australian television information archive

Charity Begins At Home

Episode 3
Thursday, January 18, 2024 (Stan)
Writer: Liz Doran & Louise Fox
Director: Jennifer Leacey

An erratic Cal returns to U Star with renewed plans to bring Jed back into the fold and solve the political threat of the Charity Tax bill with a Sleep Out fundraiser event. Abi draws Juno further into the church.

Cal is back from his retreat with a renewed sense of vigour and mission — to get Dan Gascoigne into federal Cabinet and influence the Charity Tax legislation that threatens U Star, and to bring Jed back into the fold in order to reassure his American partners of U Star’s family church credentials. Abi, however, remains concerned about her husband’s erratic and manic state.

Juno, still aching from the loss of her mother, finds herself without a job and a home in quick succession. With nowhere else to go, she turns to the only hand reaching out to her — Abi’s — who provides her with a part-time job and share house accommodation with U Star youth group members. Jed, still healing from his violent attack, is invited by his father to attend U Star’s annual “Sleep Out” charity event. With Cal having made a bold public prediction of their donation target, it’s up to Dion to make use of his new celebrity convert in Maddox to bring in the dollars.

Issy has her pregnancy confirmed but is hesitant to share the news with her family. She discovers a mysterious phone in Benji’s bag that turns out to be the dead Rosa’s phone. Meanwhile, we learn that the elusive Eli is behind the property developer’s push to drive Jed out of his community centre, setting the premises alight during the Sleep Out event, with Eli silently watching on as the flames destroy the refuge for the homeless.

Cast:

• Richard Roxburgh as Cal Quinn
• Rebecca Gibney as Abi Quinn
• Ewen Leslie as Dion Quinn
• Jacob Collins-Levy as Jed Quinn
• Ming-Zhu Hii as Taz Quinn
• Hayley McCarthy as Issy Kalani
• Jordi Webber as Benji Kalani
• Andrea Solonge as Juno Adebayo
• Alexander D'Souza as Moses Quinn
• Alex Fitzalan as Maddox
• Brigid Zengeni as Rosa Adebayo
• Jacek Koman as Eli Slowik
•  
• James Saunders as Dan Gascoigne
• Matthew Backer as Jonathan Malik
• Christopher James Baker as Mitch Leeway
• Nikki Shiels as Kasey Leeway
•  
• Emma Horn as Tayla
• Rupert Reid as Robbie Ratten
• Julian Garner as Jake
• Melissa Kahraman as Frankie
• Julian Weeks as Leroy
• Nat Buchanan as Gigi
• Violette Ayad as Amisha
• Tommy Ropati as Manny
• Teneale Clifford as Marcie
• David Whitford as Gordy
• Dominic Barry as Michael Furness
• Haniteli Telefoni as Fetu
• Holly Leonard as Bethany
• Isabella Spagnolo as Ariel
• Alexander Cheung as Levi
• Dove Wong as Rachel
• Tyler Marsh as Noah
•  
• Charlie Clausen as Paul [uncredited]
• ? as Austin [uncredited]