People and Places
Housing SA
Contents
Welcome
1
People and Places: an outline
3
H2H Update
4
Homelessness Supportive Housing program
5
Collaborating to improve client outcomes: Inner Southern Homelessness Service and Flinders
University
6
Sector News, Events and Training
8
Housing and Homelessness in the News
12
Contribute your ideas
12
Welcome
You will notice a few changes that have been made to this publication!
While the art-work has been freshened up and there’s a new title, People
and Places, this important newsletter remains the key way for housing
and homelessness sector agencies and stakeholders, and Housing SA,
to share information, knowledge and news.
In this edition, you’ll find articles about the Homelessness Supportive
Housing program, a collaboration between Inner Southern Homelessness Service and Flinders University
that resulted in increased knowledge about homelessness through community placements of nursing
students, and an update from the sector’s Child Focussed Practice Operational Group. This edition also
provides an outline of People and Places’ 2016 publication schedule and enables you to give feedback,
contribute ideas and suggestions for articles and themes for future publications.
The changes that have resulted in this new-look newsletter have in part been motivated by the recent
changes that have occurred within Housing SA.
People and Places | December 2015
1
In August 2015, Housing SA implemented a new organisational structure, which placed increased
importance on the services, practice and sector partnerships parts of our organisation by creating three
new directorates – Northern Services, Southern Services and Statewide Services – and by transferring
responsibility for various aspects of homelessness work across the whole organisation. To reflect the
responsibility held by all parts of the organisation in relation to homelessness, a new Housing and
Homelessness Leadership Group has been established, which involves all Directors including our new
Director Northern Services, Gerrie Mitra, and Director Southern Services, Tim Baker.
The Housing and Homelessness Leadership Group are leading Housing SA in implementing our vision of
Connecting People to Place, with a focus on responding to the needs of the most vulnerable and at-risk
members of our community through a new service delivery model and strengthened local partnerships
with other organisations in the housing, homelessness or support sectors.
There are a number of key challenges and opportunities for us as a sector in the future. On a national
front, there will be developments in relation to funding arrangements and responsibilities for housing,
homelessness and remote Indigenous housing through the Reform of the Federation process. At a state
level, there is a strong emphasis on economic development and participation that will guide our work,
strategically and at a services level. And, we will continue to work with Renewal SA on the plans for urban
regeneration, social housing stock transfers and
affordable housing growth across the state.
New Service Delivery Model Update
As a result the recent Pinery bushfires, Housing
SA is currently leading the Emergency Relief
Functional Service, providing practical
assistance and personal support for affected
people through emergency relief centres. There
has been outstanding support from our service
partners, with Unity and Junction offering to
provide staff to Housing SA to assist us to
deliver housing services to the community
during this time of significant demand.
On 7 December, all Housing SA regions will
have introduced the new service delivery
model. The expansion has been staggered
across the remaining regions since the middle
of 2015 and new structures, teams and roles
have been put in place. You can read more
about the new model by visiting the Housing
SA website.
I trust you enjoy the new People and Places newsletter and that you continue to contribute to this
publication. On behalf of all of us at Housing SA, I look forward to working with you for the benefit of the
people of South Australia, especially those most vulnerable in our communities, and wish you all a happy
and safe holiday season.
Philip Fagan-Schmidt
Executive Director, Housing SA
People and Places | December 2015
2
People and Places: an outline
As noted in the Executive Director’s introduction, People and Places remains a key information,
knowledge and news sharing device for the housing and homelessness sector.
Expanded content focus
To ensure this, People and Places’ content focus will be expanded to reflect the new integrated multiprovider context of the housing and homelessness service system, and its circulation will be widened to
include other stakeholders (i.e. Renewal SA, industry peak organisations).
Consistent with the broadened focus on the housing and homelessness sectors, each edition will examine
and discuss specific themes within the service system, allowing Housing SA and sector partners to work
collaboratively to convey key issues, share information and provide contributions. The newletter will be
published on a bi-monthly basis (6 times a year) with specific input sought from across the sector for a
quarterly special edition that will focus on a priority theme or issue identified by stakeholders.
Themes and content ideas for 2016
The 2016 People and Places publication schedule and themes* are as follows:
February: Exploring private rental market options: S.A government private rental assistance
April: Sector nominated theme - TBA
June: Innovation: Social Impact Bonds and related sector and government initiatives
August: Sector nominated theme - TBA
October: Professional development, employment and training pathways
December: National housing and homelessness policy developments
* This schedule may be subject to change based on feedback received from the sector.
