Birch Foundation volunteers providing evening outreach on the Gold Coast

Because everyone deserves someone in their corner

Real help from people who've been there

A Gold Coast charity helping people doing it tough with clothing, basic necessities, street outreach and a friendly face.

Get Involved Donate Now

Birch Foundation volunteers in front of the Mobile Op Shop on Wheels van

Est. 2023

Our Beginning

Founded on lived experience

Birch Foundation started in 2023 with a small op shop, a coffee bar and a handful of volunteers. Our founder knows what hardship feels like from his own life, and he didn't want anyone on the Gold Coast to go through it alone. Today our volunteers run street outreach, the Thursday Giveback, domestic violence support and community programs, meeting people where they are with practical help, dignity and a genuine chat.

5+Years of service

1000+Lives touched

See Our Services

Our People

The team behind the mission

Our board brings real-world know-how and a personal understanding of what it's like to do it tough.

Shone Benjamin

Founder

Founder of Birch Foundation, Birch Care and Birch Allied Health. Shone draws from his own lived experience of homelessness and escaping a coercive cult environment to advocate for people experiencing hardship. With over a decade of experience in the community sector, he is committed to strengthening communities across the Gold Coast.

Emmy Baert

Board Member

A mental health occupational therapist and clinical head for Birch Allied Health. Emmy brings a deeply empathetic perspective shaped by her personal experience with domestic violence and her strong educational background in psychology and occupational therapy.

Joshua Kilburn

Director

Founder and managing director of Top Carers with extensive experience in aged care, hospital, and community care. Passionate about creating new opportunities for participants based on their passions and interests.

Daniel Polo

Director

A highly skilled and dedicated accountant with a strong track record of helping individuals and organisations achieve their financial goals. With years of experience in financial management, strategic planning, and business operations, Daniel brings valuable expertise to his role as Director at Birch Foundation.

Friends of Birch Foundation

The people who make our work possible

We're so grateful to the local businesses, neighbours and supporters who stand alongside us.

Friendly Neighbours

Local supporters who have generously donated items and resources to support our office and community op shop. True friends of Birch Foundation.

Littles Lawyers

Littles Lawyers have been a massive supporter of Birch Foundation, helping fund our programs for people doing it tough in our community.

Birch Foundation volunteers in blue shirts at a sausage sizzle fundraiser

BBQ Volunteers

Dedicated volunteers who run our Bunnings sausage sizzles and BBQ fundraisers, helping Birch Foundation raise vital funds to support people doing it tough in our community.

Volunteers beside the Birch Foundation Mobile Op Shop on Wheels van at a night outreach

Rosies – Friends on the Street

Birch Foundation works alongside Rosies – Friends on the Street during street outreach. Rosies provides food and refreshments, while Birch Foundation provides clothing and essential items to support people doing it tough in our community.

4Voices group supporting Birch Foundation outreach

4Voices – Connecting Women, Changing Lives

Judgement-free support for women facing domestic violence, homelessness, and digital and social isolation. The amazing women from 4Voices (4voices.org.au) have shown up to our outreach since the very beginning. We can't thank you enough.

Our Journey

Key milestones

From a grassroots initiative to a registered Australian charity, here are the moments that shaped who we are.

2023

The Foundation Begins

Birch Foundation was established in 2023 with a mission to support people experiencing hardship. Starting with a small op shop and coffee bar run by volunteers, the charity began providing clothing, essential items, and community support.

2024

Growing the Mission

Volunteer numbers grew and fundraising efforts expanded. Birch Foundation began connecting individuals to support services, including free legal advice, and launched early street outreach initiatives.

2025

Expanding Outreach

Birch Foundation partnered with Rosies – Friends on the Street for community outreach. Rosies provides food while Birch Foundation provides clothing and essential items to people experiencing hardship.

2025

Supporting the Community

The Thursday Give Back initiative launched, providing free clothing and essentials. Care and Lifestyle Expos and Seniors Morning Teas were also introduced to connect the community with support services.

2026

A Growing Movement

Birch Foundation opened a larger community space, allowing the charity to expand its op shop, coffee bar, and outreach programs with growing support from volunteers, donors, and community partners.

What Drives Us

Our mission is built on five core pillars

These five values guide everything we do, from a chat on the street to helping someone get back on their feet.

❤️

Love

Creating a safe and welcoming environment where individuals experiencing hardship, domestic violence, or homelessness feel valued, respected, and supported.

🤝

Support

Providing practical assistance, referrals, and community support to help individuals and families access the services they need during difficult times.

⭐

Arise

Empowering people to rebuild their confidence and independence after hardship, helping them move forward with hope and stability.

🏗️

Build

Strengthening communities through outreach programs, partnerships, and initiatives that support vulnerable individuals and families.

💛

Give

Giving back through community initiatives including street outreach for people experiencing homelessness, free clothing programs, and social connections for seniors.

Our Vision

A future where no one faces hardship alone

We picture a Gold Coast where anyone doing it tough can find support, connection and a way forward, with their dignity intact. We get there through street outreach, our op shop and Giveback, domestic violence support, connecting seniors with their community, and the volunteers and partners who back us.

Join Our Movement

Be part of
the change in our community

Whether you volunteer, donate, or spread the word, your support helps Birch Foundation assist people experiencing domestic violence, homelessness, and hardship across the Gold Coast.

Get Involved Contact Us