AUSMAR’s Cubby House Challenge for SunnyKids

A day of teamwork, creativity, and community spirit as our AUSMAR crew came together to build and decorate cubby houses for a local children’s charity. Sponsored by Reece Bathrooms & Dulux.

In late September, our staff carpark at AUSMAR Headquarters in Maroochydore was transformed into a buzzing construction site - but instead of new homes, we were building something a little smaller (and a lot cuter).

Fifty AUSMAR team members split into six groups for a team-building day like no other: a cubby house challenge in support of local charity, SunnyKids.

Event Sponsors

With toolkits provided, paint generously supplied by Dulux, and the event proudly sponsored by our partners at Reece, the competition was on to build six cubbies destined for children across the Sunshine Coast who are currently escaping family and domestic violence.

And while safety and quality were the top priority - screws flush, no sharp edges, sturdy finishes - there was also a healthy dose of competition and creativity.

Storybook cubbies with playful twists

Each cubby was designed to feel like a miniature home: pitched gable roofs, arched doorways, and window trims gave them that “real house” charm, scaled down for kids. Teams then personalised their designs with soft pastel colour palettes - lavender, sage green, sky blue, dusty pink, sunshine yellow, and cream - using Dulux paint to bring the cottages to life.

Judging was carried out by Brooke from SunnyKids, who was looking for both quality and creativity. Two cubbies stood out:

• One with an interior wall painted in blackboard paint, giving kids a safe space to doodle and draw.
• Another with hand-painted butterflies and curtains, created by stamping leaves into paint for a whimsical, creative effect.

Both were awarded as winners - a celebration of creativity, colour, and community spirit.

A few laughs along the way

Like any good build, things didn’t go completely smoothly (and that’s half the fun). Kahl became the team’s unofficial entertainer when he volunteered to paint the inside of his cubby. By the time he wriggled his way back out into the carpark, he was dripping with sweat - proof of how hot things got under the afternoon sun (and how much effort went into the details).

Richard, our Director, also gave the team a laugh after accidentally trapping himself inside his cubby during assembly. And in true builder banter, teams accused the winners of relying on “aftermarket accessories” when the curtains helped sway the final vote.

Why SunnyKids?

Learn: https://www.sunnykids.org.au/

The cubbies weren’t just built for fun - they’ll soon be installed in six transitional homes developed by SunnyKids, a local charity dedicated to supporting children and families escaping domestic and family violence.

SunnyKids’ Transitional Housing Project is a life-changing initiative, giving vulnerable families safe and supported accommodation. Over a year, these homes will provide more than 5,475 nights of stability, safety, and care to 132 individuals in need.

For the children moving into these homes, the cubbies will be more than just playhouses. They’ll be safe corners to laugh, play, and imagine - a reminder that even in the hardest of times, there’s space to be a kid again.

More than homes

At AUSMAR, our work has always gone beyond bricks and mortar.

“Although we are in the industry of construction, we take this responsibility much deeper than building four walls. We believe in building dreams - whether that’s homes, careers, opportunities, or community.”

AUSMAR's Community Contributions

That vision is at the heart of our long-standing partnership with Wishlist Foundation, the Sunshine Coast Health Foundation. Over the past decade, AUSMAR has proudly:

• Delivered four “House the Coast Built” projects, auctioned or sold to raise vital funds.
• Designed and built Wishlist House, a six-bedroom accommodation facility for patients and their families receiving treatment at Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
• Sponsored a dedicated room in the Wishlist Centre, another much-needed accommodation facility supporting local patients.

Through these efforts and ongoing fundraising, AUSMAR has helped raise over $2 million for Wishlist, directly improving healthcare services and support for families across the Sunshine Coast.

The cubby house challenge with SunnyKids continues this same philosophy - building more than homes. We’re building safe places and brighter futures for those who need it most.

A day to remember

For our team, the day was about more than just drills and paint. It was about connection - with each other, with our community, and with the children who will one day laugh and play inside these cubbies. Seeing supervisors, sales consultants, managers, drafters, estimators, CLOs, and site supervisors all working side by side proved that when we come together, we can build more than homes. We can build hope.

🎥Check out the video below to see the cubbies come to life