Submission guidelines
Submit contributions by email to [email protected]. Articles need to be approximately 350400 words and all photos uncompressed/raw (with the files size as large as possible, but not exceeding
2MB) sent separately as a jpeg file, not in a Word document.
Deadlines
All contributions need to be submitted by the second Friday of a publishing month (refer to publishing
schedule above).
More information?
If you need more information or have any questions about contributing, please contact Nicholas Mchawala
by email: [email protected]
People and Places | December 2015
3
H2H Update
H2H support team staffing changes
Erin Curtis, who has been involved in the H2H project since 2011, is moving to a new Housing and
Homelessness Learning and Development Coordinator role. She will remain in contact with many of you
in her role in the Homelessness Service Support in Housing SA Property and Contract Management.
Erin has held a number of roles within the H2H project over the years, providing training, sector support,
leading system change and development, and finally managing the Strategic Development team. Erin
played a key role in the successful roll out of H2H, and has been a valued support to both the H2H team
and the SHS sector. Management of the H2H Support team will be moving to the Contact and Operation
Services division of Housing SA. In the meantime, if you have any questions please contact us on
[email protected] or call 8207 0190.
H2H Development
Release 2.4.1
The latest release of H2H was implemented in late October 2015, and included a number of small
changes aimed at improving the usability of the system for users, and the quality of information collected.
Changes included:

Option to save and close a case plan task from the ‘add task’ screen, which removes the need for
users to go back into a task a second time to close it off

Redirecting consented agencies to the ‘view task’ screen on acceptance of an internal task referral
to encourage prompt closure of referred tasks

A number of changes to presenting unit functionality to improve data quality and ease of use

Changes to notes to address backdating issues, and include line breaks in text

Removal of the ability to refer a whole client external to H2H – it is preferred that an end support or
case exit is completed if referring the client outside of the homelessness sector

New data validations to improve data quality and consistency, and fixes to a number of known
technical issues
Training material for these changes were emailed to users, and the H2H support team is in the process of
updating the H2H User Guide to reflect the latest changes.
Release 2.5
Work is well underway on the development of a Consented Service function, which will allow non-lead
agencies (where a consent has been set) to add a service or task themselves to either the intake services
menu, or to the client’s case plan. This change is scheduled for implementation in early to mid 2016.
H2H and Housing SA Access Trial
The trial implementation of H2H for Access workers in the Housing SA Marion and Modbury Regional
offices is nearing its end, with feedback from Housing SA and SHS staff from the second month
now being compiled, and final evaluations starting in December.
So far, this feedback has been positive, with both SHS and Housing SA workers reporting improved
working relationships and streamlined responses for clients. A proposal has been submitted to extend the
People and Places | December 2015
4
trial through to the end of January, to allow service continuity for clients whilst a full evaluation is
completed and recommendations for the future considered.
Further information regarding the outcomes of the trial will be distributed in early 2016.
If you have any queries, you can contact the H2H team at [email protected] or call 8207
0190.
Homelessness Supportive Housing program
The Homelessness Supportive Housing program aims to achieve long-term sustainable housing and
lifestyle outcomes by linking housing with individual packages of support.
Data from the H2H client and case management system for 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015 indicate that
there were 1775 clients supported through the program. Twenty-six percent of the program’s clients were
aged 0-14 years, 25 percent were aged 15-24 years and 33 percent identified as Aboriginal or Torres
Strait Islander. Thirty five percent were male and 65 percent female, with 52 percent being repeat clients
to the homelessness sector.
Reasons for seeking assistance
During 2014-15, 848 clients completed support periods and exited the Homelessness Supportive Housing
program, and 53 percent continue to be housed and engaged in support. Twenty two percent of clients
who exited the program were homeless at intake but of these, 97 percent were not homeless at exit. The
main reasons for seeking assistance through this program were recorded as housing crisis (24.2 percent),
domestic and family violence (23 percent) and inadequate or inappropriate dwelling conditions (22.4
percent).
The effectiveness of this program in achieving positive client outcomes is demonstrated in the following
case study where a client recently exited the program to purchase her own home.
Case study: towards safety, emotional stability, financial independence and security
The Northern Domestic Violence Service (NDVS) supported a non-English speaking background (NESB) client
who, having been living in Australia for only a short time, took a stand against her former partner’s violence and
abuse perpetrated on both her and her child. From the time that she was forced to flee from her family home,
this young woman sought financial independence and security to ensure emotional stability and safety.
Ongoing support
The client was accommodated in emergency accommodation, Domestic Violence Transitional Housing and
then into Supportive Accommodation with ongoing support from NDVS due to financial, verbal and emotional
abuse and physical abuse of her child from her ex-partner.
