A young Mum building a brighter future with the support of Horizon House
Helping people transform their lives.
Violet, a proud Whadjuk Noongar woman, was a young mother experiencing housing instability when she arrived at St John of God Horizon House wanting to build a more secure future for herself and her child.
She had already overcome significant challenges. As a teenager, Violet experienced mental health difficulties while navigating family circumstances affected by alcoholism and mental illness. Despite these barriers, she remained focused on her future, completing an Assistant in Nursing qualification before enrolling in nursing studies.
At 18, Violet became a mother and, amid difficult family circumstances, experienced periods of homelessness before being referred to St John of God Horizon House. Despite these challenges, she remained focused on completing her nursing qualification, strengthening her parenting skills and creating a stable future for herself and her child.
St John of God Horizon House provided the stability and support needed to help her stay focused on those goals. Alongside secure accommodation, the team supported Violet to strengthen family relationships, navigate co-parenting challenges and build confidence in her role as a parent.
With that support in place, Violet successfully completed her Diploma of Nursing and secured a graduate nurse position at a major Perth hospital. She has since moved into independent housing closer to her workplace and continues to access transition support as she settles into the next stage of her career.
Violet's determination and achievements were recently recognised when she was named a finalist in the 2026 WA Youth Awards MercyCare Lived Experience Award, which celebrates young people who use their lived experience to create positive change.
Reflecting on her time at St John of God Horizon House, Violet said:
"I want to say a massive thank you and I am very grateful for the time and memories I made here."