our stories
SAM’S STORY
Sam, a 16-year-old, was referred to Mara House after a breakdown in family relationships left them without a safe place to live.
They had been staying with friends and, despite everything, had continued attending school.
At first, they were timid and withdrawn, rarely leaving their room.
Over four months, as trust grew, staff helped them build confidence and develop daily living skills. They began socialising with other residents, made friendships and reconnected with their sister.
On their birthday, staff bought them a small gift. The young person told staff they had not received a birthday present in years and thanked them for a kindness that made them feel genuinely cared for.
A simple gesture, but a lasting one.
By the time they left, they had secured Centrelink Independent Living payments, maintained daily school attendance, moved into Youth2Independence accommodation at Trinity Hill, established ongoing support with a Targeted Youth Worker, strengthened social connections, reconnected with their sister, and grown more confident and independent.
Sam’s journey shows what consistent support, advocacy, genuine care and strong relationships can do.
Sometimes practical support changes a life, and sometimes it is simply showing a young person that they matter.
ryan’S STORY
“You're not weak if you just wanna be who you are, a real man can be anything. Respect others and treat them how you want to be treated... chase YOUR dreams, that's your success, and it's ok to talk to someone when you're not doing ok.”
For Ryan, the pressure was real. In his last year of primary school, his anger had turned into violence towards his mum and younger sisters at home.
“I was going off, I felt like I couldn't control myself... I felt like I couldn't talk about it to anyone.”
A referral from his school social worker connected Ryan with Home Base worker Matt, and through that connection, Ryan joined the group work program where he could talk about the things he didn’t usually talk about. In the group, Ryan learned about stereotypes, healthy relationships, and what it really means to be a man.
“I learnt that it's not ok to use violence to hurt women, or anyone, and that I need to make myself walk away sometimes so I can be in more control of myself.”
Hearing other boys open up about their own struggles made a real difference.
“It made me feel more confident in myself and not alone. I learnt a lot about important things about being a man, like making sure you look after your mental health.”
Since finishing the program, Ryan is back living with his mum and talking things through with her.
arie’S STORY
Arie, 17, was referred to Home Base after accessing a shelter. They had been sleeping rough and couch surfing for several years and had recently left a long-term abusive relationship.
Feeling judged by their parents, Arie had left home and was staying between friends' places, using cannabis and other drugs in ways that were affecting their mental health and school attendance. Arie was seeing a psychologist regularly to work on their mental health, drug use, and relationship with their parents, and was eager to reengage with school and eventually study at university.
Arie's main goal was to break into the local music scene, build new friendships, and find the confidence to perform.
A Home Base team member worked with Arie regularly to build their confidence and self-worth, helping them to identify their strengths and values, set boundaries with family and friends, and build a self-care routine, while also liaising with their school to support their return to education.
Through support from Home Base, Arie signed up to a songwriting workshop and recorded several tracks, then began performing at open mic nights. This built their confidence and connected them with established performers, leading to local gigs and a new community of their own.
Wanting to understand relationship abuse and what a healthy relationship looks like, Arie worked through the different types of relationship violence, early warning signs, and their own rights within a relationship, determined not to repeat the cycle.
They came away with a clear understanding of what they deserve and how to feel empowered to seek out a healthy relationship when they're ready.
Arie has since recorded their first album and performed at venues interstate. They are working on their relationship with drugs and alcohol, having cut back their use, with the support of a psychologist. Arie is also getting along better with their parents, is living with them again, has reengaged with education, and has big plans for the future.
Want to know more about our impact?
For our full report containing more stories and impact, head over to our reports page and view our stats for previous years, including case studies and more information on how we’ve been making a difference in the Tasmanian community.