Walking in their shoes: Fundraiser for rare disease reaches Perth

Michael Malak’s first walk for Save Our Sons Duchenne Foundation stretched in cold, wet weather from Sydney to Canberra.

But this year, it was a completely different challenge.

“It was our hottest walk yet,” Michael said.

He and 17 other walkers took the fundraiser across the country for the first time to Perth, tackling 100km over four scorching days.

Temperatures hit 39°C, with heat bouncing off the pavement and walkers dousing themselves in water to stay cool.

“The support of the people around you keeps you going,” Michael said. “No one wanted to stop.”

The annual walk raises awareness and vital funds for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a progressive genetic disorder that affects one in every 5,000 newborn boys, causing severe disability and reducing life expectancy. Symptoms typically appear between the ages of two and five, with about a third of cases arising without family history.

“The idea is you feel the pain that these boys are constantly in, day in and day out,” Michael said.

The team of walkers also stopped at two schools attended by boys diagnosed with DMD, sharing the message of inclusiveness and belonging.

Michael said the walk allows participants to experience a fraction of the daily pain endured by those living with DMD.

“It’s only a few hours for us. The idea is to walk in their shoes.”

The PAYCE Foundation has long-supported Michael in his fundraising efforts, donating $10,000 annually. This year, Michael said he’s closing in on a $20,000 fundraising target.

“I am thankful for the years of support,” he said.

PAYCE Foundation’s long road supporting outcomes for women

As communities mark International Women’s Day, the PAYCE Foundation reflects on its targeted support for initiatives improving women’s safety, stability and long-term outcomes across New South Wales.

In line with this year’s theme, “Give to Gain”, the Foundation’s history of funding centres on practical and collaborative responses to domestic and family violence, homelessness and economic insecurity.

A large focus has been domestic and family violence support, including backing Thread Together’s Domestic Violence Wardrobe Service. The program provides brand-new clothing capsules to women and children leaving crisis accommodation, offering dignity, choice and practical assistance as they rebuild their lives.

PAYCE Director Sophie Boyd said access to appropriate clothing can be transformative during recovery.

“There’s nothing small about the impact of giving someone clothes that fit their life, their identity and their confidence,” Ms Boyd said. “These moments reinforce that respect and support are essential parts of recovery.”

The Foundation’s domestic violence support also extends to regional services, such as a recent donation, facilitated by Southern Highlands Community Foundation, to Pop In, an organisation supporting women and families recovering from domestic violence trauma in the Southern Highlands.

Furthering this support, PAYCE lead an initiative housing women and children transitioning from shelters Women’s Community Shelters. Pathways Home involves partnering with developers and landholders to identify under-utilised property for use on an interim basis.

PAYCE has also supported programs addressing homelessness and social isolation. Gender-responsive homelessness initiative Sydney Zero’s Women’s Project is delivering housing pathways and support for women sleeping rough around Central Station, with early insights showing promising housing outcomes. The project sits under the End Street Sleeping Collaboration (ESSC), of which the Foundation is a philanthropic founder.

The Foundation has also long supported the Sydney Street Choir, where women make up around half of participants, offering connection and community for people experiencing homelessness and social isolation.

Beyond crisis response, PAYCE has also invested in education, wellbeing and community programs where women are primary caregivers, helping strengthen stability, connection and opportunity.

“As we recognise International Women’s Day, we’re reminded that safety, opportunity and belonging are fundamental to women’s futures,” ESSC Co-Chair and PAYCE Director Dominic Sullivan said.

“When women have access to tailored support, from stable housing to practical resources and community connection, the outcomes are transformative. Not just for individuals, but for the wider community.”

The PAYCE Foundation remains committed to backing organisations delivering measurable, lasting outcomes for women across NSW.

To support the Foundation’s work, donations can be made at: https://www.paycefoundation.com.au/donate/

Grant backs Southern Highlands families recovering from trauma

Women and children impacted by domestic violence in the Southern Highlands are receiving greater support after a local community hub secured vital funding.

