Our Organisation

The History

Our History

Lily House was opened on the Sunshine Coast in 2008 by Darin and Fiona Browne. After twenty years of fostering teenage girls, they recognised an unmet need for support for these young women as they exited the foster care system. It was clear to them that these young women did not have traditional family support models and were often finding themselves making poor decisions, and looking for love and acceptance in less than ideal places.

So, Darin and Fiona, together with a team of volunteers, opened Lily House, a supported accommodation and therapy centre for women and their young children in a time of crisis. Women who may have been fleeing Domestic and Family Violence, recovering from drug or alchohol abuse, exiting jail, homeless or young and pregnant. Since its inception Lily House has offered a safe place of love and hope to hundreds of women and children helping them to heal and grow into productive and confident community members

The Name
'Lily House'

The name Lily House comes from a vision of a water lily. This flower has to push its way up through mud and debris before it can bloom. This is a powerful analogy of the struggles the women at Lily House have to overcome before they too can bloom.

How Can We Help?

Domestic and Family Violence

We offer supported accommodation and assistance for victims of domestic and faimly violence to help them break the cycle and rebuild their lives.

Rehabilitation

We provide accommodation and support for women recovering from substance abuse and help them integrate back into society.

Reunification

We help mothers re-establish relationships with their children, helping them to rebuild their families and potentially regain custody.

Pregnancy

We offer supported accommodation for expectant mothers,, helping them before and after birth to learn parenting skills, bond with the baby and establish their family unit.

Lily House Today

Since those early days, Lily House has moved forward in strength and purpose and has gained recognition across South East Queensland. It is highly regarded among welfare agencies, local government bodies, businesses, and not-for-profit organisations. A new board was formed in 2018 and is seeing unprecedented growth and success, especially in the lives of the girls. Darin is an active board member of Lily House and Fiona continues to support Lily House with her wisdom and insight.

Darin and Fiona look ahead to the future, with great excitement and awe, but also with great thankfulness for what has gone before. It has not always been easy, nor has it been without its fair share of challenges, but we are thankful to the Lord that young girls who need help and guidance continue to find inspiration and direction as well as accommodation and training through Lily House!

Our Strategic Plan

In 2013, the Board of Directors of Lily House initiated a process to develop a new strategic plan for the organization. The planning process involved several steps including an environmental scan and an intense consultation process with Lily House Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, and stakeholder agencies. Since that time Lily House Board and management have continued to build on the initial work outlined in the mission, vison, and strategic priorities of the organisation.

Our Objectives Include

To provide accommodation for women in crisis with priority given to young women who are homeless, pregnant women, and mothers in need of support.
To assist women as they reset their life goals, giving them a sense of hope and purpose.
To externally source counsellors to facilitate professional support during their time at Lily House.
To provide training and assistance to residents through suitably trained volunteers and staff; external trainers and one-on-one support to gain necessary life skills.
To assist women in becoming independent and capable of setting up a stable home for themselves and their children.
To support the re-unification process of children with their mothers.
To partner with other organisations to support the residents of Lily House.
To operate Lily House in a financially responsible and viable manner.

Our Governance

Lily House has a very strong governance model, headed by a Board underpinned by a core management team, well vetted and skilled volunteers, and a range of productive community partnerships. Lily House also provides for student placements, which adds considerable value both to the student, and to the staff and residence of Lily House.

Lily House was formalised as a Not for Profit Charity organisation in 2008 and operates in Queensland, under the Queensland Incorporated Associations Act 1981.

Sound organisational management is vital to Lily House due to the important and sensitive work it undertakes with its residents. Working closely with Government Departments requires stringent and sound processes to be in place to allow services to be available and utilized.

Those We Support

women supported

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have trauma history

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hours volunteered each week

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experience domestic violence

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