The Spellbrook Foundation Fund (ABN 71502819388) provides assistance to communities in developing countries with a focus on Laos and elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
Spellbrook partners with Australian public charities and local non-for-profit organisations.
Two projects in Laos aim to improve the healthcare and quality of life of the most vulnerable in Lao society, while a third project in Laos protects children at risk while providing opportunities for vocational training and employment.
In 2018, Spellbrook founded Elevations Laos, a contemporary art exhibition and prize. The art inaugural art exhibition is co-funded by Spellbrook and the Australian Government through the Australian Embassy’s Direct Aid Program.
Having spent much of his professional career working in the Asia Pacific region, with a particular focus on Laos, Gary Stafford has seen first-hand the challenges facing communities in developing countries.
In late 2014, Gary left PanAust Limited after 18 years as its founding Managing Director and founded The Spellbrook Foundation.
“I want to give something back to communities in a country where I had enjoyed good fortune and where I still had many connections”, he said.
Spellbrook and The Australian Government, through the Australian Embassy in Laos’ Direct Aid Program (DAP), are co-funding the 2018-19 exhibition.
Elevations Laos is a non-profit contemporary art initiative aiming to support and stimulate mobility and exchange in Laos amongst artists and publics in Southeast Asia and beyond.
During even years, Elevations Laos Exhibition focuses on artists in or from the Southeast Asian region, inspiring a symposium and public program.
During odd years, the Elevations Laos art prize will encourage emerging artists of all ages and ethnicities holding Lao citizenship to apply. An esteemed jury will award finalists and a prizewinner for an awards exhibition.
N.B. image supplied with the consent of the artist, Souliya Phoumivong
Please use project number J1003N as the reference number when making donations through GDG
The Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise (COPE) is a local non-for-profit organisation that works to help people in Laos with physical disabilities through training, community support, outreach projects and as an auditable interface between international charitable and aid donors and the Lao government’s Centre of Medical Rehabilitation (CMR).
In 2016 and 2019, Spellbrook funded outreach projects to remote communities.
Interplast is an Australian charity that sends teams of volunteer plastic and reconstructive surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and allied health professionals to hospitals in developing countries in the Asia Pacific region.
The teams deliver life-changing plastic surgery to local people that otherwise would not be able to afford or have access to such expertise. Often the patients are very young and the victims of disabling burns or vehicle accidents.
Spellbrook provides 50% of the funding for Interplast’s program in Vientiane, Laos which comprises two surgical teams performing up to 50 procedures over a two-week period every year.
The 2017 program was captured by Laos-based freelance writer Lilani Goonesena on her blog, Eat Drink Laos.
Peuan Mit (meaning ‘good friends’ in Lao) is a local non-for-profit organisation in Laos and is part of the Friends International group based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Peuan Mit provides a network of social workers to identify and protect children at risk in Vientiane, the urban centre and capital of Laos. Peuan Mit adopts a holistic approach to help with reintergration into education systems and caring family homes.
Spellbrook provides funding for Peuan Mit’s transitional home for children at risk, and dormitories for youths that are participating in Peuan Mit’s vocational training programs focused on restaurant work and a motorcycle repair shop.
Spellbrook is the platinum sponsor for Reason to Thrive’s participation at the 2018 Invictus Games in Sydney.
The charity provides Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL), a non-judgmental, experiential therapy designed to help veterans (and many others), lessen the darkness of their built up stress through interaction with horses.
The Invictus Games is an international adaptive multi-sport event created by HRH Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, in which wounded, injured or sick armed service personnel and veterans take part in sports. In all, 17 countries will take part in the Invictus Games Sydney 2018.
This is the first time ever that an equine therapy organisation has been invited to present a demonstration of EFL at the Invictus Games. Reason to Thrive is partnering with EquiCenter New York.
Spellbrook is proud to partner with Global Development Group (GDG) (ABN 57102400993) for projects J553N Cope Laos, J917N Peuan Mit Transitional Homes and J1003N Elevations Laos Exhibition and Art Prize.
GDG takes responsibility of the projects according to Overseas Aid Gift Deduction Scheme (OAGDS) guidelines providing a governance role and assisting in the areas of planning, monitoring, evaluating and auditing to ensure the projects are carried out to OAGDS requirements.
Spellbrook partners with GDG to deliver funding to COPE, Peuan Mit and Elevations Laos to ensure the highest accountability standards.
Tax deductible receipts for gifts over $2 will be issued by GDG. Excess funds may be directed to another approved activity.
Spellbrook is pleased to announce that it is the platinum sponsor of Reason to Thrive, a charity that offers Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL), a non-judgmental, experiential therapy designed to help veterans (and many others), lessen the darkness of their built up stress.
Reason to Thrive has been invited by EquiCenter New York to provide demonstrations of EFL to those visiting Invictus Games Sydney 2018, to show exactly what can happen when a person with trauma is in the presence of that most magical of beings – the horse.
Spellbrook is pleased to announce that the Australian Government, through the Australian Embassy in Laos’ Direct Aid Program, will co-fund the 2018-19 exhibition with Spellbrook.
Gary Stafford forms Elevations Laos with founding curator Erin Gleeson and Catherine O’Brien of host gallery i:cat in Vientiane.
The charitable partnership comprises Spellbrook, the Global Development Group and Lao partner STELLA, a non-profit organisation founded by Khouanfa Siriphone (Jeng) and Souphaphone Dangmany (Lou) that provides administration and facilitation support.
In Laos, Spellbrook is please to announce that it has extended its in-principle support for Peuan Mit through to 2020.
This year’s donation will continue the funding support for the operation of the transitional home for vulnerable children in distress or danger and the dormitory for marginalised youth supporting their attendance in vocational training.
Spellbrook founder joins Australian Ambassador (HE John Williams) and Chairman of Phu Bia Mining at a ceremony to mark the completion of electrical and fire safety upgrades to Peuan Mit’s transitional home and the supply and installation of a new ablution block.
Spellbrook jointly funds with the Australian Embassy the supply and installation of a new ablution block at Peuan Mit’s transitional home.
Spellbrook enters into a three-year funding agreement with Interplast to fund 50% of Interplast’s annual program in Vientiane, Laos.
Spellbrook collaborates with Phu Bia Mining (subsidiary of PanAust Limited) to identify risks and improve electrical and fire safety at Peuan Mit’s transitional home.