Funding allocated to volunteer-ran centre Pop In in 2025 helped to support the organisation’s Learn and Play program – a space for mums and their preschool children to play and connect.

Director of Operations Louella Gratton-Smith said the program helps mothers rebuild relationships with their children that is gentle and grounded in science.

“Children require that attachment for their brain development,” Ms Gratton-Smith said.

She said children exposed to trauma in the home can experience neurological changes, leading to delays in education and emotional maturity, and a higher risk of mental illness, anxiety, and depression.

“If you took an MRI of a child who has witnessed violence or severe coercive control, it can look very similar to that of a soldier returning from the front line of war.”

Funding was distributed last year through the Southern Highlands Community Foundation, thanks to a supporting donation from PAYCE Foundation directed toward youth programs.

Founded about six years ago by local community members, Pop In was created to “walk with” women and children at any stage of their domestic violence journey.

Operating weekdays, the hub offers case work, safety planning, legal and housing referrals, access to shower and laundry facilities, clothing, and ongoing emotional support. In the past three years, it has supported about 2000 women and children across the region.

Beyond Learn and Play, programs such as Pop In Connect reduce social isolation by allowing women to build friendships while their children are cared for.

PAYCE Foundation Director Sophie Boyd said investing in youth-focused initiatives helps build stronger communities.

“Supporting programs that strengthen young people and families creates lasting, positive change,” Ms Boyd said.

Sydney Zero Women’s Project tackling barriers for women sleeping rough

A targeted effort to make rough sleeping rare, brief and non-recurring has been launched for women in Inner Sydney.

The Sydney Zero Women’s Project, delivered through a collaboration of local government, Homes NSW, health services and specialist homelessness and community organisations, focuses on a small cohort of women sleeping rough around Central Station.

Launched in December 2025, the project provides tailored housing pathways and intensive, wrap-around support through a trauma-informed approach and gender-responsive approach. The approach prioritises women’s physical and emotional safety, choice, control, and culturally responsive support.

Women experiencing homelessness face disproportionate risks, including violence, poor health outcomes, and systemic exclusion, yet are frequently underrepresented in coordinated homelessness responses.

In just eight weeks of project launch, eight women were supported to access either permanent or secondary housing with assistance from the project. These early results show the difference targeted, gender-responsive support can make in accelerating housing outcomes.

Sydney Zero Community Impact Katie Feeney said: “The collective commitment to finding the right solutions for women has been nothing short of remarkable, reflected in the outcomes we’ve achieved.

“We are now focused on applying what we’ve learned to make it easier for all women sleeping on the streets to access safer, more stable pathways.”

Project coordination is managed through the By-Name List (BNL), a shared database that enables coordinated case management and rapid identification of housing and support needs.

Early insights, including feedback from women with lived experience, have identified systemic barriers for women that delay housing outcomes, including rigid eligibility criteria, complex application processes and limited options for women in relationships.

PAYCE Foundation Director Dominic Sullivan said the project is about creating pathways that work for women.

“We need to recognise these women’s lived experience to truly address the barriers that have kept them on the streets for too long,” Mr Sullivan said.

“Early successes show what’s possible when services, government and communities work together to get it right.”

Voices of the Sydney Street Choir

Spend any time with the Sydney Street Choir and it becomes clear this is not just a group of people singing together. It is a place where stories, grief, and connection is shared.

For Felix, the choir is inseparable from survival.

He knows homelessness intimately. He has slept on Sydney’s streets, learned how to live in the city’s cracks, and watched friends disappear without warning.

Standing at the Homeless Persons’ Memorial Service in Martin Place last year, Felix spoke not in statistics but in names: Busker Stew, Trina, Amir, Big John, Graeme. People who mattered, people remembered.

“Even when we’re gone, love and memory keep walking these streets,” Felix said at the time.

