Change
Unite
volunteer
Faith
kindness
Hope
Generosity
share
vision
Seek individual s u p p o r t Thank you
f r e e d o m Inspire Family Community
Independence
Give
Integrity
excellence
Compassion
act
UnitingCare Harrison
Strategic Plan
2017-2019
Equity
Hugh Berry 'Landscape'
UnitingCare Harrison would like to thank the artists of the
Gifford Arts Project for allowing us to publish their work.
Page 2
Our Charter
Our Mission, Vision and Values have given us the clarity to move
forward over the coming three years and develop this Strategic Plan.
We know who we are and we are proud of it.
WE ARE BOUND BY OUR MISSION
UnitingCare Harrison assists people to take charge of their own lives.
WE WORK FOR A COMMON VISION
UnitingCare Harrison will be an influential leader in the provision of quality housing and
community services.
WE ARE UNITED BY 5 SHARED VALUES
UnitingCare Harrison’s work is inspired by its Christian foundations and the Statement of
Purpose of UnitingCare Victoria and Tasmania.
Hope
We believe people have the capacity for positive change.
Excellence
We are a responsible steward of all its resources striving for
the best in everything it does.
Compassion
We listen and work together with people to find solutions,
having particular concern and empathy for those who are
vulnerable, poor and marginalised.
Integrity
We act ethically at all times.
Equity
We stand for justice and a fair go for all people regardless of
their background, ability or circumstances.
Independence We foster self-reliance.
UnitingCare Harrison Strategic Plan 2017-19
Page 3
Preface from the
Acting CEO
Harrison has grown from an agency with a youth focus, to an agency that provides services and programs for young people, single adults, families, and people
from culturally and linguistically diverse communities and provides affordable
living in social housing and independent living units.
Our work is guided by our Mission. For our Disability Service this means providing
life and living skills that increase the independence and opportunities for people
with an intellectual disability through person centered practice.
Within our Homelessness Service we design our programs to focus on early intervention to reduce disruption and hardship and link people in with the specialist
supports they require to reach their goals. Our breadth of programs allows us to
provide support to people from their point of crisis through to stable housing.
This reduces stress and anxiety for many clients and improves client engagement
and outcomes.
UnitingCare Harrison is a voice for the increase in affordable housing with Federal
and State Government and within the Uniting Church. Our independent living
units provide quality affordable housing for older people.
The 2017 – 2019 Strategic Plan has been developed to guide the work of the
agency for the next two years while it participates in major funding and organisational change. During this period the agency will transition from a lone standing
UnitingCare Agency into Uniting, an amalgamation of 22 UnitingCare Agencies
and Wesley Mission. Sector reviews and funding changes are also pending with
the implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, the Roadmap for
reform of children and family services and homelessness services.
This strategic plan ensures the agency is optimally placed to continue to deliver
our innovative programs and services in our local community in the future.
Page 4
Operating Context
5
Our History
6
What we do
7-8
Our Strategic Objectives
9
Key Initiatives
10–14
Acknowledgements
15
Contents
Operating Context
For over fifty years Harrison has worked to meet the
changing needs of young people, single adults and families. This strategic plan enables Harrison to continue to
support vulnerable people in our community by placing
Harrison in an opportune position to take advantage of
the shifting political and funding environment and the
changing nature of Uniting Care Agencies in Victoria and
Tasmania.
We are positioning ourselves to deliver our disability programs under the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in Eastern Melbourne on the 1st November 2017. We are reviewing our practices and infrastructure to ensure they support the funding model
change that will have a major impact on the agency’s ability to continue delivering disability services in their current form.
We have commenced work to address the changing market in Retirement Villages. Many of the agency’s retirement villages are small villages with small one bedroom
units averaging 50 years old. The changing market in private operator villages is seeing larger one and two bedroom units with additional facilities and activities occurring on site.
The agency’s innovative homelessness programs are aimed
to increase client outcomes by reducing the slide into
homelessness while being adaptable to the potential reduction of homelessness funding and changes in service
delivery models.

The National Affordable Housing Agreement (AHA)
and National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH) saw the Commonwealth Government
providing $230 million over two years, matched by
states and territories, divert funds from generalist
homelessness services to fund frontline services
focusing on women and children experiencing domestic and family violence.

