Change tomorrow Summer | Autumn 2026

I’m honoured to introduce myself as the new Chair of the Brotherhood of St. Laurence (BSL) Board.

Poverty shows up in obvious ways — kids missing out at school, families stuck in poor housing, people delaying going to the doctor.

Tamara Rhodes knows the reality behind the statistics. “Sometimes I have to choose between paying rent or doing a full grocery shop,” she says. “If a family member is sick, it’s a struggle to find a GP that bulk bills.”

When David Scott School student Ren learned her school would contribute garments to Melbourne Fashion Week’s 2025 Closing Runway, she could hardly believe it. “I have loved fashion since I was a little girl. I honestly felt my dreams had come true.”

Pregnant with her son Yeabsira, Beza feared she would be homeless when she gave birth. Her relationship had ended; her health required ongoing treatment; she’d had to stop work as a nurse. “If you said ‘Hi, how are you?’ I would probably break into tears,” she recalls.

When Obeda moved from New Zealand to Victoria, uncertainty followed. With limited experience and no licenses, he was told construction might be his only option. His mother-in-law suggested visiting BSL’s Thrive Hub — and everything changed.

From supporters of 45 years to first-timers who joined just days before, our 2025 supporter event held in October captured the living legacy of BSL’s work — 95 years strong and still growing.