Julie Duncan STATE MANAGER , SOUTH AUSTRALIA
In 2016-17 our commitment to providing more affordable housing for South Australians in need - while ensuring high- quality services and support for our existing residents - was underpinned by preparations for significant expansion. Our successful tender for the transfer of 840 tenancies in the city and east as part of Renewal SA’s Renewing Our Streets and Suburbs Program spurred accelerated growth across the organisation while we continued to deliver strong results and outcomes in our current portfolios. At the heart of our operations was assisting 70 new households into housing - many comprising some of the most vulnerable people in our community. Of our new clients, more than one in five are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (ATSI), 69 per cent are living with mental health issues and almost one in three have a disability. Around 16 per cent of new clients were homeless at the time of intake - men, women and children who were sleeping rough before coming to live in our neighbourhoods. The Common Ground support program, which couples housing with intensive case-managed support for those in highest need, remains a key element of our work and commitment to the community. It involves case coordinators working closely with the residents in the program, helping them to solve problems and overcome barriers and issues so they can maintain their tenancies and, ultimately, improve their lives and wellbeing. Crucial to this initiative is our integrated on-site health suite, including dental and general medical practice services that provide free dental and health care to Common Ground Adelaide residents, as well as those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. In the past year there were 221 visits to the GP clinic and 207 visits to the dental service. In the coming year, the dental service, which is run by the University of Adelaide, will have seen 1,000 clients since its establishment in 2011. Our dedication to place-making continues to grow and evolve as we support our residents to become more connected to their neighbourhoods and community. In 2017 we launched
our Good Neighbour Award Program and facilitated several events, including an Easter morning tea, spring barbecue and Christmas lunch. We also encouraged more of our activities to become resident-initiated and led. Our Monday cooking club continues to thrive with the support of residents and volunteers, while our community garden is well-tended and maintained by residents. The Light Square city playgroup, which is based on-site at Common Ground Light Square, recently celebrated its second birthday with more than 10 regular families attending most weeks, including residents and others who live in and around the city. Other activities that we offer include a music group, soccer teams and yoga, as well as health and wellbeing groups, and educational and training opportunities. The support that we receive from other organisations, agencies, businesses and individuals in the private, public and community sectors is something that we value deeply and for which we are always enormously grateful as it helps us to support our residents. In 2016-17 some of our most disadvantaged residents benefited from subsidised theatre tickets through the Overture Program , hair grooming services from The Basin Haircutters and a special cooking class, using native Australian bush foods, led by Tauondi College. Welcoming the wider community into our neighbourhoods is important for us as we support our residents to build broader connections and positive links to other people and services. It also gives us the chance to learn, share information and showcase the achievements of our residents and staff. This year we. hosted a visit to our community garden by Costa Georgiadis of ABC TV’s Gardening Australia , who provided expert tips and advice on gardening. In May we welcomed the Minister for Housing and Community Development in the Northern Territory, the Hon. Gerald McCarthy MLA, to our head office to see our programs and services first-hand. Minister McCarthy met with staff and residents and enjoyed a tenant-hosted afternoon tea in our Light Square common room.
In the new financial year, we will welcome our new residents through the public housing transfer program and we look forward to extending our high standards of service and support to these new local communities. We will continue to nurture our existing partnerships while forging new ones and pursue new opportunities to grow our affordable housing and supportive housing programs. In particular, we look to build on our existing allied health programs, boost connections to employment and training providers and support ageing-in-place initiatives. It is a privilege to be part of Housing Choices as we break new ground in helping more South Australians into decent, safe and affordable housing.
Our People - Annual Report 2016-17
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