Community Involvement — O’Brien Plumbing & Roofing
Giving back to the Central Coast and beyond through hands-on community support, charity partnerships, and local sport.
Written by: O'Brien Technical Team • Published: 05 July 2026
Why We Give Back
O’Brien Plumbing and Roofing operates on the Central Coast and Northern Sydney. We employ local tradespeople, serve local families and businesses, and our vehicles drive these streets every day. Community involvement is not a marketing exercise for us — it is a reflection of who we are and where we come from.
Our director Brad Pesavento experienced homelessness as a teenager on the Central Coast. A plumber gave him a second chance. That experience shaped how this business operates and why we actively support organisations that help people in crisis. Every dollar we raise, every hour we volunteer, and every piece of equipment we donate goes directly to people and organisations making a measurable difference in our community.
Coast Shelter — Supporting People Experiencing Homelessness
Coast Shelter is the Central Coast’s leading not-for-profit providing specialist homelessness services and personal support programs. We have supported Coast Shelter through multiple initiatives since 2021.
Sustainability Community Grant (2021)
In September 2021, O’Brien Plumbing Wyong nominated Coast Shelter for the O’Brien Group’s Sustainability Community Grant. The $5,000 grant funded plumbing maintenance and upgrades to Coast Shelter’s emergency accommodation — the facilities that house people in crisis. We donated the plumbing labour and coordinated a dishwasher donation with Harvey Norman to improve the kitchen facilities used by residents.
Coverage: Coast Community News (22 Oct 2021) | O’Brien.com.au article
Coast Shelter Sleepout (2022)
On 5 August 2022, our team slept rough at Central Coast Stadium alongside 140 business leaders and community members. We raised $5,000 directly at the event and donated $5 from every job completed between June and August 2022 to the fundraiser. The event raised $182,172 in total — doubling the previous year’s amount. Funds went towards specialist in-house clinical services and counselling for people experiencing homelessness and domestic and family violence.
Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch MP attended and was photographed with our team. The event was MC’d by Justin Coombes Pearce from Triple M, with live music from Asha (The Voice) and The Mixed Tape Duo.
Coverage: Coast Community News (13 Aug 2022)
Berkeley Vale Panthers — Supporting Local Junior Rugby League
Berkeley Vale Rugby League and Sports Club is a grassroots community club on the Central Coast. Brad coaches the Under 6s (2026, previously Under 5/6s in 2025), volunteers on the BBQ on game days, and actively supports the club through equipment donations and in-kind sponsorship.
Mini Goal Posts Donation (June 2025)
In June 2025, we donated 6 brand new mini goal posts to the club for the junior players. The Berkeley Vale Panthers posted their thanks on Facebook — the post received 175 reactions, 19 comments, and 3 shares, showing the community reach of grassroots support.
In-Kind Sponsorship (2026)
We are working with the club on an in-kind sponsorship arrangement — providing plumbing and stormwater maintenance for the clubhouse (built in 1985 and in need of significant plumbing work) in exchange for sponsorship recognition. Brad also noticed guttering and stormwater issues at the club during a rainy launch day and offered free diagnostic work.
We Care Connect — Christmas Gift Drive
We Care Connect runs an annual Christmas gift drive to bring joy to children who would otherwise go without presents on Christmas morning. O’Brien Plumbing and Roofing donated over $5,000 worth of Christmas presents including toys, sporting equipment, backpacks, and water bottles. The gifts went directly to children in need across the Central Coast.
O’Brien Taskforce — National Charity Renovation Projects
The O’Brien Taskforce is a national programme where 100+ tradies from across Australia and New Zealand volunteer their skills to transform community facilities in a single day. Brad has participated in two Taskforce projects.
Taskforce 2024 — Life Flight Wellington, New Zealand
In September 2024, approximately 100 tradies transformed Life Flight’s Westpac Rescue Helicopter base in Wellington. The project delivered $250,000 worth of renovations in one day — work that would normally take 6 weeks. Life Flight provides time-critical aeromedical care to people in rural New Zealand where it is difficult to reach medical services. The project was covered by The Post NZ.
Coverage: The Post NZ (5 Sep 2024)
Taskforce 2025 — Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre, Sunshine Coast
On 4 September 2025, approximately 100 tradies delivered $100,000 in renovations to the Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre — a 42-year-old facility serving 26,000 people per year and providing 7,000 free meals annually. Work included plumbing and electrical upgrades, an $8,000 Zip tap installation, cafe plumbing (enabling a training program for people experiencing homelessness), painting, gardening, and replacement of 20-year-old fixtures. The project was covered by Channel 7 Sunshine Coast and endorsed by Fiona Simpson MP.
Coverage: O’Brien.com.au article | Channel 7 Sunshine Coast
How We Choose Who to Support
We prioritise organisations that are local to the Central Coast, provide direct support to people in crisis (homelessness, domestic violence, poverty), operate transparently with published outcomes, and where our trade skills can make a tangible difference. We do not sponsor for logo placement alone — we look for opportunities where our people and our skills create real impact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does O’Brien Plumbing do charity work?
Yes. We actively support Coast Shelter (homelessness services), Berkeley Vale Panthers (junior rugby league), We Care Connect (Christmas gifts for children), and the national O’Brien Taskforce renovation programme.
How can my organisation request support from O’Brien Plumbing?
Contact us directly. We prioritise Central Coast organisations that provide direct support to people in crisis and where our trade skills can make a measurable difference.
What is the O’Brien Taskforce?
The O’Brien Taskforce is a national programme where 100+ tradies volunteer their skills to renovate community facilities in a single day. Recent projects include Life Flight NZ ($250,000 in renovations) and Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre ($100,000 in renovations).
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Want to Work With a Business That Gives Back?
Call us on (02) 4351 3665 (Central Coast) or (02) 9477 1519 (Northern Sydney). We are here to help.