Who we are
At The Lorraine Foundation, we believe every child deserves the chance to dream, create, and thrive. Inspired by the life and legacy of Lorraine Saltmarsh, a passionate artist and advocate for creativity, our foundation is dedicated to bringing joy, imagination, and learning to disadvantaged children across Australia.
Our mission is deeply rooted in the rich tapestry of Australian culture, nature, and its diverse peoples. Lorraine’s love for the arts was inseparable from her appreciation of Australia’s breath-taking landscapes, vibrant communities, and unique heritage. These elements are woven into our programs, which celebrate creativity while fostering a connection to the land and its stories.
We provide books, art supplies, and creative programs to children in need, fostering resilience, self-expression, and a love of learning. Through collaboration with social and community organisations, we support children recovering from trauma or crisis, helping them heal and grow through the transformative power of art and reading.
By embracing and honoring Australia’s cultures, we aim to nurture an appreciation for the wisdom, stories, and art of the Australian people. This deep connection to Australia’s heritage informs our work, ensuring that our programs reflect the values of inclusion, respect, and shared learning.
Our mission is simple yet profound: to inspire brighter futures for children by nurturing their creativity and curiosity. Every book, every art kit, and every program we deliver brings hope and opportunity to those who need it most.
Together, with your support, we’re creating a legacy of brighter, more creative futures for generations to come.
At Our Core
“To inspire joy, creativity, and a love of reading in children, fostering imagination and brighter futures.”
“To bring the joy of art and a love of reading to disadvantaged children by providing books, creative resources, and opportunities to explore art and storytelling.”
“Inclusion
Every child deserves access to books, art, and creative opportunities.
Empowerment
Fostering creativity and literacy to open new horizons for children.
Sustainability
Delivering programs that create a lasting, positive impact.
Collaboration
Partnering with communities, donors, and volunteers to maximise reach and impact.
Transparency
Operating with integrity and accountability in all endeavours.”
Reconciliation and Inclusion
The Lorraine Foundation acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we live, learn, create, and deliver our programs across Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and acknowledge the many peoples, cultures, and communities who contribute to the social, artistic, and cultural fabric of Australia.
We recognise that our country is strengthened through shared creativity, storytelling, and mutual respect, and we welcome people of all backgrounds into the Foundation’s work and community. As an organisation focused on literacy, creativity, emotional wellbeing, and relief for disadvantaged children and young people, we recognise the importance of ensuring our programs are inclusive, culturally safe, respectful, and accessible.
The Lorraine Foundation is committed to building genuine relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), educators, artists, and community leaders. We understand that reconciliation is an ongoing responsibility grounded in listening, learning, accountability, and practical action.
Our commitment includes:
Seeking culturally informed guidance in the development of programs and resources;
Supporting the respectful inclusion of First Nations stories, voices, and creative perspectives;
Building partnerships that strengthen wellbeing, opportunity, and inclusion for children and young people;
Continuing to improve cultural awareness, accessibility, and inclusion across all areas of the Foundation’s work;
Progressing toward the development of a formal Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) as the Foundation grows and our partnerships deepen.
We believe creativity, storytelling, imagination, and education can help foster connection, understanding, healing, and belonging. Through our work, we aim to contribute positively to a more inclusive, compassionate, and culturally respectful Australia.
Governance and Reporting
The Lorraine Foundation is committed to upholding the highest standards of governance, transparency, and accountability in all aspects of our operations. Our governance framework ensures that we deliver on our mission to enrich the lives of disadvantaged children through reading, storytelling, and art, while adhering to legal, ethical, and financial best practices.
Our Board plays a vital role in overseeing the foundation's activities, ensuring compliance with regulations, and safeguarding the trust of our donors, partners, and community. Each board member is responsible for specific areas of governance, including financial management, risk and compliance, diversity and inclusion, program delivery, and community engagement.
We are dedicated to open and honest communication with our stakeholders. To this end, we provide access to key documents, including our policies, strategic plan, and annual reports, to demonstrate our commitment to accountability and continuous improvement.
By maintaining strong governance and robust reporting practices, we aim to inspire confidence in our work and ensure that every contribution to The Lorraine Foundation makes a meaningful impact.
Explore our policies and strategic plan below to learn more about our commitment to excellence.