Shelter WA Office Opening

Shelter WA’s rapid expansion continues with the relocation of its office from Claisebrook Lotteries House to Septimus Roe Square, a building located at the corner of Adelaide Terrace and Victoria Avenue, 256 Adelaide Terrace.

Situated on Level 12 the 227sqm corner office brings together staff from the many projects recently tendered for and grounds the WA Alliance to End Homelessness team auspiced by Shelter WA in the same location.

While Practical

Claisebrook Lotteries House was Shelter WA’s home for over 26 years. We were the first organisational tenant to move into the building when it was opened in April 1996 and remained in the main office space on the side front-half of the second floor.

Moving Day (Claisebrook Lotteries House)

With never more than a handful of staff due to a lack of tenure funding in those early years the medium-sized office space suited staff well particularly within the community services profile of the building. However, in the last two years it was clear a significant expansion of space was needed, even after additional rooms were acquired.

In April 2021, a search began with several locations inspected. These ranged from Beaufort Street and James Street in Perth to Hay Street in Subiaco. At one point the Bon Marché building was considered.

Familiar Ground

Anyone in attendance at a Shelter WA event, particularly during Homelessness Week would be familiar with The Platform. For small not-for-profits this space is a godsend. Around 80 per cent of our events take place here and for our staff the function space is a familiar destination.

It would appear then that perhaps by destiny we would end up located within the same building as The Platform, nine floors above. It of course wasn’t the sole reason but for staff who had to lug heavy equipment from Moore Street across to Adelaide Terrace they would have wished their office was in the same building, and now here we are.

Open!

On Tuesday, 29 November the office was officially opened by the Minister for Housing; Lands; Homelessness; Local Government the Hon John Carey MLA.

At the opening the Minister thanked the staff for their commitment and energy.

“I deeply respect the work and advocacy of Shelter WA and we share a genuine common cause to assist vulnerable West Australians into a home,” the Minister said.

Mr Carey also acknowledged the leadership and work of immediate-past CEO Michelle Mackenzie.

“It doubled in size, its capacity, its workload.”

“Under Michelle’s leadership it has been (Shelter WA) extraordinary … it doubled in size, its capacity, its workload and what it has attempted to do. Michelle ensured that Shelter WA was a keen contributor to the 10-Year Homelessness Strategy. Michelle has also taken a real leadership role in getting Shelter WA to embrace Aboriginal Community Housing Organisations in the community housing sector. That is critical. We need to empower Aboriginal-led organisations.”

Watch the speech in full

Shelter WA Chair Kieran Wong reflected on the rapid growth.

“Michelle was very generous with a long farewell,” Kieran said. “It allowed us to interview and find the best candidate that we could in Kath Snell. It also allowed the organisation to really manage one of the busiest growth periods I’ve ever seen in such a small group.

“That ability to stay to stay and steer the ship towards this point with a new office, and a new CEO and recently a new composition of the board is very generous so thank you very much for that.”

When invited to the stage Michelle reflected on her relationship with the Minister.

“I would like to thank the Minister,” she said. “If I think about five years ago and the work we needed to do, you’ve made such a significant difference. In terms of your passion your drive your energy and the work done with the Department (of Communities) to deliver outcomes has been sensational.

“When I was CEO I was just the front person.

“The members are so important.”

“The real work is done by the extraordinary team and staff at Shelter WA. It is terrific we are not in the string of corridors at Lotteries House where we had cupboards where all of the staff worked. Having an office will make a huge difference but it’s actually the people.

“One of the privileges has been meeting members. Seeing what issues and challenges they face and then go really hard to see if we can craft solutions, the members are so important. Without the members behind Shelter WA and without that strong relationship … what’s the point.”

Watch the speech in full

In closing the speech formalities current CEO Kath Snell said it was important the new office is visited, welcomed and utilised well.

“After a time, when during COVID-19 so many of our meetings were done on-screen, we are now remembering and appreciating the importance of face-to-face chat, looking each other in the eye, sharing time together over a desk or even while making a coffee. It also gives us space to welcome our stakeholders and to provide a place for gathering.

“There is much to do.”

“One of the reasons for Shelter WA’s recent expansion is the successful tendering for various projects. I offer my thanks to the previous CEO, Michelle Mackenzie for securing these funds.

“This next year will see us focusing on learning and development across the sector and we have recently secured a resource to help support this function. It will see us attempting to source funding for a greater regional presence and with the voice of lived experience. There is much to do, and I think you all for being part of a shared goal to ensure everyone has a right to a place to call home.”

Office Details

Our phone number remains the same. (08) 9325 6660.

Our mailing address is:

Suite 2, Level 12
Septimus Roe Square
256 Adelaide Terrace
PERTH, WA 6000
Australia