Step 01
Sign Up
Tell us how many children you'd like to shop for and become one of our Santa's Little Helpers.
Christmas 2026
Make Christmas a little brighter.
Be matched with a child doing it tough, receive their personalised Christmas wishlist and help make sure they have something special waiting for them this Christmas.
What is Santa's Little Helpers?
A Christmas gift chosen just for them.
Every year there are families in our community for whom Christmas brings more stress than celebration. For many kids, Christmas morning can become another reminder of what they're missing out on.
Santa's Little Helpers connects those children with generous people who want to make their Christmas a little brighter.
You'll be matched with a child, receive their personalised Christmas wishlist, shop especially for them, wrap their gifts and deliver them to the organisation supporting their family.
It's a simple thing, but for a child who might otherwise miss out, it can mean everything.
How it works
Five simple steps.
From choosing who you'd like to support through to delivering your gifts, everything will be managed through your Santa's Little Helpers shopper portal.
Step 02
Choose
Choose one of our trusted partner organisations and, if you'd like, nominate a preferred age range.
Step 03
Wishlist
We'll allocate a child to you and their personalised Christmas wishlist will appear in your portal.
Step 04
Shop
Bring their wishlist to life with at least $200 worth of thoughtful gifts chosen especially for them.
Step 05
Deliver
Wrap your gifts and deliver them directly to the partner organisation during their nominated delivery window.
Their wishlist
This isn't a generic Christmas present.
Every wishlist belongs to a real child. You'll learn a little about who they are, what they love, their interests, sizes and the things they've been hoping for this Christmas.
Maybe they're obsessed with dinosaurs. Maybe they've been hoping for their first pair of football boots. Maybe they need new clothes or there's a book they've been talking about all year.
Those little details help you choose something specifically for them.
Something
I Want
Something
I Need
Something
To Wear
Something
To Read
What it becomes
A room full of generosity.
Every bag, box and beautifully wrapped present in this room started with someone choosing to shop for a child they'd never met.
Hundreds of individual acts of kindness come together to create something pretty incredible.
Our story
More than a decade of community kindness.
Santa's Little Helpers began with a simple idea: make sure children doing it tough didn't feel forgotten at Christmas.
Founded by Carla Haddan and Debbie Hill, the project brought together the community, Place Estate Agents and Lighthouse Care to connect generous shoppers with children who might otherwise miss out.
What began as a community Christmas project has grown into an annual tradition, with individuals, families, workplaces and businesses returning year after year to bring children's Christmas wishlists to life.
And it's still growing
3,500+
Children supported
$1M+
Worth of Christmas gifts
330
Children supported in 2025
165+
Shoppers in 2025
Minimum
$200
Worth of gifts
for each child
for each child
Why $200?
We want every child to feel truly special.
For some of the children involved, Christmas presents simply aren't something their family can afford this year. The $200 minimum helps create a meaningful collection of presents rather than just one small gift.
✓
Use their wishlist as a guide to create a thoughtful
collection of gifts.
✓
You don't necessarily need to purchase every exact
item listed.
✓
Families, friends, workplaces and teams can shop
together and split the cost.
One child. One wishlist. A whole group of people can make it happen together.
Who are the children?
Referred by organisations who know their families.
We work with trusted community organisations that directly support children and families experiencing difficult circumstances.
These organisations know the families they work with and nominate children they believe would otherwise be likely to miss out at Christmas.
Their privacy matters.
Shoppers are only given the information they need to shop
thoughtfully. You'll see the child's first name and
wishlist details, while their private information remains
with the organisation supporting them.
Before you sign up.
Becoming a Santa's Little Helper means making a commitment to fulfil a child's wishlist with gifts valued at at least $200 and deliver them to the partner organisation during their nominated delivery window.
If something changes and you're no longer able to complete your wishlist, please let us know as soon as possible. That gives us the best chance of finding another shopper and making sure no child misses out.
Want to help this Christmas?
If shopping isn't for you, you can still help families doing it tough by donating to Lighthouse Care's Christmas Appeal.
Got questions?
Shopper FAQs
Do I choose the child I shop for?
When you sign up, you'll be able to choose the partner organisation you'd like to support and nominate an age preference if you have one. We'll then match you with a child based on the wishlists available.
When will I receive my wishlist?
Once our partner organisations have completed their children's wishlists, allocations will begin. You'll be notified when your child's wishlist is available in your Santa's Little Helpers portal.
How much do I need to spend?
We ask shoppers to spend a minimum of $200 for each child they're allocated. You can absolutely shop as a family, workplace, team or group of friends and split the cost between you.
Do I need to buy everything on the wishlist?
No. The wishlist helps you understand what the child loves, needs and has been hoping for. Use it as your guide and put together a thoughtful collection of gifts valued at $200 or more.
What if something on the wishlist is unavailable?
That's completely fine. Use what you know about the child, including their interests, favourite things, sizes and other wishlist items, to choose a suitable alternative.
Where do I deliver the gifts?
For 2026, gifts are delivered directly to the partner organisation supporting your allocated child. Your portal will provide the organisation's delivery details and nominated delivery window.
Will I meet the child?
No. To protect the privacy of the children and families involved, gifts are delivered through our trusted partner organisations. They'll make sure the gifts reach your child.
Can I shop for more than one child?
Absolutely. When registering, simply let us know how many wishlists you'd like to fulfil. Some people shop for one child while families, workplaces and community groups take on several.
What happens if I sign up but can't complete it?
Please tell us as soon as you know. Each wishlist represents a child who is expecting to receive gifts, so the earlier we know, the more time we have to find another shopper and make sure that child doesn't miss out.
Be the reason a child feels remembered this Christmas.
You might never see their face when they open their presents. You may never know which gift became their favourite. But somewhere in our community, a child will unwrap gifts chosen especially for them because somebody decided they mattered.
Questions? santa@lighthousecare.org.au
Share your story
This project brings together hundreds of amazing people, each with a unique experience and an important role to play. Your story matters, and we want to celebrate and share the incredible impact you’ve been a part of. Let us know in your comment whether you’re a shopper, a partner organisation, or a recipient. We’d love to hear how this project has touched your life or how you’ve contributed to making it a success. Take a moment to share your journey with us—it’s stories like yours that inspire and connect everyone involved!
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