About | Little Jem Foundatio

About Us

Remembering Our Angels, Supporting Their Families

The Little Jem Foundation exists to support families facing one of life’s most unimaginable tragedies — the loss of a child. In the moments following such devastating loss, families are often overwhelmed with grief, shock and heartbreak. During this time, they are also faced with practical decisions and financial pressures that no family should have to navigate while grieving. The Little Jem Foundation was created to provide compassion, practical support and financial assistance to families during these incredibly difficult moments. Our primary goal is to help relieve the immediate financial burden associated with funeral costs and related expenses, allowing families the space to focus on what truly matters, honouring their child and supporting one another through grief. At the heart of the foundation is a belief that no family should feel alone in their darkest hour. Through the generosity of our community, sponsors and supporters, we are able to provide assistance to families when they need it most. But the Little Jem Foundation is about more than financial support. It is about community, compassion and remembrance.

It is about ensuring that every child’s life is honoured and that families feel the care and support of those around them.

What began as a deeply personal mission has grown into a movement of kindness — one that continues to bring people together to support families through loss. Every event we host, every partnership we form and every donation we receive helps us extend that circle of care. Together, we can provide comfort, support and hope during life’s most difficult moments.

Our Founders

The Story of Mat & Amy

The Little Jem Foundation was founded in 2011 by Mat and Amy, following a deeply personal loss of their baby girl Jemma at 27 weeks that changed their lives forever.

Like so many parents who experience the heartbreak of losing a child, Mat and Amy were suddenly faced with overwhelming grief. In the midst of their pain, they also encountered the unexpected reality of financial pressures that can come during such a difficult time including funeral costs and other immediate expenses.

Through their own experience, they realised that many families facing the loss of a child are placed under the same strain.

Amid their grief, Mat and Amy made a remarkable decision.

They wanted to ensure that other families would not have to face these challenges alone.

From that place of love, compassion and resilience, the Little Jem Foundation was born.

Their vision was simple but powerful — to create a foundation that could step in and provide practical support to families when they need it most.

Since its beginnings in Gippsland, the foundation has grown through the generosity of communities, supporters and volunteers who believe in the same mission: supporting families through unimaginable loss.

Tragically, in 2024, Mat and Amy’s family was once again faced with profound heartbreak when they suffered the devastating loss of their beloved son Dustin, aged 15, and their cherished nephews Luke, aged 20, and Benny, aged 16.

A loss of this magnitude is impossible to put into words. Yet even through unthinkable grief, the purpose behind the Little Jem Foundation has remained unwavering.

Their story is a powerful reminder of why the foundation exists — because no family should have to walk through such devastating loss alone.

Today, the Little Jem Foundation continues to honour the memory of the children it was created to remember. Through Mat and Amy’s courage, compassion and strength, the foundation stands as a symbol of community, care and hope in the darkest of times.

Their journey reminds us that even through the deepest grief, love can still create something that supports others.