Steven is Managing Director of Booran Holden Group which first opened in 1964 and has five branches in Melbourne's southeast. Steven is an active member of the sporting community.

He has been aligned with OzChild since 2004 and he has worked closely with the organisation assisting with its motoring needs.

Steven is passionate about OzChild and in particular the work OzChild is undertaking in the Indigenous Communities of Western Australia. He is focussed on assisting OzChild on the raising of capital through his own and other businesses.

Booran Holden: www.booran.com.au

Dandenong dealer does 'his best deal'

Steve Cadden, an OzChild Ambassador and OzChild Unite member, tells how supporting OzChild has enriched both his personal and business life.

Steve Cadden, Principal of Booran Motors in Dandenong, is no stranger to ‘the deal’. Buying, selling, and trading have been part of every working day in a busy 20 year career.

But little did Steve know that the deal that he now regards as ‘his best’ would not be restricted to dollars and cents.

Around ten years ago Steve started looking for a way to put back something into Melbourne’s south eastern community.

He became interested in OzChild, a Victorian children’s welfare agency that began in 1851, and remains committed to giving abused, neglected and disadvantaged children a better chance in life. OzChild helps children, youth and families, particularly in the Southern Metropolitan Region with services in Dandenong, Frankston, Mornington, Cranbourne and Pakenham.

After getting to know the organisation, Steve became an enthusiastic supporter and accepted a role as an OzChild Ambassador in 2007.

Since the birth of his son, Steve says the importance of OzChild’s work has had an even more powerful impact on him. “I call it my ‘best deal ever’,” says Steve. “Becoming a dad certainly changes you. I was already right behind OzChild’s mission – giving all kids a fair go – but when I look at my son it really hits home.”

Booran Motors holds the Holden, Peugeot and Suzuki franchises at Dandenong, Cheltenham and Cranbourne and supports OzChild in several ways:

• donations are derived from vehicle service work;
• OzChild staff and volunteers are allowed advantageous purchase opportunities, kids coming from
• OzChild’s Community VCAL education system can be offered workforce training, and
• support is given to Dandenong OzChild Unite, a local business networking group linked in its support for the charity.

“Helping OzChild has made my business and personal life quite a bit richer. I’d call upon local businesses to consider OzChild Unite as a smart move. You get into a win-win situation, with the chance for more business, but also get involved more with your community and support the kids,” says Steve.

Tony Pitman, OzChild CEO, says the welfare of our children and families should not just remain with government and not for profit organisations – although support doesn’t just mean giving lots of dollars. “Business owners and staff can have an important role to play, simply by expressing their passion - it engages others and creates awareness. People who take on a cause are invariably more interesting and their passion is catching,” Mr Pitman said.

“Many successful businesses reach a stage where they want to put something back, but don’t know how. OzChild would love to help you do that! Not only will it not seem like work, but more like a reward to know that you too made a difference” said Mr Pitman.

OzChild provides a wide range of services, including providing temporary or longer term care for children through its Foster Care program, the largest single program in Victoria’s Southern Metropolitan Region.

There are programs to support and unite families, provide disability services, and programs to help children and young people develop confidence and resilience, through psychological and speech therapy. Troubled teens are provided with alternative education and support, including workforce training.