More than 200 guests gathered at the Great Hall at Parliament House, Canberra on Thursday 22 March to attend the Inaugural National Homelessness Sector Achievement Awards.
The Awards recognise the outstanding achievements and contributions community organisations make to support people who are homeless in our communities.
The Awards also showcase excellence and innovation by organisations, services and programs responding to the needs of people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.
Twenty-three finalists were among the guests attending the ceremony and seven outstanding winners were announced during the day in the categories of:
- Excellence or innovation in addressing homelessness by an organisation
- Excellence in the prevention of, or early intervention in, homelessness
- Outstanding business or philanthropic commitment to addressing homelessness
- Excellence or innovation in partnerships in delivering services
- Closing the Gap: Excellence in addressing Indigenous homelessness
- Excellence in supporting pathways to employment or education
- Excellence in addressing homelessness in a regional, rural or remote location.
Minister for Housing and Homelessness Brendan O’Connor presented the winners with their awards.
View the Minister’s speech from the National Homelessness Sector Achievement Awards ceremony.
In addition to the Awards presentation, the event also featured a small Expo, where a number of homelessness sector and government agencies showcased their work with clients experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. The Expo also aimed to encourage collaboration and sharing of ideas/best practice service among the sector.
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The guests were also able to engage in the plenary panel discussion. Chaired by Mr Tony Nicholson (Executive Director of the Brotherhood of St Laurence and Chair of the Prime Minister’s Council on Homelessness), the discussion addressed the topic ‘Australia’s homelessness sector: Our Achievements and future’. Panel members included:
- Ms Kay Hallahan - former Chair of the West Australian Council on Homelessness)
- Ms Netty Horton - member of the Prime Minister’s Council on Homelessness)
- Ms Narelle Clay - CEO Southern Youth and Family Services, Chairperson Homelessness Australia and member of the Prime Minister’s Council on Homelessness
- Mr Sean Innis - Group manager, Housing, Homelessness and Money management, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
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Read about winners and finalists.
Copies of the Finalists Booklet are available by contacting homelessnessawards@fahcsia.gov.au