2023 Strategy update

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Over the last 12 months, our organisation continued to deliver across the four focus areas of our 2020-25 Strategy to drive progress towards our goal of ending homelessness and ensuring people and communities in need can thrive.

As of June 2023, we are progressing well with our strategic areas:

Helping end homelessness in Australia

Youth Foyer development in Townsville, QLD

In FY23 we prepared to deliver our new Youth Foyer in Townsville, funded by the Queensland Government. The Youth Foyer will consist of 40 units and will provide social housing and case management support to young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness who are participating in or actively looking for education, training and employment opportunities.

Midtown project in Macquarie Park

We are excited to continue the redevelopment of the former Ivanhoe Estate in Sydney’s Macquarie Park. Together with NSW Land and Housing Corporation and Frasers Property Australia, 389 social and affordable tenancies will commence in FY24. The innovative project will be a ground-breaking, evidence-based model for an inclusive community that provides homes for people from varied socio-economic backgrounds.

Additional highlights:

• As part of the Tasmanian Government’s Community Housing Growth Program, construction commenced on 31 new social housing dwellings of which 29 were completed and consolidated within Mission Australia Housing Tasmania’s portfolio. Work continues to build more social dwellings in Tasmania in FY24.
• Housing growth remains a key part of our strategy. Our progress over the last two decades is detailed below. By 2025, we aim to grow the number of units managed to 6,000 while maintaining a high level of tenant satisfaction. We continue to advocate to State, Territory and Federal Governments for measures to ensure the community housing provider sector has the capacity to develop new dwellings and refurbish existing units.

Partnering to strengthen communities

Communities of Focus

Mission Australia’s 2020-25 Strategy has a commitment to work with five areas to create strong, resilient and thriving communities. Our Communities of Focus initiative is a place-based community-led approach with Mission Australia as the backbone, supporting many people and organisations to work together towards a shared vision for their community.

Over the last 12 months we have been working within and alongside the Cairns South, Meekatharra and Maddington communities, to understand the drivers of local disadvantage and support local leadership to build capacity, strengths and aspirations to nurture cohesion, collaboration, control, and positive social change.

Community Chaplaincy

We expanded our innovative Community Chaplaincy program into four additional communities - Maddington, Clarence Plains, Coffs Harbour and Cairns South - with plans to add more in FY24. Through local churches and Christian organisations, Community Chaplains reach people in need, support their spiritual wellbeing and strengthen their communities. 

Strengthening Communities Alliance

With the Strengthening Communities Alliance, a collaboration of community service organisations dedicated to place-based work, Mission Australia launched an influential Position Paper describing how community-led approaches support the systemic drivers of wellbeing and equity, and outlining recommendations for more sustainable place-based projects.

Supporting people in need to thrive

New Alcohol and Other Drugs facilities

We opened two Residential Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) facilities in FY23, funded by the Australian Government. In February, we opened Walawaani, a youth AOD facility on the South Coast of New South Wales, and in March we opened Djindigal, an adult AOD facility in Far North Queensland.  

Both sites deliver residential rehabilitation services that provide people with a 12-week holistic program that incorporates tailored support plans, residential living skills, individual and group counselling, education, and sports and recreation programs.

Driving Excellence

Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)

Our 20-25 Strategy includes a commitment to reconciliation through our Reconciliation Action Plan.

We proudly launched our second Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) at the beginning of 2022. We are on track to achieving all 85 deliverables by June 2024, with most in progress and some already delivered. As part of this RAP, we: 

• Celebrated National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week across the organisation;
• Established a RAP Knowledge Group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff to provide a forum for culturally appropriate advice
• Facilitated a co-design process to develop an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Safety Framework for the period 2024-29;
• Continued our support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the Voice to Parliament internally and externally and;
• Developed new and strengthened existing partnerships with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.

We also continue to work on our employment and procurement practices to:

• Increase recruitment, retention and professional development of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff;
• Increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander supplier diversity to support improved economic and social outcomes; and
• Provide cultural learning opportunities to staff.

Homelessness Impact Report

Based on data and impact measurement, we released Mission Australia’s first Homelessness Impact Report to back our advocacy for greater investment in homelessness prevention and support services and more social and affordable housing. A Safe Place to Call Home: Homelessness and Stable Housing Impact Report 2023 summarises evidence gathered from our homelessness and housing support services over three years. 

Additional highlights:

• We developed a Climate and Environmental Sustainability Strategy in 2023. The two-year framework establishes effective foundations for Mission Australia to reduce our ecological footprint, build climate resilience, empower communities and advocate for the most vulnerable in a warming world.

We look forward to building on the successes of our 20-25 Strategy in the year ahead, pursuing our goal of ending homelessness and ensuring people and communities in need can thrive.