people service? It’s, it’s difficult to get it right for everyone. But youth I think fairly broadly is except that is the 15 to 25, or young people will, you know, we will say our kids in a loving way, whether or not that’s, that’s right.
Tony skinner
Well, look, I think our kids is a nice way to look at Yeah, that’s certainly how we feel. Yeah, exactly. Another society. And as a community, we have a responsibility for those kids so very much. Now they’re not at school, or what have you. How do they access and find Youth Services?
Eamonn
Yeah, look, it’s such a, you know, it’s such a timely question. And I guess first and foremost, it’s, it’s you, I never want to detract from the fact that there are remarkable stories like your own, whereby despite a lack of supports, you know, an individual has either, you know, through nurture or nature are a combination of the two been able to achieve incredible outcomes off their own back.
Eamonn
And I think it’s really important to note that, and I guess Lighthouse seeks to either provide that for those who can’t provide that internally. Or equally important is to perhaps make that journey even easier to find those pathways and connect those dots in a much more rapid way. So that, you know, the onus on the individual who never asked to be in that situation in the first place is as little as possible.
Eamonn
And as you as you asked, you know, at this time of year, in particular, it’s a bit of a sort of triple pronged assault, because at the end of the day, you know, of all times of year Christmas, whether it be Christmas you celebrate or whether it be just the holiday season in general. I mean, if ever there was a time of the year that really is, is very closely tied to the notion of family and coming together and you know, loving and demonstrating love to one another. This is it.
Eamonn
And so, of course for many of our young people, either by virtue of broken homes, you know, by virtue of significant trauma experienced in those homes, the very notion of a period of time that focuses your thoughts primarily on family is about as triggering as it can get. And of course, you know, this is happening at a time where, sadly even the best of services find them themselves operating less than a full speed ahead service their you know, holiday leave is inevitable and rightly so it’s important for our for staffs well being.
Eamonn
But then coupled with that as well, you’ve removed some of the most important sort of systemic and social safety nets, in the form of schools in the form of universities in the form of street based services that might be conducting outreach, you know, many of whom still do, but at a sort of limited capacity. So you’ve essentially taken one of the more triggering times and paired that up with one of the sort of most under service times in the year, so you can sort of see how those two collide.
Tony skinner
Yeah, that’s true. And I remember, you know, okay, my family is okay now and whatever. But for many years, people would say, well, oh, wait, you’re catching with a family go? Well, it’s your family, you must spend time with them. And there’s that word, you must spend time with them? Yeah. Yeah, it’s Yep. Not every family is perfect.
Eamonn
By any means. And, you know, I think what has always been jarring for me, and something I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to sort of demystify for people is that, you know, it seems to be that we, in our own families, you know, we readily acknowledged the fact they’re not perfect, you know, many of us with fantastic families, you know, sort of tongue in cheek, but nonetheless, sort of lament the notion of turning up to Christmas day, you know, so and so he’s going to have too much and drink or sell.
Eamonn
And so he’s gonna get in an argument. And whilst, you know, it’s, it’s sort of acceptable to acknowledge that at the same time, as you say, there’s this sort of just generic expectation that you would want to be around family and you should be around family. And I guess it really, it takes that lens of haves and have not, and not just in a financial sense, I’m talking in a relational one. And yeah, it really gives young people in our situation or in a situation of our young people, very, very little room to hide, even if they were seeking to compartmentalize and, you know, put forward a professional impression at work and, you know, so on so forth, it really must be quite difficult not to be, you know, for want of a better word exposed at this time of year, let alone as I said, the emotional turmoil that comes with it.
Tony skinner
Yeah, exactly. You know, you’re forced into that situation. And you, you must be happy.
Eamonn
That’s the festive season. Yep. It’s, yeah,
Eamonn
it looks good. I mean, and, you know, obviously, I’d hate to detract from the importance of these times of year for any family if it if it’s safe. And and, you know, connected. But yeah, it’s certainly it’s a, it’s sort of a it’s a bit of a sting in the tail when you think about the implications and ramifications for young people who haven’t been as fortunate. Yeah, exactly.
