A Brighter Future with Every Brushstroke

A Brighter Future with Every Brushstroke 

🎥 Watch our story here: Our Dulux Partnership

At Habitat for Humanity Australia, partnerships sit at the heart of everything we do. Together with our corporate partners, community organisations, and dedicated volunteers, we create safe, vibrant spaces where those facing hardship can rebuild their lives with dignity. 

Our Brush with Kindness program is a powerful example of what’s possible when purpose-driven partnerships come to life. Mobilising volunteers to refurbish, repair, and refresh crisis and transitional accommodation, the program provides vital support for women and children escaping domestic violence, homeless youth, and men rebuilding their lives after incarceration. 

One of our most valued partners is Dulux Australia. For over 30 years, Dulux has stood beside us, providing thousands of litres of premium paint to passionate volunteer teams. Together we’ve transformed tired, worn spaces into bright, welcoming homes filled with hope. Because it’s never just about a fresh coat of paint, it’s about creating an environment where people feel valued, safe, and ready for a new chapter. 

A Fresh Start for Young People: Bondi Caretakers Cottage 

Recently, Dulux volunteers helped rejuvenate Bondi Caretakers Cottage, a vital refuge for homeless youth. For over 40 years, Laurie and his team have offered young people in crisis a second chance, advocating for youth homelessness to be seen not just as an accommodation issue, but a child protection matter. 

For Jennifer, walking through Caretakers’ doors at just 15, after leaving home at 13—felt like hitting rock bottom. But inside, she found connection, support, and even hope. “Seeing it freshly painted is like a fresh start,” Jennifer shares. “For people who don’t have their own space, that feeling is powerful. This is your home—you don’t have a second home, so having it nice and clean is so important.” 

Jennifer left Caretakers stronger—juggling school and two jobs, getting sober, and signing her first lease at 16. Now 18, she dreams of working in housing to help others find the safety she did. “Thank you, Habitat. You’re not just changing walls—you’re changing lives.” 

Supporting Men Rebuilding Their Lives: Rainbow Lodge 

Our partnership with Rainbow Lodge has also shown the lasting impact of this work. As a transitional support program for men leaving incarceration, Rainbow Lodge provides not just housing, but hope. 

Over four years, Dulux’s paint donations and volunteer support have helped us completely transform the complex—refreshing rooms, outdoor spaces, and their culturally significant Yarning Circle during NAIDOC Week. For the men rebuilding their lives, these changes create a positive, respectful environment that supports emotional well-being and healing. As manager Claude shares, this work simply wouldn’t have been possible without our help. 

Honouring Culture and Supporting Women: Aboriginal Women and Children’s Crisis Service 

Last year’s NAIDOC Week, our teams joined forces with Dulux and other corporate teams to repair and refresh the Aboriginal Women and Children’s Crisis Service (AWCC)—providing shelter and support for Aboriginal women and children experiencing domestic violence. 

Through essential maintenance, repairs, and of course, fresh paint, we helped create a safe and welcoming space for families in crisis. As one AWCC staff member shared: 
“The value of Habitat for Humanity Australia goes so far beyond the here and now. A lifetime of impact on Indigenous lives, one brush, one team, one smile at a time.” 

This is the power of purpose-led partnerships. 

Together with Dulux, we’re not just painting walls—we’re restoring dignity, creating spaces of healing, and building brighter futures one brushstroke at a time. 

🎥 Watch our story here: Our Dulux Partnership 

Learn more about the work we do here.