meet our staff AMY KIDNEr Resident Voice and Impact Coordinator
As the Resident Voice and Impact Coordinator in the Community Engagement team, Amy Kidner works to ensure that residents’ perspectives are not only heard but also shape decision-making across Housing Choices.
‘It’s a national role that aims to strengthen the ways we involve residents in our service delivery and ensure their perspectives influence decisions at every level, right up to governance,’ Amy said. She works closely with sta and residents to make sure services are e ective, that their impact is measured and that they remain responsive to residents’ needs. ‘My role intersects with our broader community engagement work, helping create meaningful opportunities for residents to connect and participate with us and in their local communities. Ultimately, it’s about making sure residents are connected, their experiences are valued and our services continue to improve in ways that really matter to them.’ Amy was drawn to Housing Choices because of its purpose. ‘I joined Housing Choices because I wanted to make a di erence in people’s lives and work for a not-for-profit organisation that puts the people it serves at the centre, not profit,’ she said. With a background in anthropology, sociology and population health, Amy understands how critical safe housing is for wellbeing. ‘The chance to work with and learn from people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, and to contribute to improving their lives, is what drew me to this work.’
Amy has been with Housing Choices Australia for more than seven years, starting in tenant consultation and communications before moving into her current national role. ‘Throughout my career here, the most important lessons have come from our residents themselves. Listening to their experiences, understanding their needs and seeing what works (and what doesn’t) has shaped the way I approach my work every day.’ Whether it’s creating opportunities for connection or seeing their feedback shape real changes in our services, those moments make the work tangible and rewarding.’ She has witnessed how residents’ involvement makes a di erence. ‘It could be hearing someone say that participating in our community engagement activities has been lifesaving, or watching a resident who once thought they had nothing important to contribute grow into a confident participant on our advisory committee. I’ve seen residents go from attending engagement groups to leading activities in their own communities, or from joining our art show to holding their own exhibitions. ‘These aren’t quick wins, but seeing people achieve and thrive, and knowing we’ve played even a small part in that, is rewarding.’
Amy also reflects on her own sense of home alongside the residents she works with. Earlier this year, residents collaborated on an art project that explored what home means. ‘We created a collaborative art piece where 40 residents did a small painting of what home means to them, and many of their contributions really resonated with me,’ she said. ‘Many painted their family, their pets, or captured small comforts like a big cup of tea. Those ideas really resonated with me. I feel most at home with my partner, my family, my rescue greyhound and a big cup of tea shared with a friend.
‘For me, like many of our residents, home is more than bricks and mortar – it’s about connection, comfort and belonging.’
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HOUSING CHOICES AUSTRALIA
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