Tony skinner
So I guess the question is, how can businesses help the Lighthouse Foundation? And how can they help young people that they, that okay, let’s give a scenario. Okay, so, something really simple, so a young person shoplifts from your store. Now, that can be a gateway to other offenses and other things, it can also be a cry for help, or what have you. Where’s the line? For a business to help? And to get the authorities?
Eamonn
Yeah, look, it’s a really good question. And it’s actually it’s probably it’s a fairly usable example, as well. And you know, being a forensic psychologist by trade, it’s probably a space I feel particularly knowledgeable in and I guess it’s really interesting, isn’t it, because when I think about, you know, my own cohort of young people growing up, and I came from a fairly fortunate family background, shoplifting was still very much a thing.
Eamonn
The big difference was, though, if you look at the items, that one might be shoplifting, whether it’s, you know, the coolest pair of sunglasses, or you know, the chocolate bar, very, very different to young people that I’ve spent a lot of time working with, and, you know, that is that quite literally, you know, can have deodorant. You know, it could be a tube of toothpaste, it could be baby formula, it’s ultimately it comes down to a lot of that behavior, when seen in those who are disadvantaged is by no means naughty or bad or criminal.
Eamonn
Oftentimes, it comes down to basic survival. It’s, you know, the same goes with our Christmas appeal. You know, we sort of note that, you know, one of the great outcomes of being able to donate is what we call a welcome pack. And that welcome pack has been informed by you know, both young people themselves, but also those working in the industry and surprise, surprise, it contains the very basics, such as toothpaste, deodorant, soap, maybe a pack of biscuits, like we’re not talking people who are looking to you know, live the high life through anything like that is really just meeting basic And
Tony skinner
yeah, that can be a challenge. So, yeah, outside of businesses out there looking. Look into the six nights as a little bit more. Yeah. Before you just dial the cops. Look, you know, I think it’s even like a rite of passage, yes. ive stolen chocolate bars. I think we’ve all things like that we’re told not to be a prosecutor. So we can both admit that. But we’ve all done things like that. And you know what? That’s almost like a bizarre community thing where prices go up, because that gets nicked. But everyone pays for that jointly, maybe we should have a scheme like that.
Eamonn
Yeah. It’s certainly I mean, again, you’re landing on some absolute winners here. And it does occur to me that, you know, many of the things were probably sitting complaining about leading up to this Christmas, and certainly not detracting from the impact of the increased cost of living. But, you know, I know my wife the other day was sort of lamenting the cost of a block of cheese relative to what it was a few months back.
Eamonn
And I’m sure plenty of us sit there looking at the Christmas hams and the turkeys and the prawns and whatever else. And I guess it really, it’s one of those moments where I sadly, do find myself not fully able to enjoy the process. Because when I compare that, you know, relative to just those basic fundamental needs of, you know, a hot meal, safe roof over my head care who’s not going to hurt me, you know, those things that we probably wouldn’t even dream about, let alone be in a position to complain about. It just brings it all really brings it back to roost.
Tony skinner
So how can we help just exactly what you’re talking about people who are missing all of those things that we could easily take for granted?
Eamonn
Yeah, look, there’s multiple ways that can be done. And that’s been one of my most enjoyable learnings. Whilst being in this role. I’ve come from a background in sort of working in child protection and some of the government services so didn’t get to see just how much potential and in good intention there is in the private sector as well.
Eamonn
And what I’ve come to learn is the ways in which anyone in the community can help be it as a representative of a corporation or beat as an individual, it can be divided across a number of resources that you might be plentiful in. And that can be obviously first and foremost financial, there’s no getting past the fact that any family needs dollars to survive, and to continue. And as the, you know, for want of a better expression, a very big family that plans to get bigger and continue. So dollars, absolutely.