The choir gives those memories somewhere to land. It offers continuity in lives shaped by loss and instability, and a reason to be seen and heard.

That sense of belonging has been nurtured for more than 16 years by guitarist and choir leader David Richardson.

The former English teacher found the choir in 2008 through an invitation to join rehearsals ahead of a Northern Territory tour. He never left.

For David, the choir is about friendship and community – like when former chef and current choir member Jono brings in freshly baked scones to rehearsal.

“It’s those little things that make the choir special,” David said.

And for co-director Mary Kiani, a celebrated Scottish vocalist who has worked alongside legends such as Prince, it is that strong sense of community that has reshaped her relationship with music.

“When you’re singing, you’re not thinking about everything else in your life,” she says. “You can just be in the moment.”

For choir members navigating homelessness, isolation, or financial stress, that moment matters. The choir is a place of trust and mutual care; where people leave feeling lighter than when they arrived.

Together, these voices form more than harmony. They form a living reminder that dignity, creativity and connection endure, even in the most difficult circumstances.

Community Grant Keeps Literacy Charity Running in Southern Highlands

A grassroots literacy organisation in the Southern Highlands is increasing its community presence after securing support through a local grant.

Reading Friends Australia, a non-profit that provides trained volunteers to primary schools to assist children with reading practice, has used funding to boost visibility through community events, signage and outreach.

The funding was awarded in 2025 through the Southern Highlands Community Foundation’s (SHCF) Community Grants Program, supported by a donation from the PAYCE Foundation.

Reading Friends Chair Luciana De Michiel said securing funding for day-to-day operations had been challenging since the charity launched in 2019.

“Requests for funding are typically project-based. There’s very limited opportunity,” Ms De Michiel said.

She said changes to eligibility criteria last year allowed Reading Friends to apply for the first time.

The organisation has a strong presence in the Southern Highlands, operating in 11 of the region’s 13 public primary schools, with more than half of its volunteers based locally.

Despite growing support through local volunteers Ms De Michiel said “many people” were still unaware of the charity.

“This grant has been very useful so we don’t have to fundraise just for visibility.”

National research has shown literacy remains a widespread challenge, with around one in three Australian children not reading at age-appropriate levels.

“This can result in low self-esteem in children, creating long-term struggles with education, training, and future employment,” Ms De Michiel said.

She said the goal is to launch the reading program into schools across Australia.

“We’re happy to support anyone to launch on their own,” Ms De Michiel said.

“We can provide training and materials. Anything to get help to the kids.”

PAYCE Foundation Director Sophie Boyd said the initiative aligned with the foundation’s focus on early intervention and community-led solutions.

“Improving literacy outcomes early can have a lasting impact on a child’s confidence, education and future opportunities.”

Northern Rivers Zero Project Solving System Gaps

A coordinated effort to make homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring has expanded to address “system gaps” in the Northern Rivers region.

Northern Rivers Zero, a regional collaboration under the End Street Sleeping Collaboration (ESSC), is targeting practical barriers that have historically kept people stuck in rough sleeping.

One key focus is the growing number of people experiencing homelessness with pets, a factor that often forces a choice between keeping an animal or accessing emergency medical care or accommodation.

Northern Rivers Zero Project Coordinator Sacha Zunic said the project’s strengths lies in breaking complex problems into smaller, achievable reforms.

“Rather than trying to change everything at once, which is almost impossible, you tackle one bit at a time and adapt to the shifting environment,” Mr Zunich said.

Work is underway to develop a memorandum of understanding between animal welfare groups and service providers to ensure access to services is not limited by pet ownership, including temporary care for animals.

“This gives people confidence that their animal will still be there,” Mr Zunich said.

The region, along the NSW-Queensland border, faces additional challenges supporting people who move between states, prompting new cross-border collaboration to address gaps in jurisdictional funding rules.

