An evening of canapés, music and conversation will help The Tarrant Foundation support Canberrans facing hardship. This sponsored post reveals how the community can get involved.

Canberrans are being invited to turn an evening of canapés, music and conversation into practical help for people doing it tough.

Connect. Grow. Make a Difference will bring the community together at the Margaret Whitlam Pavilion, National Arboretum Canberra, on Wednesday, November 11, in support of The Tarrant Foundation.

Founded in Canberra by Jenni Tarrant OAM in November 2024, the foundation provides practical help, through goods and services, to people who feel invisible — those affected by domestic violence, sexual abuse, homelessness and mental health challenges.

Its approach is deliberately hands-on. Donations can help provide essentials for people escaping family violence, training for crisis accommodation volunteers and trauma support for children and adults.

The foundation also helps people regain confidence and independence after a crisis.

One of its Canberra initiatives is the Women’s Empowerment Project, which provides women from family violence refuges and transitional housing with a structured, paid five-day work experience placement at Bond Hair Religion.

Participants work as salon assistants and gain workplace experience in a supportive environment. No previous work experience is required, and after completing the placement, participants receive a reference to help them take their next steps toward employment.

For women rebuilding their lives after family violence, the program is designed to offer more than work experience. It aims to restore confidence, build practical skills, and create a pathway to greater independence for them and their children.

The foundation also supports children and families dealing with trauma and provides practical assistance to men and people experiencing mental health challenges.

Importantly, The Tarrant Foundation says 100 per cent of every donation goes directly to people in need, with a private benefactor currently covering its operating costs.

Founder Jenni Tarrant has spent more than a decade fundraising for vulnerable people, raising over $300,000 through personal challenges including walking 160 kilometres in four days for women’s refuges and vulnerable children, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and spending a week living in her car to better understand homelessness.

Hosted by Parker Coles Curtis with Genfocus, the November charity evening will feature canapés, drinks and music, while giving guests an opportunity to learn more about the foundation and the people its work supports.

Connect. Grow. Make a Difference will be held from 5pm to 7pm on Wednesday, November 11, at the Margaret Whitlam Pavilion, National Arboretum Canberra.

Tickets: Purchase tickets to the charity evening
Donations: Donate directly to The Tarrant Foundation

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