Eamonn
And that comes by donating through our website, whether it be through our Christmas appeal, or a general donation, what we call lighthouse keepers, which is could be your right could be a couple of bucks a week, it could be a couple of 100 bucks a week, and it’s just a regular payment that comes through. And that’s that sort of seeking that sustainability that hopefully limits the need for you know, big adventures like Christmas appeals. But then aside from the money, which is important, but I don’t think is the most important for our young people. It’s your time, and it’s your knowledge.
Eamonn
And so we have a number of corporates that provide, you know, incredible engagement at our office, whether that be upskilling, our staff, whether it be you know, anything from painting a house to putting furniture together in one of our new homes, we also have a community committees that sit around each of our homes. And that’s just volunteers who meet on a semi regular basis. And they might end up being mentors and supports to young people in our homes long after they’ve left Lighthouse care. So really, it’s about looking at what do I or my organization have in plenty, that I can then distribute more evenly to those around me, who might not be in such a fortunate situation?
Tony skinner
So what? It’s a tricky thing, but what are some things that we can help by looking out for?
Eamonn
Yeah, look, I mean, looking out for is a tricky one, because as we, as we kind of identified with the shoplifting example is you could be watching, you know, I’m gonna use a Melbourne School Name, because it might not make sense to all listeners, but you could be watching the most elite of private school boys running out the door, or girls, or, as you rightly say, could very well be someone in need.
Eamonn
So I think probably it’s about forgetting some of the myths we might hold around what this would look like. For me, when I think to some of the most traumatized young people that I’ve engaged with, had I not been sent to them for the purpose of working with them because of trauma, I likely would never have known. So I think that’s sort of for me, first point is never assuming that the you know, people in need or traumatized or homeless young people are going to look or present a certain way. And so, of course, what where does that leave us?
Eamonn
And I think what it does is that leaves us by recognizing that the expertise and the capacity to identify and develop and provide a response very much sits with organizations like the Lighthouse Foundation. And the role that those who don’t work in that sector can play, at least in the first instance, is by joining up with it’s by partnering. So by reaching out and saying, either, you know, we’d like to provide financial support. And we’ll be obviously saying absolutely, but more importantly, get a sense of what you as an individual or organization, particularly would like to support, how we can immerse you in that process. So you’re not just handing over money and hoping for the best, we’re very, very big believers in ensuring that you experience that journey as well. And the other option, of course, is to partner with us in terms of be at volunteering the research be at any number of knowledge bases you might hold. So for some, it can go a step further, you might decide, you know, what, I’m really keen to make a difference. And I’d like to be considered as a foster carer, or I’d like to be considered as a respite carer for a young person. So there are many avenues and all of them commenced with getting in touch.
Tony skinner
Well, yeah, so that’s got join our journey on your website. And you’ve also got donate and other options in there,
Eamonn
as well as some sort of, you know, step by steps for corporates that might wish to be getting involved as well.
Tony skinner
Yeah, absolutely. And that’s WhiteHousefoundation.org.au On behalf of all the youth just say, don’t force the kids to kiss Auntie May with a massive boil on her face. That’s absolutely true. Yeah, it’s family. But you know what,
Eamonn
in fact, I’m not always loved by family and friends for this advice, but it is my expertise. And I say don’t force any kid to do anything physical with any family member that don’t want to because one day you want them to be absolutely clear on the fact that they’re in charge of their body and no one else.
Tony skinner
Yeah, exactly. Right. So yes, that’s very true. All right. Anything else you’d like to add? Look, just that,
Eamonn
you know, I’m delighted that I get the opportunity to speak with someone like yourself, and yeah, I guess for anyone who’s looking to do something more this Christmas, I’d strongly encourage you take a look at our website. And please reach out if you’d like to know more.
Tony skinner
Yeah, exactly. And it’s Christmas and the New Year. So this goes on for longer, and yeah, absolutely. All right. Thanks, Eamonn.
Eamonn
Thank you, Tony.