Support Us!
Help us continue to support others in our community by donating, becoming a sponsor, becoming a volunteer, supporting our op shop or leaving a bequest in your will.
Need Help?
We stand by our Motto “Local People Helping Local People”. If you are requiring assistance or need help figuring out your next step, please call, email or pop into the office at Goolwa.
What We Do
We help people who are domestic violence victims, homeless, in need of food, clothing, furniture, accommodation or any other form of support that we can provide. We are a not for profit organisation and registered charity who assists homeless and disadvantaged people. We provide blankets, clothing, food, furniture, counselling, mobile food bus and shower and accommodation. Part of our mission is to assist with housing for those who have ‘fallen through the cracks’, unable to get a rental or accommodation of any description, or to simply provide a place for them to call home.
Crisis Housing
We are able to provide a safe house environment for up to 12 residents, a place to call home.
Food Assistance
Goolwa Food Barn provides food which is either free (when available) or affordable and of good quality and variety.
Leaving A Violent Situation
We can help with clothing, toiletries, food, furnishings and other essential items that might be required to make a new start.
Financial Counselling
We can assist with support in the form of Budgeting and money management.
Literacy & Numeracy Assistance
We can assist with educational support for those in need with Literacy and Numeracy skills.
Support Us
There are many ways in which you can help us support and assist vulnerable people in our community. These can include donating in a variety of ways, becoming a sponsor or volunteer, shopping at our op shop or leaving a bequest in your will.
We Provide Shared Accomodation For The Homeless
Part of our mission is to assist with housing for those who have ‘fallen through the cracks’, unable to get a rental or accommodation of any description, or to simply provide a place for them to call home.
We have been able to provide a safe house environment for up to 12 residents in Goolwa North. We provide much needed support for them as they, for the first time in many years, can call a place home and feel part of a community. We are able to offer short term, long term and emergency accommodation for clients who are escaping a domestic violence situation or who are homeless. Our house is large enough to encourage social outcome, but perfect for not living in close vicinity of each other.
Ways We Have Helped
People will often ask me what we do at Whalers. Whilst we do not discuss our clients or disclose their details I thought that I would give three examples of assistance we have given lately.
We were approached by a young man who had received a life changing opportunity to start his career as a chef. He was very excited to have been given this opportunity but this quickly turned around when he realised that he had to buy his uniform before he could start. He did not have the money to purchase his uniform. He was to start the next day. So I authorised payment for these essential items and he was able to purchase them and start his dream career the next day. You can only imagine how this simple gesture turned his anxiety into elation.
In another example of how we assist those in need. I had a young man who was the victim of domestic violence who had ‘escaped’ with nothing. His three children were being cared for by a family member while he tried to find accommodation and start to rebuild to enable him to be re-united with his children. He found accommodation and we were able to assist with furniture, bedding, crockery, cutlery, curtains and other items that he needed. It was a very happy time for this man and his family. He brought them into the office to say a heartfelt thank you.
We were approached by a mother who had ‘escaped’ a domestic violence situation with her 6 children. When these victims ‘escape’ they literally ‘make a run for it’ with very little in the way of possessions. This family were living in a shed whilst they sought emergency housing assistance. We were able to initially provide, sleeping bags, clothing, personal hygiene products and food. Once housing was available we were able to assist with furnishing her new home and provide other essential items for her and her family.
These are just a small handful of the families and individuals that we have been able to help in the last part of 2021.