Northern Rivers Zero is also working to prevent people being discharged from hospitals or correctional facilities directly back into homelessness. Future work will focus on improving understanding of deaths among people sleeping rough, where limited data has made prevention difficult.

“This work has been really crucial, and there’s still more to emerge,” Mr Zunich said.

Northern Rivers Zero aims to end rough sleeping by 2034 in the coastal region of New South Wales, bringing together homelessness, housing, health and community organisations through the shared database By-Name List, enabling a coordinated, real-time response.

PAYCE Foundation Director and ESSC Co-Chair Dominic Sullivan said PAYCE, the founding philanthropic partner of ESSC, was proud to support an approach delivering better outcomes for those experiencing homelessness.

“Northern Rivers Zero shows what’s possible when services, government and communities work from the same information and toward the same outcomes,” Mr Sullivan said.

Measurable change for young people in the Southern Highlands

Young people across Southern Highlands are feeling more resilient, connected and hopeful for the future following the successful launch of Raise Youth Mentoring Program.

A brighter future for Southern Highlands kids, Bowral NSW.

The national not-for-profit, supported locally by the Southern Highlands Community Foundation (SHCF), delivers early-intervention, school-based mentorship to young people struggling with loneliness, financial hardship, and mental health issues.

Evaluation data from 2025 showed the program had a significant impact both nationally and at a local school level.

At Moss Vale High School, students reported that having a trusted adult to talk to was one of the most valuable aspects of the program. Mentees said mentoring helped them build confidence, feel better about who they are, and feel less alone.

At Bowral High School, mentees highlighted improved communication skills, increased confidence and stronger social connections as key benefits of mentoring.

Students said the program made it easier to open up, build trust, and meet new people.

The PAYCE Foundation, which contributed $20,000 to support Raise in 2025, is proud to partner with charities that have measurable impact, Foundation Director Dominic Sullivan said.

“Raise is an excellent example of an evidence-based program addressing a major social issue in a practical and effective way.”

“We look forward to seeing this partnership continue to strengthen outcomes for young people across the region.”

Last year, Raise brought 189 programs to 173 schools across Australia, supporting 2,753 mentees. They also launched Raise Digital, an online mentoring program with over 100 young people accessing the platform.

The mentorship program is designed to strengthen the mentor-student relationship while building key skills in mental health support, social and emotional wellbeing, and school engagement.

Curriculum topics align with the Australian Student Wellbeing Framework and cover areas such as identity, help-seeking, goal setting, resilience, future planning, community connection, and job-seeking.

A recipe for resilience: how one woman finds her voice

Even in the depths of despair, Kellie Price never gave up on her community.

Despite losing her marriage, her job, and nearly her health, the Sydney woman stood proudly in her bright red Sydney Street Choir shirt, her hand wrapped in galvanised tie wire and gripping a self-bedazzled cane, as she reflected on the steps that brought her to the 2025 Sydney Street Feast.

“I thought it couldn’t get any worse. All I can do now is drop dead and then I’ll be happy,” Price recalled.

Broken from a divorce and jobless after suffering a work injury, the former chef relocated to the city to help support her aging parents before undergoing a spinal fusion procedure, and later falling victim to identity theft.

But despite the onslaught of life’s toughest battles, Price pushed on.

“I realised I’m not alone, and I want to feel like I’ve given back,” she said.

“It’s my sacrifice. It’s better than gold.”

Price, who used to work as a chef, began to rebuild by cooking in soup kitchens in Waterloo. But the injury to Price’s hand – the one wrapped in wire because she couldn’t afford to see a doctor – prevented her from keeping up with demand.

Without a clear direction on how to bridge her passion for food and desire to give back to the community, Price was at a standstill.

That is until she learned of the Sydney Street Choir.

It’s been one year since Price joined the music community, which supports people dealing with homelessness, mental illness, addiction, and other social disadvantages.

“The choir takes away all the shame,” she said.

