OzChild is a leading child welfare organisation providing support for children and young people in foster or kinship care and keeping families together where possible through the delivery of programs and services aimed at strengthening and repairing family relationships.
OzChild has worked since 1851 to provide a better future for those in care with the belief that every child and young person deserves the chance to shine. Their work is only possible with strong partnerships with Government, community agencies, donors and corporate partners; partners like O'Brien Electrical Carrum Downs.
O'Brien Electrical Carrum Downs is proud to be recognised by OzChild as a gold corporate partner, sharing their vision that all children and young people in our community are safe, respected, nurtured and reach their full potential.
We are committed to making the lives of OzChild’s carers just that little bit easier. In 2018 we instigated our first Mother’s Day home makeover, bringing together a team of trades and services to spruce up the home of one of OzChild’s long-serving foster carers; a 14-hour makeover just in time for Mother’s Day. Simply, it was a chance to give back to the local community and help those who do so much to care for our most vulnerable.
We repeated the Mother’s Day Makeover activity in 2019 when another very special foster carer had her home transformed. Helen Fox has been a foster carer with OzChild since 1987, and over that time has cared for dozens of children and young people. Helen’s home has provided a safe and loving place for so many children over the years, but the house needed some of that love and care Helen reserved for the kids.
With the help of a team of other like-minded companies, we transformed her home with the installation of a brand new 4kw solar system, new A/C units, a revamped front garden and BBQ area and a fresh coat of paint for the fence and kitchen, to name but a few. You can watch a video on the makeover here.
“Helen’s selfless commitment blows me away!” said David Gibson, from O'Brien Electrical Carrum Downs. “We need people like Helen otherwise who’s going to look after these kids? Being able to make a difference in her life through a home makeover is our way of saying thanks, for everything she has done, I hope it makes a difference not only to her but for the children in her care too, for many years to come.”
2020 has of course been a year like never before. After a summer of bushfire tragedy, our community has been challenged by the global COVID19 pandemic. The pandemic meant a third consecutive Mother’s Day Makeover wasn’t possible.
However, we turned our minds to how else we could help and proposed the “Many Hands Make Light Work” initiative to OzChild. This program sees O'Brien Electrical Carrum Downs providing OzChild with a pro bono technician for one day per week throughout the pandemic. OzChild carers in Melbourne’s South East and the Mornington Peninsula can call upon this service to tackle any electrical problems (lights not working, switches needing repairs, aerials needing fixing) at no cost. For more information about this initiative click here.
“The support of O'Brien Electrical Carrum Downs has been brilliant” said OzChild’s Philanthropic and Corporate Partnerships Manager, Martin Murley. When the pandemic prevented another life-changing Mother’s Day Makeover, David and his team simply said they’d like to support multiple families and offered the Many Hands Make Light Work idea. Now numerous foster and kinships carers have been touched by O'Brien Electrical Carrum Downs’ generosity. Thank you so much.”