The Victorian State Government is reviewing Public
Housing, Social Housing and the homelessness crisis
and service delivery model across Victoria and introducing a Victorian Housing Register and new
Homelessness Launch sites. Youth homelessness is
also under review until July 2017. Homelessness
Services innovative models address potential funding changes while promoting early intervention to
reduce the disruption to young people, single people and families.
Since the Synod of Uniting Church Victoria/ Tasmania announced its Major Strategic Review of UnitingCare agencies we have been actively working with Synod and
UnitingCare Agencies towards a successful transition to
one New Agency. This will see UnitingCare as one of the
largest providers of community services in Victoria and
Tasmania. The merge will support efficiencies in operation
and governance and will create a robust entity that can
more easily adapt to changing funding and regulatory
structures.
UnitingCare Harrison Strategic Plan 2017-19
Page 5
Our History
The work of UnitingCare Harrison has played an important role in the lives of young people since we
first began. As time progressed and needs changed, UnitingCare Harrison has had a swift approach to
adapting to meet the needs of the community.
In 1960 Rev. Arthur Harrison Minister and the congregation at West Hawthorn Presbyterian Church
became concerned about boys leaving Kilmany House in Gippsland on probation, trying to find work
and accommodation in Melbourne. Harrison House was established at 50 Power Street, Hawthorn.
Harrison today, supports not only young people, but singles, couples and families from all walks of life
with the view that programs and services should build independence and provide opportunities rather
than being reactive.
The range of programs throughout Harrison history has been extensive, from homelessness and counselling services, to businesses to support the community such as the motorcycle repair and retail business in the late 80s, Climb 'n' Beans play equipment, the Conjara Horticultural project and Blackburn
Skill Share. Harrison pioneered the lead-tenant model in Victoria where staff support a family-style
home to give young tenants a fresh start in life. Harrison has always adapted to ever-changing needs
of clients, funding options and the social and economic impacts to meet those needs.
Outreach to people with a disability grew during the 2000s as Harrison took over management of the
program Genesis. This enabled us to provide live-in life skills training and outreach to people with a
mild intellectual disability. Many people's dreams for independence have been fulfilled via this program.
Our support is grounded in the long-standing commitment of our partners - the Uniting Church Synod
Victoria/ Tasmania, dedicated local congregations and faithful volunteers. Today Harrison proudly
serves the community with 80 staff and 120 volunteers as we prepare for another big shift - to join 22
other UnitingCare agencies to create one of the largest community service organisations operating in
Victoria and Tasmania.
Page 6
What we do
UnitingCare Harrison seeks to reduce homelessness and the impacts of homelessness by assisting
people to take charge of their own lives. We place a strong emphasis on early intervention programs that build resilience in our clients and we work to address the issues that have contributed
to homelessness.
Our Disability programs increase the living skills, resilience, social and community connections and
the independent living opportunities for people with an intellectual disability.
We provide a wide range of Single Adult and Family Support Programs - Support for Families at
Risk of Homelessness, Transitional & Multicultural Support Program, A Place to Call Home, Accommodation Options for Families & Private Rental Brokerage Program, Social Housing Advocacy Support Program.
Our Youth Homelessness Programs include Transitional Support, Creating Connections, Youth and
Family Programs, Stronger Families, Adolescent Support, Finding Solutions and an Open Door
Family Reconciliation Program.
We provide a range of housing; program related where clients live while undertaking a living and
skills program, crisis housing, retirement living and long term affordable housing.
We recognise the need in our community for safe affordable housing for all and we actively seek
additional housing stock and advocate with government, funders, Uniting Church, sector peak
bodies and agencies and the community to increase the level of affordable housing.
We provide material support and community engagement programs including Opportunity Shops,
material aid, Gifford Arts, UnitingCare & Target Christmas Appeal and community meals.
We operate in the Eastern and Southern suburbs of Melbourne.
‘Would highly recommend your services as the support was valuable’
UnitingCare Harrison Strategic Plan 2017-19
Page 7
PEOPLE TAKING CHARGE OF THEIR OWN LIVES
SERVICES
RELATIONSHIPS
INNOVATION
OUR AGENCY
STRATEGY
VALUES
VISION
MISSION
Page 8
Our Contents
Strategy
We are passionate about building capacity for vulnerable youth, single adults, families and older people by delivering excellence in our key service areas of disability services, homelessness services and
social housing. What will differentiate us will be our innovative approach that focusses on building
resilience and independence, the prevention of homelessness, co-ordination of our services so our clients can easily access the support that is unique to their needs and maintaining the most extensive
network of providers in the eastern suburbs to give our clients access to the best services and housing
solutions.
To ensure we can provide the best possible services to those we serve, we will strengthen relationships with clients, volunteers, donors, congregations and other providers through implementing an
outcomes driven relationship management program. We will also maintain and strengthen our connection to local communities throughout the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
We will continue to provide our core services to young people, single adults, families and older people
but will give specific emphasis to:
1.
Increasing accessibility of Homelessness Services Housing Options Program Eastern (HOPE)
through technology and a new service centre in City of Monash.
2.
Expanding our Social Housing Advocacy & Support Program (SHASP) Program supporting complex needs clients to maintain their tenancies.
3.
Improve housing, education and employment opportunities to young people through our Mini
“Foyer” like model service.
4.
Maximise long term housing & social outcomes for people through expanding our model of linking tenancy and homelessness support services.
5.
Supporting adults with an intellectual disability to achieve independent community living.
6.
Providing affordable housing options to older people without financial resources.
7.
Working with real estate agents to reduce homelessness through evictions.
8.
Reducing financial hardship on clients struggling to maintain housing through the provision of
innovative funding/loan options.
We will provide an effective voice to government & community on issues that affect the most vulnerable & disadvantaged young people, single adults, families and older people in our community.
We will create a working environment where our people feel valued, engaged and supported . A cornerstone of our culture will be building capacity & capability by fostering a culture of innovation and learning within UnitingCare Harrison.
We will be more efficient in the use of our funding through our quality
improvement programs and will achieve and maintain accreditation
needed to provide industry leading outcomes for the people we serve.
UnitingCare Harrison Strategic Plan 2017-19
Page 9
Disability Services
We help people with intellectual disabilities
develop life skills so they can live the life they
choose.
Page 10