“Everyone brings something different. It’s like a good recipe.”

Every Tuesday, she along with dozens of other members meet to rehearse for an impressive list of performances at community and corporate events, including the annual Sydney Street Feast.

This year’s event was full of joy and connection, Price said, and she was thankful to key sponsor PAYCE Foundation for making the environment feel so inclusive.

“I usually don’t get invited to things if I’m not cooking,” she joked.

“It’s a big thing, homelessness. Even identifying as being different is hard. But they make it so welcoming and they treat everyone with such care and dignity.”

Just before a fellow choir member waved Price over for another performance in front of the crowd, she talked hopefully about the future.

“My support worker and I are looking into teaching soup making,” she said.

“Everyone has their own journey and their own battles. And I always want to demonstrate love.”

PAYCE Foundation supports the launch of Mendable in the Southern Highlands

Through a direct donation and support delivered via the Southern Highlands Community Foundation Grants Program, the PAYCE Foundation was proud to help bring men’s group Mendable to life.

PAYCE Foundation director Dominic Sullivan (second from right) with SHCF director Annebel White (far right) with the Mendable team.

Mendable, an intergenerational men’s group designed to address social isolation and strengthen mental wellbeing among men aged 18 and over across the Southern Highlands.

Mendable welcomes men from all walks of life to come together in a safe, accepting and non-judgemental space. The group fosters emotional wellbeing, builds genuine connection and creates a supportive community where men can share experiences, express feelings and support one another through life’s ups and downs.

For many participants, Mendable offers a rare opportunity to break through social isolation, feel seen and heard and strengthen bonds with peers, support that is sadly not easy for all men to find.

Why a group like Mendable matters

The need for initiatives like Mendable is clear.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, around 17 per cent of Australian men aged 15 and over reported experiencing social isolation in 2023, compared with 13 per cent of women.

Research from the Australian Institute of Family Studies shows that up to 25 per cent of Australian men will experience a diagnosable mental health disorder during their lifetime, with around 15 per cent affected in any given 12 month period.

AIFS research also highlights a strong link between loneliness and an increased risk of depression and suicidal thoughts or behaviours among men.

Data on social connectedness shows that around 4 per cent of adult men report having no close friends or relatives, while approximately a quarter report low levels of perceived social support or meaningful relationships.

Given these realities, community-based men’s groups like Mendable play a vital role. They provide a place where men can connect, feel supported, share openly and reduce the risk of drifting into isolation or despair.

Bob Tangey from Mendable said the idea grew from seeing a gap in support for men beyond their teenage years.

“After spending many years working in youth engagement, it became increasingly apparent there is a growing need to support men after the age of 18 to avoid them slipping through the cracks and struggling alone with social isolation and mental health

“Through Mendable, our goal is to invite people to belong, no matter who they are or what their struggles may be. We help them settle in and feel part of something bigger. It is the group members that make the group what it is. Each person brings their own life experience, personality and knowledge, which means the group learns and grows together.”

There is strong evidence that peer support groups like Mendable can provide regular, low cost and accessible assistance, particularly for men who may be less likely to seek formal mental health services. Just as importantly, they offer a trusted environment where members can ask for help, whether that is through a referral to professional support or simply a friendly ear.

“Mendable is a low pressure, casual environment,” Bob said. “There are no expectations. We are just a group of men getting together and enjoying good company, with self-directed activities along the way. It is a simple idea that can have incredibly positive and long-lasting outcomes.”

Mendable and projects like it have the power to build healthier lives and break harmful cycles for future generations. As the Mendable team says, prioritising mental health is not a weakness. It is a strength that helps men communicate better, connect with others and live longer, healthier lives.

Mendable has now been running for nine weeks and meets once a week on Fridays in Bowral for two hours. Sessions may involve working on small projects, sharing skills, visiting a local venue or simply having a coffee and a catch up. The group is led by its members and shaped by their interests and needs.