Some stories of change happen overnight. Others take patience, persistence, and the right people working together to make it possible.
For one young person, finding a way forward wasn’t just about sorting out a place to stay.
It was about navigating legal hurdles, rebuilding trust, and believing in the chance for something better and that’s where Ruby’s Reunification Program and the UC Law Centre came in – not as separate services, but as a team.
Each brought their own expertise to the table. Together, they helped turn what seemed like an impossible situation into a fresh start.
More than just a place to stay
When a young person and their family arrived at Ruby’s, it was clear things had reached breaking point.
Their relationship had deteriorated, leaving the young person with nowhere safe to go. To make matters even more complicated, an incident at home had spiralled into serious legal trouble.
With no family nearby, no stable housing, and the shadow of a potential criminal record looming, the future for this young person felt incredibly uncertain.
One of Ruby’s Service Coordinators knew this wasn’t just about a warm bed or a temporary fix. They advocated to their manager, wanting to explore legal support options.
The legal system can be daunting and complex. Without the right guidance, it can create barriers that can follow someone for years, impacting employment, housing, and long-term stability.
The manager encouraged them to reach out to the UC Law Centre.
Thankfully, as part of Uniting Communities, that support was just a phone call away.
A team effort
From the start, this was a collaboration.
Ruby’s understood the personal side of things – the emotions, the relationships, the slow process of rebuilding trust. The Law Centre brought legal expertise and a clear path forward.
Neither could do it alone.
"We’ve worked closely with Ruby’s on a number of occasions, and this case really showed how powerful that partnership can be.
Because we’re both part of Uniting Communities, I was able to organise an appointment on-site at Ruby’s almost immediately and start working on a legal strategy straight away."
“At the same time, Ruby’s team focused on supporting the young person emotionally and helping rebuild family relationships. That kind of coordination makes all the difference.”
The legal team focused on ensuring the best possible outcome in court. Ruby’s team worked on something just as important – helping the young person process emotions, build trust with their parent, and start thinking about a future that felt possible.
Rebuilding trust, rewriting the future
At first, the conversations were tough and exploring reunification was a rocky road. There was anger, hurt, and resentment on both sides with the relationship breakdown leaving the young person feeling abandoned.
The Ruby’s team didn’t push for an instant resolution – because real relationships don’t heal overnight.
Instead, they encouraged small steps. Seeing the bigger picture. Understanding each other’s perspectives. By supporting the young person and parent as they unpacked the root cause of the conflict, they could help them begin to let go of the past and step into a journey of understanding and healing.
Then, something unexpected happened.
In a quiet conversation one afternoon, the young person mentioned extended family living interstate. They hadn’t spoken in years, convinced they wouldn’t be welcome. The team at Ruby’s encouraged them to reach out.
The response was overwhelming. Their family wanted them back in their lives and, for the first time in a long time, a new path forward felt possible.
The final pieces
With a ticket booked, Ruby’s and the Law Centre worked together to make sure everything was in place before they left. The legal team resolved the court matters, while Ruby’s focused on the emotional side of things. Both aspects supported each other.
Then came the moment that changed everything.
The parent, after weeks of difficult but meaningful conversations, decided to drop the charges.
"It wasn’t easy, but in the end, they saw that reconciliation mattered more than resentment.
That decision changed the course of this young person’s future and they recognised that letting go and moving through the challenges allowed the opportunity for their child to have a fresh start with opportunities for a bright future.”
The path to family reunification is rarely straightforward, but in those twists and turns, there’s space for real connection to grow. Sometimes, all it takes is the right words, at the right moment, to become the compass that guides a family toward healing.
Now, in a new state, the young person is settling into their fresh start – back in school, reconnecting with extended family, and speaking with their parent regularly.
What was once a fractured relationship has softened into weekly phone calls that both look forward to.
Why this worked
The Ruby’s team summed it up best:
"This was a team effort, full stop. Ruby’s and the UC Law Centre brought different things to the table, and together, we made sure this young person had the best chance at a future. Having both services under Uniting Communities made all the difference."
For Guglielmo and the legal team, this was another reminder of why their work matters.
"Legal cases don’t happen in isolation. We needed Ruby’s to help with the emotional side of things, and they needed us to help navigate the legal side. Together, we gave this young person a way forward."
This story proves what’s possible when support is personal, coordinated, and focused on real outcomes. When services truly collaborate, they can change lives.
