Why Getaways
It is not just time away. It is a new view of what is possible.
Social tourism creates fair access to rest, connection and participation for families who would otherwise miss out.
1 in 4
Australian children have never been on a getaway.
100%
of every getaway is funded by the Foundation.
First ever
For every family MGF sends away, it is their first holiday together.
First ever getaways
A holiday is the first thing to go, and the last thing to come back.
Social Tourism is an accepted and understood practice in much of the world but very new in Australia.
For the families MGF works with, a holiday is rarely a choice they have declined. Cost, caring responsibilities, illness, housing and the sheer weight of getting through the week puts it out of reach, and it stays out of reach year after year.
So the Foundation removes the barrier entirely. Every getaway is fully funded, covering accommodation, travel, food and the experiences that make it feel like a holiday, and each one is planned around what that particular family needs.
social tourism
noun
Equitable access to a break away from home for people who would otherwise be excluded from one.
MGF is the inaugural Australian member of the International Social Tourism Organisation.
What changes
The value is not the destination. It is what a family carries home.
Room to breathe
Time away from daily pressures can reduce stress and support mental health and wellbeing.
Something to keep
A first holiday becomes a story a family tells for years, and proof that good things happen to them too.
A steadier footing
Children and parents alike come home with more self-esteem and more belief in what they can do.
Less isolation
Families take part in their community again rather than sitting quietly outside it.
Time together
Days away strengthen communication and rebuild the family bonds that pressure wears thin.
A wider horizon
New places bring new skills and a broader outlook, and for some a path back towards work.
Families return to the same circumstances. What changes is how they meet them.