Opportunity to increase social connections
Once in supported accommodation, she was able to attend classes to study towards a Diploma in Early
Childhood Education, from which she will soon be graduating. This opportunity also gave her the ability to
increase social connections and, while receiving social benefits, she managed to hold down a part-time job.
She is soon to be graduating from her course.
A financial settlement from her separation has enabled her to purchase her own home with a loan through
Home Start. We admire her courage and fervent independence to create the life that she desired for herself
and her child.
People and Places | December 2015
5
Homelessness Supportive Housing program: in brief
The program provides people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with access to housing with
active support tailored to their individual needs. It is funded through the National Partnership Agreement
on Homelessnessand was implemented in 2010.
Target groups
The program consists of 484 housing and support outcomes across the state and includes the following
target types:
 Adults
 Domestic and Aboriginal Family Violence
 Families
 Youth
Outcomes are offered under an initial 12-month lease, however support and housing is provided to
individual clients as needed and for as long as required, dependent upon case management goals.
Collaborating to improve client outcomes: Inner Southern Homelessness
Service and Flinders University
An initiative by Inner Southern Homelessness Service (ISHS) in
collaboration with Flinders University has resulted in community placements
of nursing students alongside case managers to engage with homeless
families with children by conducting individual health assessments.
The initiative follows research by Dr Yvonne Parry, from the Flinders
University School of Nursing and Midwifery and ISHS, which found children
attending with their families to homelessness services are often
disconnected from health supports.
Mutually beneficial
Under the placement, the role of the nursing students was to observe the
case managers working with clients to complete intakes and assessments,
visit clients while residing in motels, and do outreach visiting with clients
supported by the program.
The placements have proved to be extremely mutually beneficial for the
nursing students and the case managers.
People and Places | December 2015
6
Evaluating the placement from the students’ perspectives
Data from student feedback gathered before and after placement showed that students had an increased
knowledge about homelessness generally, as well as the various support services that exist to support
clients. Most students reported that the placement responded to their professional needs.
Increased confidence
The community placement has provided greater links to healthcare for the nursing students and the
homelessness staff and clients. Students mentioned that they had increased confidence in referring
patients to a homelessness service and an increased understanding of a person’s situation if a homeless
person or family presented at a health service.
Feedback from one of the nursing students stated that “being able to go out into the community and visit
different types of clients ranging from people who have lost their jobs, to people who have mental health
illnesses that have resulted in hoarding and squalor was very beneficial.”
Homelessness is not “just rough sleeping”
Further feedback indicated that some students realised that they had no knowledge at all of
homelessness, just a stereotype image of people ‘sleeping rough’ and they stated that they are now much
more aware of its true meaning.
Another student said: “This community placement has opened my eyes to new and different experiences.
I never really understood just how many people need help in the community - not only in the acute sector
of a hospital or an aged care home.”
The word cloud below shows responses from the students about the benefits of doing a
placement in a homelessness service. The themes of ‘health’ and ‘community’ clearly stand-out.
More information?
Contact Susan Horsfall, Team Leader, Inner Southern Homelessness Service, on 08 8296 6455 or email
[email protected]
People and Places | December 2015
7
Sector News, Events and Training
An update from the Child Focussed Practice Operational Group
The Child Focussed Practice Operational Group was established June 2014.
Its purpose is to share expertise, knowledge and resources in evidence-based child
focussed practice across the specialist homelessness sector. The group also has an
advocacy role with the aim of improving systems and practices on behalf of children.
The group’s focus is on children 12 years and under accompanying a parent or carer into homelessness
and domestic violence services. Issues for pregnant women and issues for children aged up to 18 years
accompanying their parents into homelessness services or who are at risk of homelessness are also to be
included.
Changes for 2016: a new Child Focussed Pratice Strategic Group
Beginning in 2016, the sector will have an operational and strategic child focussed practice group.
The strategic group will focus on strategic matters related to children’s services in the sector. As the
strategic group is new, a planning meeting to develop the Terms of Reference (ToR) and discuss and
establish its parameters was held on Tuesday15th December 2015 at the Relationship Australia SA.
The Strategic Group will hold its inaugural meeting on Wednesday 20th January 2016, from 9:00 am –
11:00 am, at the same location.
The Child Focussed Practise Operational Group will meet on the third Tuesday of every month at
Relationship Australia SA, Hindmarsh office, starting Tuesday 19 January 2016, 9:00 am – 11:00 am.
New members welcomed
Membership of both groups is open to everyone interested in child focussed practice and in providing best
practice services and support to children aged 0 – 18 within Homelessness and Domestic Violence
services. Managers and frontline staff are invited to join the either the Operational or Strategic group
whichever best reflects their work role, interest and influence.
