“I wanted to bring awareness to youth homelessness and show people that it’s temporary. We are resilient. We’re the rainbow after the thunderstorm.”
Taela, Giving Tree artist
This Christmas, we’re putting the spotlight on the skills and talents of the young people we support, with a Giving Tree that paints a story of culture, hope and resilience.
Our Giving Tree is painted by emerging indigenous artist Taela, who shares a story of culture, hope, resilience and connection through her bold, colourful brushstrokes. Each striking artwork demonstrates the power of community in overcoming life’s biggest challenges. It shows how strong and resilient young people can be when we offer them shelter, support and connection.
Through Taela’s artwork, we’re reminded that for many young people, homelessness is not the end of the story – it’s the beginning of a journey towards recovery. “What I loved about Taela’s story was that it wasn’t all about the negatives of youth homelessness, but rather her resilience and bright future,” says Property Industry Foundation CEO Kate Mills. “It paints a positive picture of what can happen for young people like Taela if they get the right support and help.”
“I like art that grabs you with colour, but when you look deeper, you see the story underneath,” Taela says. “I wanted to bring awareness to youth homelessness and show people that it’s temporary. We are resilient. We’re the rainbow after the thunderstorm.”
At the Foundation, we want to give every young person in Australia a safe and secure place to sleep so they can thrive and achieve their goals. “Taela’s story is exactly this – thanks to the help she received from our partner, The Salvation Army, she has been able to build a life where she is employed and also pursuing her art,” says Kate. “One thing we talk about at the Foundation is how we want young people who have experienced homelessness to have the chance to have what we often take for granted – a perfectly ordinary life.”
While experiencing homelessness and hardship, Taela’s refuge was school, and a caring Year Advisor who encouraged her to express herself through painting. “People don’t realise what we’re going through. We show up, study, work – but we might be living in a refuge,” Taela says. “I want this campaign to show the strength that comes from surviving those times. Once we get through, we become some of the strongest, most determined people you’ll ever meet.”
Today, Taela works with National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy (NASCA), providing wrap-around support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school students and helping other young people navigate the same crossroads she once faced.
The Property Industry Foundation’s Giving Tree campaign lights up in November – an opportunity for our industry supporters to join us in creating a brighter path for young people experiencing homelessness.
“We hope that seeing Taela’s art and hearing her story will inspire people to support our cause this year. The campaign allows you to take Taela’s tree and send it out to your supporters to support her and build your own tree,” says Kate. “Every time you donate, it builds the tree into a full picture of hope.”
- Buy a bauble
- Start or join a tree
- Activate your office
- Meet the artist behind the tree
