Lighthouse Foundation is proud to welcome television and radio presenter Mel Tracina as an Ambassador.
Best known as the host of Big Brother Australia and as a familiar face and voice across Network 10 and Nova, Mel has built a career connecting with audiences through her quick wit, warmth and infectious personality.
From her work as Cultural Correspondent on The Cheap Seats and Guest Panellist on Have You Been Paying Attention to her role hosting Nova’s national daytime show, Mel has a natural ability to make people listen, laugh and think.
Now, she is using that voice to shine a light on an issue that has become deeply important to her: youth homelessness and the experiences of children growing up without the safety and stability every young person deserves.
Why youth homelessness matters to Mel
Mel’s connection to the issue began with a simple realisation: she had always known what it felt like to be safe at home.
“My whole life I have always had a stable home. I grew up with loving parents and extended family who fed, clothed, and housed me. I was safe which meant I got to be a kid that worried about kid things, like how to beat my sister at Nintendo’s Mario Kart. It was only as an adult that I learned not every child is afforded that kind of home life, and that realisation really affected me because the concept was so foreign“
Learning more about the experiences of children in out-of-home care, including the number of homes some children can move between and the challenges they face as they transition out of care, left a lasting impression.
“We have children growing up in a life they have no control over, causing lifelong trauma that they take with them into adulthood. I realised I was not ok with this and wanted to help.”
For Mel, the issue is ultimately about something every child should have the opportunity to experience: a safe place to call home, trusted adults around them and the chance to simply be a kid.
Finding Lighthouse
Mel first came across Lighthouse when she interviewed Lighthouse founder Susan Barton for a podcast she was hosting. It was Susan’s passion and determination that immediately stood out.
“The first thing that struck me was the passion Susan had for helping children, especially those in our own backyard. Susan is unapologetically defiant in executing the mission of Lighthouse, and that dedication is infectious; it runs through every worker, volunteer and carer at Lighthouse”
That same commitment is reflected throughout Lighthouse today. For more than 35 years, Lighthouse has supported children and young people experiencing homelessness, family breakdown and trauma through safe homes, therapeutic care and long-term support.
Our evidence-based Lighthouse Model of Care recognises that young people need more than a roof over their head. They need safety, stability, connection and consistent caring relationships to help them heal from trauma and build a different future.
A holistic approach to supporting young people
What surprised Mel most about Lighthouse was the breadth of support available to young people and their families.
“To be honest, I am amazed at how many programs Lighthouse provides. There are many reasons that lead to youth homelessness, and Lighthouse really strives to address as many of these causes as possible.”
From therapeutic homes and foster care to support for young parents and babies, kinship care and community-based programs, Lighthouse works to wrap support around young people and the people caring for them.
For Mel, Lighthouse’s approach to foster care particularly resonated.
“One of the models of care that really resonated for me, which is one of its kind, is their foster care program and how they have Lighthouse therapeutic carers on hand to provide support for the children and the foster carers.”
The support doesn’t stop at the young person.
Lighthouse’s therapeutic foster care model recognises that carers also need support, guidance and connection to help them provide the consistency and safety a young person needs. Through therapeutic support and Lighthouse hubs, young people and carers have access to ongoing support when they need it.
This wraparound approach is central to helping young people recover from trauma and build relationships they can trust.
Raising Awareness, Creating Change
As an Ambassador, Mel hopes to use her platform to help more people understand the realities of youth homelessness and the experiences of young people in care.
But at the heart of her advocacy is something even more fundamental: making sure young people know they matter.
“I hope that my advocacy for Lighthouse and youth homelessness will make young people in care feel seen, valued, and cared about.”
For young people who have experienced homelessness, family breakdown, abuse, neglect or trauma, being seen and understood can be a powerful part of healing.
Lighthouse’s work is grounded in the belief that every young person deserves to feel safe, valued and connected. Through stable homes, therapeutic relationships and long-term support, we work alongside young people to help them heal, grow and build lives of their own choosing.
Mel’s voice will help bring greater awareness to that work and to the young people at the heart of it.
Welcome to the Lighthouse Community
We are delighted to welcome Mel Tracina to the Lighthouse community.
With her warmth, humour and ability to connect with audiences across television, radio and social media, Mel brings a powerful platform to her advocacy for young people experiencing homelessness and trauma.
Her own journey from growing up with the security of a stable home to understanding that not every child has that same foundation is a powerful reminder of how much safety and belonging can shape a young person’s life.
Together, we hope Mel can help more people understand the realities of youth homelessness, challenge misconceptions and, most importantly, help young people in care feel seen, valued and cared about.
Learn more about Lighthouse Foundation’s work supporting young people experiencing homelessness and trauma.