Grow and promote Iris Court Living
and Life skills program.

Develop and deliver a tenancy management model that fits with the National Disability Insurance Scheme
(NDIS) cluster Improved Living Arrangements.

Case coordination for families to design and implement an independent,
client centred housing and support
model for people with an intellectual
disability who are not eligible for NDIS
funding to locate a housing option.
At Iris Court I learnt how to live
with other people and to budget
and clean.
I have now moved to an independent share house in Vermont.
Homelessness Services
I’m now very happy and secure in my own
accommodation with my little boy. A place
we can both call our home!
We alleviate homelessness and its effects by being a leading contributor to innovation and new
thinking on homelessness.

Increase accessibility of Homelessness Services through web based teleHOPE.

Increase accessibility of Homelessness Services in City of Monash.

Implement Mini Foyer Models with Uniting
Housing Victoria as registered housing
provider and work with Department Health
and Human Services to promote and roll
out the model.

Redesign the Youth Early Intervention Program service model , including new outcome based success measures that are
more early intervention focused.

Reduce homelessness through the Social
Housing Advocacy Support Program by
supporting high complex needs client to
maintain their tenancy.
256, 000 people sought help from specialist homelessness services in 2014–15. The majority were female (59%) and over a
quarter were children under 18 (28%). AIHW – Australia figures
Source: Specialist homelessness services 2014-15 (National supplementary table Clients2)
Housing Services
We provide stable affordable social housing
for low income earners and older persons
without financial resources. We provide housing to assist in a crisis and program housing
properties in a timely manner.

Leverage existing capacity and cost base to
manage a larger portfolio of mixed housing
stock including properties in other parts of
Uniting Church Vic/Tas and on behalf of external agencies.

Promote our integrated housing and homelessness support model (eg. used in delivering crisis housing, aspirational housing,
Gifford Village) through a Uniting Care consortia.


Page 12
Increase housing options available to older
people by creating site future financial viability plans for older person living villages. (four
Villages are becoming less attractive to the
market- financial costing to manage rental
sites, affordability scale of all sites).
Package services to improve resident wellbeing through streamlined referral pathways.
Survey feedback 2016
“They know my name”
“Very happy—best decision I have made”
“It’s a safe, enjoyable & social place & I get
good help as well”
Innovative Practices
We reduce homelessness by leading
the development and delivery of innovative practices within the New
Agency and sector.

Reduce evictions from Real Estate
Agent tenancies.

Reduce financial hardship on clients struggling to maintain housing
with innovative funding/loan options as part of HOPE program.

Improve housing, education and
employment opportunities to
young people through Mini "Foyer"
like model.

