2022-23 is Regional Housing’s 34th year of serving some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people within our community.

As Queensland’s only home-grown, regionally focussed Tier 1 Community Housing Provider we find ourselves faced with both the expectation, and self-imposed mandate of doing everything we possibly can to alleviate the impacts of the current housing crisis and meet the growing housing needs of the regional and rural Queensland communities we serve.

For a significant number of individuals within those communities, the past year has brought forth considerable challenges. Escalating living costs and housing-related pressures such as mortgage stress, coupled with an unprecedented scarcity of available rental properties in the market, have rendered life increasingly difficult. Regrettably, many have fallen into poverty, experienced homelessness and accessed the welfare system for the very first time.

Motels have increasingly become a primary recourse for crisis accommodation, aiming to ensure the most vulnerable, including the elderly and children, are sheltered from sleeping rough. Regional Housing’s dedicated frontline staff, offering specialised homelessness services, emergency relief, and financial counselling, continue to make remarkable contributions, exemplifying our team’s compassionate commitment to realising our company vision that “every person has a home”.

Regional Housing’s robust and steady governance remains a constant highlight this year. Our Board of Directors has overseen critical business system enhancements and achieved successful accreditation under both NRSCHThe National Regulatory System for Community Housing aims to ensure a well governed, well managed and viable community housing sector that meets the housing needs of tenants and provides assurance for government and investors.
and NDISThe National Disability Insurance Scheme provides funding to eligible people with disability to gain more time with family and friends, greater independence, access to new skills, jobs, or volunteering in their community, and an improved quality of life. . Governance achievements this year include a comprehensive review of the strategic plan, implementation of a WHS due diligence framework, commencement of a full re-branding project, and the development of strategies to ensure continuous improvement and best practice in the management of ITC and finance. We extend our gratitude to all Directors for their dedication, time, and expertise in maintaining the highest standards of governance.

We extend our sincere appreciation to our entire staff for their commitment to best practice and fostering a positive culture, enabling the achievement of remarkable outcomes within our communities throughout the year. It is through your outstanding efforts that the lives of countless individuals in need are transformed for the better.

A Home Assist Secure customer recently reported problems with overgrown vegetation impacting her ability to mobilise around her property, restricting access to the home and beginning to affect the stability of concrete pathways.

If left unattended, the overgrowth had the potential to result in injury and further damage to pathway infrastructure that would heighten the risk of a falls injury.

Our customer lacked the physical ability and knowledge to reduce and maintain vegetation overgrowth and a private quote, obtained by the customer, of $2500, was financially out of reach for her.

Our Home Assist Secure Field Officer was able to remove and reduce the overgrowth at a fractional cost, thereby significantly increasing our customer’s ability to remain safely and securely in her home for longer.

Our customer reports she now feels safe to move freely around her property, is no longer worried about her potential trip hazards along the pathway and feels her security has been increased, with greater visibility into the yard.

In October 2022, a broad cross section of the South Burnett Community came together to acknowledge the escalating housing crisis and consider practical measures for improving the situation.

Regional Housing was proud to be a member of the committee responsible for bringing this forum to life, working closely with local government and key community organisations to raise awareness of the housing situation, encourage participation and seek local solutions.

The event was well attended, providing valuable insight into the drivers and local complexities of the housing crisis, and culminating in an afternoon workshop which considered and collated a broad range of ideas and potential solutions.