Partnerships with purpose

We know that ending homelessness and housing stress within Victoria requires a wide range of skills, capabilities and supports, and a commitment to building a better tomorrow, that can only be realised through impactful partnerships.

We extend our partnerships with a clear approach; bringing together partners that see the world the way we do, so together we can explore new ways to create impact with a shared purpose. This sees us forming an ecosystem of people and organisations with a great sense of responsibility to the people in our communities, navigating the fine balance of our economic and social impact. We are setting the foundations to enhance partnerships and business opportunities with a mix of government and private investment. This will enable us to develop social, affordable, key worker and shared equity models that are replicable and can be developed at scale across regional and metropolitan Victoria. This year we have forged a number of significant partnerships with Aboriginal communities and other organisations to deliver tailored outcomes for local communities. We value and celebrate all existing partners also including Hall and Wilcox, Village Well, Tank, Homes Victoria, the Department of Treasury and Finance, the Department of Families Fairness and Housing, MIND Australia, City of Greater Bendigo, City of Greater Geelong, and all of our community partners who are critical to ensuring that Haven Home Safe is able to provide housing and wrap-around homelessness supports for people if they need.

Delivering outcomes in line with First Order principles

The current chronic shortage of housing and overcrowding affecting First Peoples across Central Victoria and the Mallee Region is contributing to stress and distress in communities. To address this we have developed partnerships with Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation (DJAARA) and Mallee District Aboriginal Services (MDAS) to increase the supply of Aboriginal-owned and operated housing. In addition to increasing the supply of housing, these partnerships create a two-way learning and development plan guided by DJAARA and MDAS’s housing strategies. That will support both DJAARA and MDAS to develop their organisational capacity and capability and achieve their goals and aspirations of becoming fully-independent, self-determined, registered Aboriginal Community Housing Providers. For HHS, these partnerships prompt us to elevate our cultural awareness and cultural safety standards across our organisation; to ensure that First Peoples receive the same level of safety and support regardless of whether they engage with an Aboriginal or Non-Aboriginal provider. To engage with local communities about the partnerships, in the Mallee we ran a series of events across Mildura, Swan Hill and Kerang. Led by MDAS, we connected with Elders and community members about the partnership and the outcomes we are collectively seeking to achieve. In addition, we met with a range of community organisations across the Mallee and submitted a funding proposal for the Homes for Aboriginal Victorians funding round, to provide more and improved housing outcomes for Aboriginal peoples across the Mallee. In Central Victoria, DJAARA arranged several Wartaka meetings, an opportunity for Djaara community members and Elders to meet and discuss the partnership, proposed housing development opportunities and provide feedback to ensure that our partnership was representing the Djaara community and Djandak (Country) as determined by community.

Suitable, stable, and appropriate housing is a fundamental human right and is a cornerstone requirement to closing the gap in health and social outcomes for First Nations people.

I am proud to partner with Haven Home Safe, a local place based registered housing provider with expertise in social housing property and tenancy management to produce increased housing stock and better-quality homes for our Mob. Haven Home Safe are committed to building the capacity and capability of Aboriginal people in property and tenancy management so we can determine our own future in social housing ownership and management.

~ Jacki Turfrey

Former CEO of MDAS