More information
For more information, or if you are interested in joining either of these groups or attending the planning
meeting, please contact Deborah Lockwood, Manager Child and Youth Programs, on 8245 8100 or email
[email protected].
People and Places | December 2015
8
National Domestic and Aboriginal Violence Conference
The National Domestic and Aboriginal Family Violence Conference and Dinner took place in Adelaide
during September 2015.
New and innovative ways of improving responses and reducing violence
Organised by the Aboriginal men’s not-for-profit organisation Kornar Winmil Yunti, the national conference
brought together policy makers, service providers, organisations and advocates for the safety of women
and children. The key aim of the conference was to discuss new and innovative ways of improving
responses, reducing violence, and developing pathways for a more effective support network for women,
children and men.
Quality speakers
Presenters included Australian of the Year Rosie Batty, South Australian Police Commissioner Grant
Stevens, White Ribbon Australia CEO Libby Davies, Our Watch CEO Paul Linossier, founder of the Zahra
Foundation Arman Abrahimzadeh, South Australian Coroners Court Senior Research Officer (Domestic
Violence branch) Heidi Ehrat, as well as many other quality speakers. The conference was hosted by
White Ribbon ambassador Andrew O’Keefe and well-known Living Black radio journalist Michelle
Lovegrove.
Need for social and attitudinal change
Over the course of the two-day conference, the topic of domestic and Aboriginal family violence being a
gendered social issue was a key consideration. Keynote speaker Rosie Batty reiterated her message of a
need for social and attitudinal change in regards to domestic and Aboriginal family, and gendered
violence.
Delegates also heard about ways of making Australia a safe place for women and children to live free
from all forms of violence, with special consideration taken to looking at understanding the effects of
trauma on children. Speakers also considered the behaviour change process in men and discussion was
held on how and if these interventions were working.
More information?
For more information on the conference, please listen to an interview with Craig Rigney, CEO Kornar
Winmil Yunti, by Michelle Lovegrove, which is available online through the Living Black podcast. (The
interview begins at approximately the 12-minute mark (after the news) and finishes with Rosie Batty’s
conference keynote speech.)
If your client requires support, phone the Domestic Violence and Aboriginal Family Violence Gateway on
1800 800 098 (free call 24 hours).
People and Places | December 2015
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Events
The November 2015 South Australian Edition of Parity Magazine
The November edition of Parity Magazine: “Responding to Homelessness
in South Australia” (2015 SA Edition) was launched by Hon Katrine
Hildyard MP, on behalf of the Premier, Hon Jay Weatherill MP, at Old
Parliament House, North Terrace, Adelaide.
Jennifer Smith, CEO of Council to Homeless Persons (CHP) in Victoria
also, spoke at the launch and welcomed Craig (pictured bottom right) who
Above: Noel Murray, Parity Editor, Hon.
Katrine Hildyard and Dr. Alice Clark,
shared his journey out of homelessness, through the support of The Hutt
Executive Director, Shelter SA.
Street Centre, and his plan to use his experience to work in Community
Services and contribute back to the community.
The November 2015 SA Edition: a diverse range of interesting articles and opinion pieces
The 2015 SA edition includes a diverse range of interesting articles,
engaging artwork as well as opinion pieces from university,
government, non-government contributors.
The South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill wrote the foreword and
Jennifer Smith, CEO of the CHP, the editorial. Professor Andrew Beer,
Dean, Research and Innovation, UniSA Business School wrote the
feature article, “Responding to Homelessness in South Australia”.
Above: Ian Cox (HSC), Noel Murray
(Parity), Geoff Slack (HAS), Craig and
Hon. Katrine Hildyard.
A valuable resource for the sector, public and students
The development of the 2015 SA edition of Parity was a positive example
of inclusive cross-sector collaboration. The edition provides a rich up-todate, comprehensive and detailed resource for the public, students and
all those working to respond to homelessness in South Australia.
Would you like a copy?
Above: Jo Clark (West Coast Youth and
Community Service) and Susan Horsfall
(Inner Southern Homelessness Service)
Copies of the 2015 SA Parity edition are available from Housing SA.
Please contact your contract manager or email:
[email protected] with your mailing details, if you would like
a copy of the magazine.
People and Places | December 2015
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National Housing Conference 2015 Presentations
On November 11, over 850 delegates attended the National Housing Conference (NHC) 2015 in Perth.
NHC covered a wide range of pertinent issues for the broader housing system including tax reform,
ageing and complex needs, early intervention and more.