Identify precursors to homelessness so that early intervention services can be identified and provided before homelessness.
Youth Program Exit Survey feedback My whole lifestyle and approach to life has changed, I’m so
much happier and healthier. I have secure housing, finally
sorted out Centrelink and have gained a proper adult job :)
Hi, As arranged I am moving out of a Harrison
house this morning. “Thank you” for all your assistance, since “my now ex” begged for us to
return to Melbourne and I gave up my job in
Darwin. I really appreciate all your help. It’s actually amazing how quickly you can completely
lose your dignity, pride and sink to new lows and
levels. Once again cheers for all.
UnitingCare Harrison Strategic Plan 2017-19
Page 13
Our Relationships
The relationships we have with Uniting Church congregations and our community partners allows us to stretch
our funding dollar that much further and assist more
vulnerable people in our local community.
We strengthen our relationships to
promote greater awareness of homelessness and increase funding opportunities from our partners, funding
agencies and donors.

Identify and formalise management of relationships with key
service providers/partners and
funding organisations /donors
and volunteers to improve our
service quality.

Maintain and grow relationships
with congregations and presbytery's through expanding
speaking program, and client
outcome feedback.

Involve and strengthen congregation, presbytery and synod
relationships attached to each
village.
UCH A/CEO, Michael Sukkar MP, Bill, Ted, Anne
Centrelink Office Staff also supporting Harrison Material Aid program (with UCH – Jenny Smith)
Page 14
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the companies, trusts and foundations, churches, schools and community
groups for their ongoing support .
Strategic Planning Consultant
Darren Watt
Trusts and Foundations
RACV Community Foundation
SHARE Community Appeal
BOMAR
Danks Family Trust
Ian Potter Foundation
Church Groups
Ararat West Uniting Church Ladies Guild
Clayton Church of Christ
Croydon North Uniting Church
Croydon Uniting Church
Emerald Uniting Church
Euroa Uniting Church
Ferntree Gully Uniting Church
Forest Hill Uniting Church
Heathmont Uniting Church
Koonung Heights Uniting Church
Montrose Uniting Church
Toorak Churches Ecumenical
Vermont Uniting Church
Wesley Uniting Church - Box Hill
Yarragon Uniting Church
Gifford Village Artists
For allowing us to use your fabulous works.
Community Groups
Bedford Heights Retirement Village Craft Group
Boronia Police
Box Hill Police
Centrelink – Boronia, Glen Waverley & Oakleigh
Chicks for Charity
City of Greater Dandenong
City of Knox
City of Maroondah
City of Whitehorse
Eastern Emergency Relief
Headspace Hawthorn
Headspace Knox
Hope City Mission
Inner East Community Health Hawthorn
Inner Wheel of Boronia
Knox Police
kogo (Knit One, Give One)
LEO Club of Knox
North of the Yarra Quilters Guild
PWP – Parents Without Partners
Inc
Ringwood Police
Rotary Club of Bayswater
Rotary Club of Emerald and Districts
Rotary Club of Knox
Rotary Club of Ringwood
Magic Moments Basket Brigade
St Vincent de Paul, Boronia
Vic Roads
Whitehorse Community Health
Schools
Bayswater South Primary School
Billanook Primary School, Montrose
Box Hill TAFE
MDLC (Mountain District Learning
Centre)
Ringwood Secondary College
Rowville Secondary College
Scoresby Secondary College
Upwey Secondary College
Wesley College, Glen Waverley
Companies
Bakers Delight Studfield
Bakers Delight Wantirna Mall
Bendigo Bank
Betta Electrical Knox
Bridge Charcoal Chicken
Brumbys Studfield
Bunnings Vermont
Connect East (Eastlink)
Curves Gym Ferntree Gully
Domtex Australia
Eels Mowing Service, Healesville
Epworth Eastern Box Hill
Ferntree Gully Motor Group
Foodbank, Dandenong
Goodstart Early Learning Ferntree Gully
GS1 Australia
Heathmont Interchurch Help
Heirs of Grace Café
IGA Wantirna Mall
Kool Kidz on Wellington Childcare
- Rowville
Lilly Patches Boronia
Maroondah Chiropractic
Mooroolbark Christian Fellowship
Pancake Parlour - Knox
Plantmark - Wantirna
Ray White Real Estate
Second Bite
Target Australia – Eastland
Target Knox
Three Minute Angels
Yarra Valley Water
UnitingCare Harrison Strategic Plan 2017-19
Page 15
Aurora Gill 'Mesmorized'
1012 Little Burwood Highway Wantirna South
PO Box 4503
Knox City VIC 3152
(03) 9871 8700
(03) 9801 3134
www.unitingcareharrison.org.au
UnitingCare Harrison
acknowledges the support of
the Victorian Government