A Safe Place to Grow, Learn and Thrive.
The Lighthouse provides safe, supportive residential homes for young people and young
adults who need guidance, stability, and the opportunity to build a real future. This is more
than a roof over their head — it's a structured, character-based environment where
residents build the skills, confidence and independence to do life well.
Not Just Accommodation. A Supported Way of Life.
The Lighthouse is a character-based residential program run by Authentic Steps. We
provide real homes not facilities where young people live alongside consistent,
caring support staff who walk beside them every day.
This isn't a holiday. It isn't a break. And it's not a place where young people simply exist
while they wait for something better.
We believe in Earn or Learn. Every resident is supported to either be in employment,
education or training because real growth comes from doing real things, with the right
people beside you.
Our homes are calm, structured and purposeful. Residents are supported to develop daily
routines, practical life skills, healthy habits and positive character — while being held
accountable in a way that's firm, fair and full of genuine care.
The Lighthouse Is For Young People Who Need More Than a Program
The Lighthouse is suited to young people and young adults who:
- Need a safe, stable living environment with consistent daily support
- Are at risk, disengaged, or struggling to manage independent living
- Need structure, routine and accountability in a supportive home setting
- Are transitioning out of home, youth justice, foster care or other services
- Have NDIS funding or don't, but still need residential support
- Are ready to work toward employment, education or training with the right support
around them
We work with a wide range of young people — including those with complex needs,
disability, mental health challenges, or histories of trauma. If you're not sure whether The
Lighthouse is the right fit, contact us and we'll have an honest conversation.
Structured Support to Do Life Well
Living at The Lighthouse means being supported to develop the real-world skills that last a
lifetime. Our day-to-day support covers:
- Resilience & Confidence:
Build resilience and confidence through consistent
mentoring and daily structure
- Positive Habits:
Develop positive habits and coping strategies that replace
harmful patterns
- Self-Knowledge:
Understand their own strengths, values and identity
- Relationships:
Improve communication and relationships — with family, peers
and the community
- Life Skills:
Build practical life skills — cooking, budgeting, routines, hygiene,
employment readiness
- Earn or Learn:
Work toward meaningful employment, education or training as part
of the Earn or Learn approach
Short Stay or Long Term — We Have Options
The Lighthouse offers two living arrangements:
Respite
Short-term stays at The Lighthouse give young people and their families a break while still delivering purposeful, structured support. This is not a "Disneyland respite." Residents engage in the same character-based program during a respite stay. The goal is always growth, not just rest.
Permanent Residential Living
For young people who need a longer-term supported living environment, The Lighthouse provides a stable home with ongoing daily support. Residents work toward increasing independence over time, with a clear pathway toward their own future.
NDIS Accessible — and We'll Help You Make Your Plan Work
The Lighthouse is NDIS accessible. If your young person has an NDIS plan, contact us
and we'll work with you to understand how your funding can support their placement here.
We can help families and support coordinators understand which funding categories may
apply, and how to make the most of an existing plan.
What if we don't have NDIS funding for SIL or ILO?
You don't need Supported Independent Living (SIL) or Individualised Living Options (ILO)
funding to access The Lighthouse. We have options available for young people and
families who need residential support but don't have specific NDIS housing funding. Get in
touch and we'll talk through what's possible for your situation.
Key NDIS terms explained (for families)
SIL:
Supported Independent Living — NDIS funding for daily support in a shared
or individual living arrangement
ILO:
Individualised Living Options — flexible NDIS funding for people who want to
choose their own living situation and support model
Not sure?
Contact us to discuss which categories may apply to your young
person's plan
We Believe in Real Life. Not a Comfortable Waiting Room.
At The Lighthouse, we hold a simple belief: young people grow when they're doing
something meaningful.
That's why every resident is supported and expected to be either earning (in paid
work) or learning (in education or training). Not because we're tough for the sake of it. But
because we've seen what happens when young people are given purpose, structure and
the support to meet a real challenge.
We walk beside them. We celebrate wins. We help them get back up when things don't go to plan. But we don't do it for them because that wouldn't be doing them any favours.
The goal of every Lighthouse placement is for the young person to leave more capable,
more confident, and more equipped for independent life than when they arrived.
About Us
Questions We Get Asked
Where are The Lighthouse homes located?
What age range do you support?
How many residents live in each home?
Can families stay involved?
What does a typical day look like?
What age range do you support?
How many residents live in each home?
What does it cost?
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you're a family, support coordinator, case worker or professional looking for a residential
option for a young person — we'd love to talk.
We'll listen, ask the right questions, and give you an honest answer about whether The
Lighthouse is the right fit.
Call us:
0455 881 828
Email:
Website:
www.authenticsteps.com.au
CONTACT US
