Unmasked Gala 2025 returns with exclusive prizes, celebrity reunions, and a $200,000 goal for inclusive communities
Unmasked 2025, Melbourne’s premier black-tie gala in support of Friend in Me, returns September 6 with a bold fundraising target of $200,000 and a silent auction stacked with money-can’t-buy experiences and a long-awaited celebrity dance reunion 16 years in the making.
With nearly 900,000 Australian children under the age of 15 at high risk of social exclusion, Australian charity Friend in Me is working to create a world where no child is left out or left behind. This year, all proceeds from the silent auction and ticket sales will go directly towards expanding Friend in Me’s work with neurodivergent and disabled children, funding inclusive play spaces, vital community programs, and respite initiatives for families living with medical complexities.
Three of the big-ticket silent auction items include:
VIP Ocean Adventure at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium
A four-person private tour including a glass-bottom boat ride across the 2.2 million litre Oceanarium, a live penguin encounter on the ice, and up-close experiences with jellyfish and sea turtles. Includes lunch and professional photography
Luxury South African Safari
5 Night Stay in a luxury chalet at Ezulwini’s 5-Star Game Lodges located in the Big 7 Balule Nature Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger National Park, in the UNESCO Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Reserve. Ezulwini is home to over 150 mammals, including the ‘Big 7’ as well as 460 bird species.
An exclusive portrait of Unmasked Ambassador, Chloé Hayden, painted by Juan Ford
The star of Netflix’s Heartbreak High and a nationally recognised voice for neurodivergent and disabled Australians, Hayden is the subject of the evening’s hero artwork, created by renowned contemporary Australian artist Juan Ford.
The gala will be hosted by Jo Stanley, with music by DJ John Course, and a showstopping live performance from Brihony Dawson. The evening will also feature an emotional highlight in the long-awaited dance reunion between Jess Raffa and Gerrard Gosens OAM, 16 years after competing together on Dancing with the Stars. Gosens, a three-time Paralympian and esteemed disability advocate, brings a message of resilience and inclusion to the stage.
“It will be a very special moment sharing the dance floor with Gerrard once again,” Jess says of the reunion. “He’s told me he remembers every single routine from 16 years ago. It has been that long!”
With 450 guests expected, the event will be a night of elevated experiences, powerful advocacy and unforgettable storytelling all in support of creating a future where every child has a place, and no family is left behind.
Last year’s event raised over $100,000. This year, Unmasked 2025 aims to double its impact, and make inclusion more than a vision, but a reality.
“Every step we take is made possible by the generosity of those who believe in our mission,” says Founder of Friend in Me, Louise Larkin. “These funds directly change lives for children who’ve felt excluded their entire lives, and for families who just want their kids to have a place to belong.”
The gala will be held at Melbourne Town Hall on Saturday, 6 September 2025.
Tickets are available for purchase here: https://events.humanitix.com/unmasked-gala-ball-2025?c=media