What started 23 years ago with a van, some bread and a simple desire to help a handful of families has been recognised on one of Queensland’s biggest stages for social enterprise.
Lighthouse Care has been named Queensland Social Enterprise of the Year at the inaugural 2026 Queensland Social Enterprise Awards.
Standing on stage to accept the award, Lighthouse Care founder Debbie Hill reflected on just how far that simple beginning has come.
“Who would have thought that giving bread out of a van 23 years ago would provide assistance to over 500,000 people annually?”
Presented by the Queensland Social Enterprise Council (QSEC), the awards were held on Friday, 21 August at Howard Smith Wharves in Brisbane, bringing together social enterprises, entrepreneurs and changemakers from across the state. Lighthouse Care received the night’s major award, recognising excellence in impact, growth, innovation and leadership.
For our family, staff, volunteers and supporters, it was a moment that was difficult to put into words.
And as Debbie shared in her acceptance speech, despite everything that has changed over the past 23 years, the heart of Lighthouse has remained remarkably simple.
“It’s always about bringing dignity and hope to the person standing in front of us.”
A Room Full of Changemakers
Before presenting the award, Queensland Treasurer David Janetzki reflected on the stories that had been shared throughout the evening and the lives being changed by purpose-driven organisations across Queensland.
He thanked the category winners for sharing the stories behind their work and acknowledged a room filled with social entrepreneurs and changemakers creating meaningful change in their communities.
Then came the announcement.
Lighthouse Care had been named Queensland Social Enterprise of the Year.
Taking to the stage, Debbie’s first reaction probably summed up how all of us were feeling:
“This is crazy, isn’t it?”
It Was Never Really About Food
One of the most powerful parts of Debbie’s speech was her reflection on what Lighthouse has actually been trying to achieve from the very beginning.
There was no elaborate strategic plan in those early days.
There wasn’t even a business plan.
There was simply a desire to bring hope to three or four families through something as ordinary as a loaf of bread.
And despite how much Lighthouse has grown, that purpose hasn’t changed.
From our smallest beginnings to where Lighthouse is today, Debbie said it has always been about bringing dignity and hope to the person standing in front of us.
Discounted food and free food are simply the vehicles we use to deliver that hope.
“We Can’t Judge a Book by Its Cover”
Debbie shared one story that perfectly captured why dignity remains so important to Lighthouse.
A beautifully dressed woman arrived at Lighthouse in a BMW. From the outside, she didn’t look like someone who needed food relief.
But Debbie felt compelled to give her one of Lighthouse’s free trolleys of groceries.
The woman broke down in tears.
“You’ll never know what that means to me.”
It was a reminder that hardship doesn’t always look the way we expect it to.
As Debbie told the room:
“We can’t judge a book by its cover.”
We don’t always know the story behind the person standing in front of us.
Someone can look like they have everything together while quietly facing circumstances they never imagined.
That is why dignity matters.
That is why Lighthouse has always tried to create a place where people can simply access the help they need without judgement or assumptions.
This Award Belongs to Everyone
Debbie finished her speech by recognising everyone who has played a part in the Lighthouse story — those who have donated a $25 trolley, those who have received one, everyone who shops with Lighthouse Care, our volunteers, our staff and every person who has breathed life into the vision over the past 23 years.
Her final message was simple:
“This award is for you.”
And it really is.
To every staff member.
Every volunteer.
Every donor.
Every business and community partner.
Every person who shops with us.
Every family who has trusted us to help during a difficult season.
And every person who has believed there could be a different way to do food relief.
Thank you.
There are still people who need help. There are still families facing circumstances they never expected. And there is still so much more we believe Lighthouse Care can do.
Join us on our mission of Making lives better so that together, we can make the world better at www.lighthousecare.org.au/donate