PowerPoint presentations are now available on the conference website as well as a selection of video
presentations from plenary sessions. Highlights from the conference include keynote addresses from Hon
Christian Porter MP, Dr David Paul Rosen, a US housing finance expert, and housing and urban studies
expert, Professor Gavin Wood.
You can also view the presentations based on the date delivered by downloading the NHC program PDF
and then clicking the appropriate links.
Training
NAHA Training Calendar Programs
Working with Client Grief and Loss, Wednesday 20 January 2016 – 9.00 am to 12:00 pm, 19 Young
Street Adelaide
Principles for Working with Men (DV), Wednesday 3 February 2016 – 9:30 am – 4:00 pm, Anglicare SA,
159 Port Road, Hindmarsh
Employment and Educational Pathways, Monday 1, 8, and 15 February 2016 – 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
(three consecutive days), 19 Young Street, Adelaide
H2H Basic User – Tuesday, 16 February 2016 – 9:30 am – 4:30 pm, 19 Young Street, Adelaide
Who should attend?
Designed especially for the NAHA sector, programs are free and target frontline staff working with people
who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
How do I register?
To register, complete a registration form and return it by email to [email protected] or
updated fax number (08) 8207 0388. Your booking is finalised once you submit your form and
receive a confirmation email.
If you have submitted a training form and have not received an email confirmation, please contact the
administrators on 8207 0175 to check your registration status.
People and Places | December 2015
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Housing and Homelessness in the News
News and media articles with relavance to the broader housing and homelessnes sector.
Why affordable housing is “key public
infrastructure” |The fifth Estate. September
Six affordable housing lessons the US can teach
Australia | Architecture AU. November
Homelessness and dementia | Alzheimer’s
Australia. October
Social bonds aren't outsourcing: Pitt| Brisbane
Times. November
Childhood homelessness makes for adult
unemployment: study | The Conversation. October
Older homeowners resisting home downsize
keeping young Australians from backyard dream:
report| ABC News. November
One in 10 Australians homeless at some point |
The Age. November
Domestic violence identified as main driver of
rising rate of homeless women in Queensland|
ABC Online. November
From Around the Web
Long-reads and links of interest from around the web.
Berlin social housing winning the residential race
“Berlin has one of the lowest rates of home ownership in Europe because robust tenant protections mean
there is no great incentive to buy.”| The Saturday Paper
How can we best design housing for Australia's ageing population?
“With a booming life expectancy, there is a need for collective, intergenerational discussion and ideas
about how to better design housing in Australia’s communities and cities.”| The Conversation
Helping Landlords Help You
“…when housing programs see landlords as a program partner as opposed to just a resource to be
consumed they get more access to units, more effective problem-solving and can also get positive press
and accolades from within the landlord community.” |OrgCode
Making connections: housing, productivity and economic development
“The study concluded that governance structures and competences at all levels of government in Australia
should have more regard to the housing dimensions of productivity”.| AHURI Final Report No. 251
Contribute your ideas and give feedback
To help us shape the publication and to better serve you, please take the time to complete this quick
survey (2-5 minutes) to provide feedback on this newsletter, contribute themes and article suggestions for
People and Places. Your feedback is valuable and will ensure the publication meets the needs of the
housing and homelessness sector.
People and Places | December 2015
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Housing SA – Key Contacts
Carol Shard
Director, Statewide Services
820 70579
Geoff Slack
Director, Strategy and Reporting
820 70560
Barry Mortimer
Manager, Service Development
820 70157
Geof Gutte
Manager, Service Support
820 70231
Liz Francis
Manager, Service Delivery
820 70122
Gabrielle Hummel
Principal Project Manager, Strategy and Reporting
820 70295
Suraya Naidoo
A/Manager, Practice Development
820 70386
Rosh Devi
Learning and Development Coordinator
820 70329
Kirsten Moyle
H2H Support Project Officer
820 70165
Lachlan McConnochie
System Administrator – H2H
820 70224
Nicholas Mchawala
Assistant Project Officer, Sector Communications
820 70221
Housing SA
General
13 12 99
Housing SA
Maintenance
13 12 88
DCSI services and other useful contacts
DCSI general inquiries
8226 8800
Office for Women
8303 0961
Domestic and Aboriginal Family Violence Gateway
1800 800 098
Disability SA
1300 786 117
Domiciliary Care
1300 295 673
Office for Youth
8207 0452
State Emergency Service
13 25 00
Trace-A-Place (emergency accommodation for under 25s)
1300 306 046
Emergency Psychiatric Helpline
13 14 65
Family Drug Support
1300 368 186
Gambling Helpline
1800 858 585
People and Places | December 2015
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