Annual report 2023 | QLD | Mission Australia

WELCOME

Over the past twelve months, there has been increasing pressure on our most vulnerable people in Queensland, from ever-increasing costs of living, the continuing housing crisis and reducing housing affordability. The need for Mission Australia’s services has never been greater.

Our staff have worked tirelessly towards supporting and empowering individuals, standing with them until they can regain their own independence. Together with volunteers, donors, funders and partnering organisations, we have responded to the needs in the communities in which we have services, tailoring our approaches for long-term positive change. I thank all our staff, volunteers, funders and partners for your incredible and compassionate support in enabling us to assist 14,947 vulnerable Queenslanders this year.

There are so many wonderful achievements to celebrate over the year, and a few highlights include:

Renewed government funding for our Housing and Homelessness Services in South-East Queensland and North Queensland. There have been new initiatives increasing the reach and impact of our homelessness support services.
Opening of Djindigal alcohol and other drugs (AOD) ten-bed residential rehabilitation service in Mareeba.
Strengthening communities through the long-term funding commitment to our Community of Focus program in Cairns South and the official launch of the Cairns South Together Community Plan.
Construction started on the Townsville Youth Foyer. Funded by the Queensland Government, Mission Australia will manage the on-site support services, tenancy and property management for up to 40 young people when it becomes operational in 2024.
Commenced delivering the Transition to Work program for youth in the Gold Coast region.

I am confident that you will be inspired as you read the stories in our Annual Report and have the assurance that your support counts and is having a positive impact on the lives of so many Queenslanders in need.

Warm regards,

State director profile Stephen Vines with copy

Together, we supported 14,947 Australians in QLD on their journey towards independence last year.

Homelessness

1,155 people assisted
through 10 services

Alcohol & other drugs

12 people assisted
through 1 service

Children & families

3,376 people assisted
through 9 services

Community development

3,400 people assisted
through 4 services

Employment, education & training

2,113 people assisted
through 19 services

Family & domestic violence

116 people assisted
through 2 services

Justice & corrections

65 people assisted
through 2 services

NDIS

4,710 people assisted
through 2 services

An Australia where all of us can have a safe home and thrive

In 2020, we launched Mission Australia’s 20-25 Strategy with a vision for an Australia where all of us have a safe home and can thrive. In the past year, we are proud of our progress in our four strategic focus areas. From the opening of two new Alcohol and Other Drugs facilities to our continued commitment to create strong, resilient and thriving communities, read more about our progress in FY23.

See our progress

Our work in action

Ending homelessness

Retiring after working years at a corporate job, and raising an adult son, Sarah never imagined she would be one of the growing numbers of women over 55 who are homeless. Her descent into homelessness started with the rising cost of living. When the apartment she had lived in for 10 years was no longer affordable, Sarah began the frantic search for alternative options within budget. It was a challenging experience but with support from one of our services, Sarah now has a safe place to call home.

Read Sarah's story

Partnering to strengthen communities

Connected on Wheels is a collaboration between various stakeholders in the Cairns South Region that provides young people with a space to express what they need in the community and how programs can support their wellbeing. Connected on Wheels supports connection and innovation for youth living in the area by facilitating creativity through graffiti artwork, fixing new and old bicycles and promoting musical interactions. Through our collaboration, young people have felt valued and connected with their communities, developing a stronger sense of kindness and responsibility to develop their understanding of social equality.

About our work

Driving excellence

Our award-winning Impact Measurement Program helps us understand how our services improve the lives of our clients and the communities we serve. We measure our impact by asking the people we help questions about their wellbeing when they start a service and when they exit.

Our homelessness services Douglas House, Going Places Street to Home, Roman House, Reconnect, Townsville Sustaining Young Tenancies and Woree Support Housing Accommodation, support people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to ensure they have safe, affordable and long-term housing. Our impact measurement data shows that when people left the service, they were more satisfied with their personal wellbeing.

Bar chart of Reconnect average satisfaction with life as a whole showing there is an increase when they exit compared with starting

*Matched data collected from July 2022 to June 2023 (n=83) compared to Australian population normative range

¹Deakin University and Australian Unity Limited. (2021). Australian Unity Wellbeing Index - Appendices 38. Subjective wellbeing in Australia during the second year of the pandemic. Geelong: Australian Centre on Quality of Life, School of Psychology, Deakin University

Thank you for making our work possible this year

Policy & Advocacy

Mission Australia continued our research, policy and advocacy work to support people in need to thrive. We boldy advocated to the Federal and State/Territory Governments on issues of importance to Mission Australia and the people we serve.

We made policy submissions on a range of topics including homelessness, social and affordable housing, and youth. Across the state and nationally, we met with Ministers and senior government representatives on policy priorities for people in need and furthered our community collaborations to advocate together on key issues.

We continue to advocate strongly for further investment in social and affordable housing, actions to end homelessness, adequate income support and other policy priorities to support people in need to thrive.

Explore our publications

View our media releases