On September 19th, 2023 Shelter WA members and interested parties joined together for the Shelter WA Homelessness & Community Housing Awards.
It truly was an evening of celebration as we shared with you the winners across our category awards, hosted at the WA Museum Boola Bardip, Perth. The Awards recognised and celebrated outstanding contributions from organisations and individuals in the community housing and homelessness sector across Western Australia.
In 2023 we collectively showcased and rewarded excellence in professional practice, from the grassroots to the most senior levels across housing and homelessness including the role played by local governments, philanthropic organisations, and, the private sector.
Our evening of events began with a sundowner networking event sponsored by Foundation Housing where guests were able to enjoy the Ancient Egypt exhibition in the special exhibition gallery at the museum, connect with sector peers and enjoy entertainment by Helen Shanahan.
Once the official Awards event commenced we were welcomed by Shelter WA CEO Kath Snell before MC Tim McMillan led us through the individual award presentations.
The Shelter WA team wish to thank the Awards sponsors and our photographer Russel Barton, and videographer Michael Jepson from Inception Video for their support.
The 2023 award categories, sponsors and winners are
- Excellence in Service User Experience Award sponsored by MercyCare, awarded to Connect Victoria Park Inc for their Housing & Hub initiative
- Innovative Homelessness Response Award sponsored by Hesperia awarded to 55 Central for their Grow & Grind mobile coffee van serving as both a training ground and source of employment
- Best Media Advocacy Award sponsored by Community Housing Limited awarded to Keane Bourke ABC News
- Sector Ally Award sponsored by Allume Energy, awarded to Sisters of St John of God for their support of the ACHO sector in WA
- Best Regional Project or Initiative Award sponsored by Rio Tinto, awarded to Accordwest for their tiny houses project
- Sector Advocate Award sponsored by Computing Australia, jointly awarded to Tina Ugle of Noongar Mia Mia for her advocacy in the ACHO sector and Dr Amanda Stafford, Department Clinical Lead of Royal Perth Hospital Homeless Team for her advocacy in the Homelessness sector
- Above and Beyond Award sponsored by Bethanie Housing, awarded to MercyCare Community Services Ltd for their Broome and Derby Aboriginal Short Stay Accommodation
- Closing the Gap Award sponsored by Zavanti Group, awarded to Boorloo Bidee Mia – which is a consortium by Wungening Aboriginal Corporation, Noongar Mia Mia and Department of Communities WA
Highlights from the 2023 Awards Evening
The Excellence in Service User Experience Award. sponsored by MercyCare, was awarded to Connect Victoria Park Inc for their Housing & Hub initiative
“Connect Victoria Park Inc nominated our Housing + Hub approach to raise awareness of the importance of addressing the specific needs of older tenants in social and affordable housing and in the hope that the efforts of our tenants, community members and staff to create a positive environment would be acknowledged.
We are very excited to win the award! As a small organisation that has invested a lot of time and energy in creating our Housing + Hub approach it is encouraging to know that our peers and sector leaders value the work we have done. We also hope that others may be inspired and that they may try similar ways to improve the experience and quality of life of their tenants.
Winning the award is a great encouragement to continue to innovate and explore new ways of improving our service delivery and tenant experience.”
Luke Garswood, CEO Connect Victoria Park Inc
The Innovative Homelessness Response Award, sponsored by Hesperia was awarded to 55 Central Inc for their Grow & Grind mobile coffee van serving as both a training ground & source of employment
“Winning this award means many things for the 55 Central Inc team and Grow & Grind;
- Recognition and validation – It serves as a powerful validation of the commitment and innovation that 55 Central has put into addressing homelessness through our various services
- Increased visibility – It increases the visibility of 55 Central and its initiatives
- Credibility and trust – It enhances 55 Central’s credibility and demonstrates to stakeholders that our programs are effective and worthy of support
- Impact on homelessness – It enables 55 Central to potentially expand our reach and effectiveness in helping individuals and families experiencing homelessness
The award boosts the morale and motivation of the whole team in recognising their hard work and dedication and can inspire them to continue striving for excellence in their work.”
Razif Ismail, General Manager, 55 Central Inc
The Best Media Advocacy Award sponsored by Community Housing Limited was awarded to Keane Bourke ABC News.
“I wanted to be a part of the Awards to help recognise all of the people – those with lived experience, service providers, experts, and others – who have put themselves out there as part of the stories I’ve told over the last year. Often they are putting themselves on the line, in one way or another, to speak about something really important to them and that needs to be acknowledged.
Beyond that, I think the award also recognises the importance of telling these stories in the right way and in their strongest form… The aim is always to make our stories as strong and compelling as possible to help them reach the broadest audience and have the biggest impact.
I hope the award, and the stories I’ve done, help more people feel comfortable speaking to the media and sharing these important stories. I completely understand that many times it’s not easy or comfortable to speak to a journalist. But each time someone chooses to, they speak on behalf of so many others to share the real stories around one of our most fundamental rights.”
Keane Bourke, ABC News
The Sector Ally Award, sponsored by Allume Energy was awarded to the Sisters of St John of God for their ongoing support of the ACHO sector in Western Australia.
“The Sisters of St John of God were delighted to receive the Sector Ally Award at this year’s Shelter WA Homelessness & Community Housing Awards. Our hope is that this recognition will help to amplify our voice and thereby encourage others to support the important work undertaken by our partners in the sector as they continually strive to support those experiencing homelessness”
The Sisters of St John of God
The Best Regional Project or Initiative Award, sponsored by Rio Tinto, was awarded to Accordwest for their tiny houses project.
“This award offers us a chance to open a conversation and thank our community and our funding partners and it motivates us to move on to more solutions in more places across the South West.
Its affirmation of our important work and our sector efforts and how our vision, mission, values, and purpose fit.
This award motivates our team in Housing and homeless and Property and many others in the overall Accordwest team.”
Evan Nunn, CEO, Accordwest
The Sector Advocate Award, sponsored by Computing Australia, was jointly awarded to
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Tina Ugle of Noongar Mia Mia for her advocacy in the ACHO sector and
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Dr Amanda Stafford, Department Clinical Lead of Royal Perth Hospital Homeless Team for her advocacy in the Homelessness sector
The Above and Beyond Award, sponsored by Bethanie Housing, was awarded to MercyCare Community Services Ltd or their Broome and Derby Aboriginal Short Stay Accommodation.
“It is an honour to be acknowledged for the efforts that MercyCare, together with our partners in the Kimberley (Nirrumbuk Aboriginal Corporation, Centacare Kimberley and Nyamba Buru Yawuru) have put in to ensure that we are providing a culturally safe and appropriate environment for the people that we serve in the Kimberley region. The teams in Derby and Broome are very dedicated to breaking cycles of significant disadvantage in the Kimberley region and knowing that we are contributing to trying to do that along with other service providers as well in the region is heart-warming.”
Kuzi Sakupwanya, General Manager ‑ Kimberley Aboriginal Short Stay Accommodation
The Closing the Gap Award, sponsored by Zavanti Group, was awarded to Boorloo Bidee Mia – which is a consortium by Wungening Aboriginal Corporation, Noongar Mia Mia, and the Department of Communities WA.
Professional Images from the 2023 Awards Evening
click on an image to open the gallery and enjoy scrolling through all the fabulous memories of an incredible night of celebration
Professional Images from the 2023 Pre Awards Networking Sundowner
click on an image to open the gallery and enjoy scrolling through all the fabulous memories of an incredible night of celebration
