Making A Mark In South Australia
A major focus of the last 12 months in South Australia has been on transforming and growing our impact. With our recent success in the South Australian Government’s public housing stock management transfer program, we have been making preparations to take over property and tenancy management of 840 properties and existing tenancies by September 2017.
configuration, thereby effectively integrating our existing operations into a much bigger framework. We are now fast approaching the completion of the rollout of our new organisational structure, service delivery model and a newly combined office space. An official opening event for residents, staff, partners and stakeholders will take place later in 2017. As we head into 2017-18 and bring the major transformation that we started in 2015 to its conclusion, it is worth pausing to reflect that, as challenging as it has been, we have now secured the foundation for an exciting new future. We have clearly demonstrated that so much more can be achieved when we bring resources, expertise and capacity together to achieve collective aims. Our strategic positioning for growth and impact will make a significant additional contribution in South Australia, and all early indications are that we will be delivering significant additional safe, affordable and secure housing outcomes in 2018 and beyond.
Throughout this period of change, we have focused on preserving the integrity and unique features of our highly successful Common Ground programs. Our success in this endeavour will be borne out in the coming year, as we continue to respond to increasing needs across the housing continuum, from homelessness interventions to the provision of affordable home purchase opportunities. Our Common Ground programs will remain at the heart of this activity. A major highlight for the South Australian team this year was the opportunity to remain in our existing Light Square premises and annex space from an adjoining building. This delivered another merger of sorts. In planning for our future office needs, the overwhelming message that we received was to maintain our real connection to the residents, programs and activities in our Light Square hub. After all, it is all of these elements combined that made the Common Ground Adelaide community work so well. Our staff actively participated in the change management process, mapping out our new service model and office
By any measure, undertaking portfolio growth of this size is a major endeavour. In South Australia however, it has been all the more challenging in light of the recent merger between Common Ground and Housing Choices - a merger that set the very foundation for our successful tender outcome. While preparing to more than double in size, we have continued to refine and adapt new governance arrangements; integrate common corporate systems, policies and processes; ensure the maintenance of regulatory compliance; and build a common organisational culture. Right across the organisation, the team has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to integrating South Australia successfully and respectfully into the national group structure. We have learned a lot from each other along the way and much has been added to the organisation as a result. During the year we developed and launched our new brand, Housing Choices South Australia, to reflect the diversification of the housing models on offer in South Australia into the future.
Expanding Our Footprint - Annual Report 2016-17
46.
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker