Common Ground Sydney supportive housing initiative opens doors

Sydney’s landmark supportive housing initiative – Common Ground Sydney – was opened today by the Federal Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness, Senator Mark Arbib, the NSW Minister for Community Services, Pru Goward and the NSW Minister for Finance and Services, Greg Pearce.

The $33 million Camperdown development aims to reduce homelessness and tackle Sydney’s affordable housing crisis.

Common Ground Sydney (CGS) offers a range of housing options for both homeless people and those on low incomes, complemented by a suite of on-site support services, in a purpose-built building.

Based on the successful Common Ground model in New York, which also now operates in Melbourne  and Adelaide (Common Ground projects in Brisbane and Hobart are under construction), the development focuses on long-term solutions to homelessness rather than just offering a bed for the night.

MA Housing’s CEO, Andrew McAnulty, said the Common Ground model had a long track record of success and its approach was proven to reduce homelessness.

“The Common Ground model shows that providing homeless people with safe, secure, long-term accommodation and access to support services in the same location gives them the best chance of getting their lives back on track,” said Mr McAnulty.

“Data from Common Ground New York shows that between 2005 and 2007, this approach helped reduce homelessness by 87 per cent in the Times Square area, and by 43 per cent in the surrounding 230 blocks of West Midtown. We aim to emulate that sort of success here.”

Common Ground Sydney will house 104 units, as well as space to accommodate key social services. Fifty-two are set aside for chronically homeless people, 10 units are for general social housing tenants and 42 are for affordable housing tenants.

Affordable housing tenants are generally employed people on low incomes who are not eligible for public housing.

Common Ground Sydney will assist previously homeless tenants to make the transition to long-term accommodation by providing tailored services such as mental health, counselling, vocational training, fitness classes, living skills and financial management.

A social enterprise (a business that also provides social outcomes) will also be developed on-site to provide learning, training and employment opportunities.

Jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments, MA Housing will manage the building and provide tenancy management services to residents.

A range of support services will be provided by the ‘Inner City Coalition’, which comprises Haymarket Foundation, Salvation Army, Wesley Mission, The Society for Vincent de Paul and lead agency Mission Australia.

“This is the biggest single initiative in the area of supportive housing that Sydney’s seen for many years,” said Mr McAnulty.

“It’s a huge undertaking and both the NSW and Australian Governments together with the Common Ground Alliance should be congratulated for getting behind the project and supporting it so significantly.

“Grocon must also be recognised for its enormous contribution to the project having undertaken its construction at cost.”

“Now that Common Ground Sydney is officially open our people are looking forward to helping residents settle into their new homes and getting the building running at full capacity,” said Mr McAnulty.

Media enquiries
Paul Andrews
P: 02 9219 2080
M: 0409 665 495

To view photos from today’s opening visit our Facebook page 

Mission Australia’s Danielle shares her story in White Ribbon Woman’s Day

In this week’s White Ribbon issue of Woman’s Day, Danielle Guttridge – Mission Australia Case Manager for Brighter Futures in Cootamundra – tells how she turned her life around after suffering years of domestic violence.

Two-and-a-half years ago, Danielle escaped an abusive relationship with her three children and nothing more than the clothes on their backs.

The young mum ended up staying in a relative’s empty home in Cootamundra, which is where she self-referred to Brighter Futures.

This early intervention service provides support for families who have children aged eight or under and are facing issues such as domestic violence, parental drug and alcohol abuse, mental health issues or learning difficulties.

Brighter Futures helped Danielle to find secure accommodation, provided her daughters with school uniforms and placed her youngest child in childcare. They also assisted her to enrol in further education so she could study a Certificate IV in Community Services.

After volunteering with Mission Australia, she worked in administration with us and then applied for a position with Brighter Futures in July 2011, and kicked off her new career.

In this week Woman’s Day, Danielle speaks of her remarkable transformation from a life of abuse to becoming a successful career woman who now helps others who are escaping domestic violence.

“I’m living proof you can escape an abusive relationship and restore your life,” she tells Woman’s Day. “I just wish I’d had the courage to pick up the girls and leave earlier. Thankfully I finally did.

“No man has the right to make you feel ugly, worthless or ashamed. No man has the right to hit you, ridicule or enslave you. No-one does.”

To read more about Danielle’s inspiring journey pick up a copy of this week’s Woman’s Day. The issue also features strong woman such as Melissa Doyle, Giaan Rooney, Carrie Bickmore, Chris Bath and Sandra Sully speaking out in support of White Ribbon Day – which aims to stop violence towards women.

To support White Ribbon Day on November 25, visit myoath.com.au.

You can also read more about Danielle’s amazing journey in the Summer 2011 issue of Transformations - Mission Australia's quarterly newsletter.

WA youth express themselves in photos

Photo entitled 'Shelter'

With Mission Australia’s help, a group of young West Australians have used photography to express themselves, with the results appearing in a new exhibition at the Bunbury Regional Art Galleries.

The Me In My World exhibition is the result of Mission Australia Community Services in Bunbury asking 30 young people, aged from eight to 25, to use photography to convey how they see themselves within their local community.

Local Mission Australia Team Leader Robyn Calcutt said the exhibition, which has been held every year since 2008, provided a way for the young people from our FACE and Navig8 programs to reflect on who they are and often provided opportunities for therapeutic interventions.

FACE, which stands for Family Alcohol and Community Education, works with 10 to 15 years olds with a family member or carer who misuse drugs and or alcohol.

Navig8, provides transitional support for young people aged 14 to 25 who are in or have recently left Department for Child Protection (DCP) state care, and helps provide pathways to independence.

Using a camera donated by Harvey Norman, Mission Australia case workers helped the young people to create visual statements.

‘‘It has been a pleasure to work with our young people and help them to represent their ideas visually,’’ Ms Calcutt told The South Western Times.

‘‘We are looking forward to the opportunities that the Photovoice Exhibition will provide in showcasing the photographic results of their ideas to the community.

‘‘We have noticed that those who have participated have not only experienced the initial excitement that this project creates for them, but those who have ongoing involvement have increased personal ownership and creativity in how they express and perceive themselves in their local communities.’’

The exhibition runs until 9 December at the Bunbury Regional Art Galleries, 64 Wittenoom Street, Bunbury. Open daily from 10am to 4pm, and entry is free.

To view a selection of the Me In My World photos, visit facebook.com/missionaust

Rebels with a cause

Eight new RaboDirect Melbourne Rebels recently spent a day out in the field getting to know more about Mission Australia’s work in Victoria.

Held on 28 October, Rebels With A Cause Day saw Eddie Aholele, Nic Stirzaher and Cadeyrn Neville spend the morning taking part in Walkfest in Dandenong.

People of all abilities and nationalities participated in this 1 kilometre walk from the Pop-Up-Park, which was constructed by Mission Australia’s Urban Renewal social enterprise, to Hemmings Park.

Players even manned the My Future Community Garden stall that had been set up in the Pop-Up Park to encourage locals to get involved in the communal patch.

Meanwhile, Mitch Inman and James King spent time with Mission Australia’s Maroondah Employment Solutions (ES) team. They began the day with a visit to our local National Green Jobs Corps project on the Mullum Mullum Creek Cultural Heritage Trail, which runs through Ringwood.

The players were shown the heritage orchard that was recently planted by NGJC participants and enjoyed lunch in an area that the young men are transforming into a landscaped picnic area, which will be completed in time for the summer school holidays.

“It was great to see the young men on this program exchanging stories with the players, who in turn told them about their experiences as professional sportsmen who are fulfilling their potential,” said Steve Shankie, Mission Australia’s Social Enterprise Coordinator for the Mullum Mullum project.

“There was good interaction between them, and wonderful to see the young players take such an interest.”

Later in the day the players met local job seekers and gained an insight into the work our ES teams are doing in the local community.

In Frankston, Lloyd Johansson, Paul Alo Emile and Isaiah ‘Izzy’ Moses visited an Urban Renewal worksite in Frankston.

Trainees took time out from working on a landscaping project at the Milpara Community Hub to show the players around and play a quick game of touch football. One triple try-scorer made such an impression that the Rebels told the trainee he should sign up with them!

“The trainees got a great deal from it and for the rest of the day were on top of the world onsite,” said Urban Renewal Manager Chris Hawken. “They were even the envy of the other trades at the job.”

The RaboDirect Melbourne Rebels selected Mission Australia as a charity partner at the beginning of the 2011 Super Rugby season. Throughout the year they have been supporting young people by supporting youth programs such as Charcoal Lane and Urban Renewal.

Rebels With A Cause Day 2011 was a great success and Mission Australia thanks the Rebels for their fantastic support throughout the year.

Featherweight packs a double whammy

A trainee demonstrates the

filling process at yesterday’s 

Featherweight launch. 

Ever wondered where old mattresses go when they die? If they’re lucky they end up at Mission Australia's new Featherweight recycling enterprise in Bellambi where they’re reborn as punching bags.

One of a growing number of Mission Australia social enterprises based in the Illawarra that aims to tackle the two issues of waste and local unemployment, Featherweight was officially launched on Tuesday at an on-site ceremony.

Among the guests at yesterday’s launch were representatives from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), Disability Employment Services, Mission Australia Community Services as well as local Job Services Australia providers.

Guests were treated to a demonstration of how cotton stripped from old mattresses and clothes from our Big Heart op shops are used to fill punching bags, goalpost pads and sports equipment. The filling machine, constructed by the Illawarra’s own JME Engineering, is believed to be the only one of its type.

The finished punching bags and padded equipment is then packed off to Spartan Sports, based in nearby Warilla.

Featherweight builds on the success of Soft Landing, a social enterprise that strips mattresses of all their useful, recyclable parts such as timber and metal.

It received Australian Government funding via the Innovation Fund, which is a component of Job Services Australia.

The business targets employing local job seekers who are Aboriginal or who have a disability. Over a two-year period the Featherweight team will comprise 11 trainees, 10 casual staff and also provide 40 work-experience positions.

Featherweight’s green contribution
In the next three years, Featherweight is expected to divert 985,680kg of product from landfill and into punching bags, and will recycle more than 677,680kg of steel. This equates to 1,663,440 kg of product diverted from landfill.

Media coverage - Albert & Logan News: Award for Super effort

9 November 2011

SUPER A-Mart Warehouse at Woodridge has been rewarded for its efforts providing job opportunities to local job-seekers, reports today’s Albert and Logan News.

The warehouse took out the first local Mission Australia's Employer Award, which was open to all local employers who used Mission Australia's Employment Solutions.

Working with the organisation, Super A-Mart provided 14 local job-seekers with steady employment and training opportunities over the past year.

Warehouse manager Ji Petrovic said he was pleased to give local job-seekers a chance at employment. "The store is dedicated to helping local job-seekers turn their lives around," he said.

Business Manager at Mission Employment Solutions Woodridge, Robert Kennard, said Super A-Mart had shown a real interest in helping local job-seekers find work.

Super A-Mart Woodridge is now in the running for the Mission Australia Employer National Award, with the winner being announced on 22 November.

If you are a business who would like to give the gift of employment, please visit the
Mission Australia Employment Solutions website.

Going the extra mile for Australians in need

Phillip and Kalliopi Kazanis

Last month husband and wife team Phillip and Kalliopi Kazanis took their love of walking to the next level as they took on 50km of The Great North Walk in a single day to raise funds for Mission Australia.

Originally the trip was planned as a personal physical challenge but the philanthropic couple decided it would be a great opportunity to support a charity:

“While we quite often donate directly to charities we thought this time we’d like to use our own personal challenge to support a charity we believe in,” said Kalliopi.

The pair was thrilled when they exceeded their fundraising goal of $1,000, which will go directly to helping families experiencing disadvantage in the lead up to Christmas.

Their motivation for fundraising came from when they were living in Hornsby several years ago. Walking home from the local shops they would often pass a local gentleman experiencing homelessness.

When they could they would stop and speak briefly with him, sharing some of the food they had bought. But one day they found he was no longer in his usual spot.

“We’ve often wondered about what happened to him and where he had ended up and this makes us even more appreciative of the work that Mission Australia carries out every day for so many Australians.”

The couple’s challenge was no small feat. Established in 1988, the Great North Walk began as a bicentennial project and is now managed by the NSW Lands Department and stretches from Sydney to Newcastle. The track spans over 250km and crosses pubic roads, national parks, state forests and private farms.

Kalliopi explained that preparation was the key: “We walked each leg of the 50km as training, so when we finally did it, we had gone through all the parts individually.

We also trained at the gym when we could. We do a lot of walking but this is far and away the biggest challenge we’ve set ourselves.”

Mission Australia would like to congratulate Phillip and Kalliopi and thank them both for their support. You can still make a donation to the Kazanis family by going to their fundraising page.

You can also help us to support Australian families in need by donating to the Mission Australia Christmas Appeal.