Each year, many Australian organisations and services improve the lives of individuals by providing support and giving strength to those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Now their efforts can be commended through the first ever National Homelessness Services Achievement Awards. The awards showcase the quality, innovation and dedication of homelessness services. They also recognise the very important, yet sometimes less direct contribution that many Australian organisations make to addressing homelessness—such as philanthropic contributions, research, preventative and early intervention services, and service partnerships.
The categories and finalists for the 2012 National Homelessness Services Achievement Awards are:
Excellence or innovation in addressing homelessness by an organisation:
- Homeground, VIC
- Larrakia Nation, NT
- Maroondah Halfway House, VIC
- Salvation Army, TAS
- Youth Futures, WA
Excellence in the prevention of, or early intervention in, homelessness
- Queensland Police Service, QLD
- Relationships SA
- Rural Housing Network, Wodonga, VIC
Outstanding business or philanthropic commitment to addressing homelessness
- Second Chance Group, QLD
- StreetSmart Australia, national (except NT)
- Kids Under Cover partnership with Hocking Stuart Real Estate, national
Excellence or innovation in partnerships in delivering services
- Wentworth Community Housing, Nepean / Blacktown, NSW
- RSPCA, NSW
- The Footpath Library, multiple locations
Closing the Gap: Excellence in addressing Indigenous homelessness
- Inanna, ACT
- New Horizons, NSW
- CSSU Wadeye Safe House, NT
Excellence in supporting pathways to employment or education
- Marist Youth Care, NSW
- Southern Youth and Family Services, NSW
- The Big Issue Women’s Subscription Enterprise, multiple locations
Excellence in addressing homelessness in a regional, rural or remote location
- Hume Region Homelessness Network, VIC
- Matthew Talbot Homeless Service, NSW, for Vinnies Services
- Life Without Barriers, SA
The Minister for Housing and Homelessness will recognise the award finalists and winners at a formal ceremony and celebration at Parliament House, Canberra on 22 March 2012.