Decjuba Foundation

DECJUBA’S values of honesty, bravery, innovation, integrity,

and optimism connect deeply with Bridge It. As Carla Raynes,

Bridge It’s Founder, says: “Collaborating with aligned partners with shared values has been key to Bridge It’s success over the last 4 years.”

DECJUBA Foundation has been backing Bridge It since our early days. 

“What stood out to us was that their model didn’t exist in Victoria at the time — not just looking at a housing issue or a crisis housing issue, but looking at getting ahead of the game, in terms of heading off homelessness,” explains Gill, General Manager of DECJUBA Foundation “And then there was that whole wraparound support — not just a house, but a home, a skill set, and hope for the future.” 

DECJUBA Foundation saw value in funding traditionally hard things to fund, like the implementation of Salesforce, operations support to get more efficient and to free up front-line staff to do what they are trained to do. It is this support that has been critical in enabling us to grow from supporting 7 young people to 16 over the last year and to give us confidence to double again next year.

Gill was drawn to working with Carla, who she says has “charisma, tenacity, a grit about her ambition for this organisation — getting knocked down and getting back up again — and her belief that it could work. Carla looks at Bridge It like an entrepreneur, not just a charity leader — approaching it like a business. All those things were really appealing to us and gave us a lot of belief that she could do it.” 

“Gill has been there for me many times – she always answers her phone, has been there to talk strategy when I have needed it, and I feel she is a true partner in every sense of the word. I am incredibly grateful to both Gill and Tania for believing in Bridge It and our young people and committing to a 3-year partnership,” Carla Raynes, Founder. 

The partnership has been rewarding for DECJUBA Foundation, too; seeing the progression of the residents “brings me such joy,” says Gill. “When I’ve been to The Cocoon and heard the young people speak about their experience living there — the community they’ve found, the home they’ve created — the little things, like growing plants and having a garden, going on excursions — it’s almost like they’re recreating a childhood. Those things are so moving to me.”