Presenters
I have been working within the Justice, Housing and Homelessness sectors since 2009. I started with the Department of Justice in Consumer Affairs Victoria then moved to the Department of Health and Human Services, in the Housing Advice and Assistance Team. From here I worked with Melbourne City Mission as the first Housing Information and Support Worker at the then newly opened Ravenhall Correctional Centre.
In 2018, I began my career journey at The Salvation Army, in what is now known as the Housing Pathways Program – Prisons, which I have worked in as a frontline worker, Team Leader and Manager.
The Housing Pathways Program – Prisons saw immense change and expansion over the last five years. From an initial staffing level of 7, it grew to 15 with an additional four correctional centres and the Enhanced Housing Pathways Program joining the service.
In 2023, The Salvation Army was successful in its tender for the provision of housing support services with Court Services Victoria and the Housing Pathways Program – Courts was created. This program is a statewide service that delivers housing placement and related housing support services including case management to participants in programs of the Specialist Courts and Programs divisions of the Magistrates’ Court Victoria and County Court Victoria.
Summary of employment
2018 IAP Worker – Housing Pathways Program
2019 Team Leader – Housing Pathways Program
2022 Manager – Housing Pathways Program
2023 Manager – Housing Pathways Program (Courts)
Current Education
Advanced Diploma in Community Sector Management
I began my career journey at The Salvation Army in 2013.
Summary of employment
2013 Tenancy Support Worker
2015 IAP and Court Integrated Support Worker
2019 Brief Intervention Worker in the Private Rental Access Program
2020 Access Point and PRAP Coordinator
2023 Housing Pathways Program-Prison Program manager
Education
2010 Diploma in Welfare and Community Services
2023 Diploma in Leadership and Management
COVID-19 made our working environment unpredictable and challenging. Overseeing the IAP team and navigating through an uncharted working environment, the new task was to work through practices and redesigning processes. With careful and strategic planning, we were able to establish new and innovative approaches to working with the community, ensuring a continuum of practice.
After a decade of steering through different housing programs, developing roles to fill service gaps, establishing strong relationships, and working collaboratively with local services, I was humbled to have been appointed to my new role.
Throughout my decade long career, I have interacted with hundreds of people and have spent thousands of hours with individuals facing diverse challenges. Housing has been a primary need that I have witnessed first-hand, and in my short time as HPP-P Program Manager, I can identify that more attention could be placed on training and upskilling supports that provide reintegration services.
My career with The Salvation Army began in 2011. This was also where my work in homelessness and justice began.
2011 – Casual IAP worker
2013- Tenancy Plus Worker
2018 Access Point Coordinator
2020 –Western Metro Homelessness Manager (incorporating the Housing Pathways Program (Prisons) in 2021)
2022 – Vic West Regional Homelessness Manager
Education
2011- Diploma of Community Services and Community Development
2021- Graduate Certificate in Social Science- Housing Policy and Management
The greatest achievement for the Vic West Homelessness team, has been the increase in resources to people connected to the justice system. The humble beginnings of the Housing Pathways Program were a team of approximately 7 workers. Due to the expansion of the response to people in custody (2022) and the new Court Service program (2023), the team has grown to approximately 30 team members, including leadership.
My reflections of working in the sector for over a decade, is witnessing the negative impacts of social and structural disadvantage. Low-income support, steady increases to the wait lists for social housing and limited housing resources, are challenges faced on a daily basis. However, as sector workers, we do not give up, we continue to strongly advocate and bring change, however small, where we can. With the goal of improving the lives of those we have the privilege of working with. Outcomes may not always be the provision of a home but may be a social outcome and an increase in self-worth or value, which I feel is more important.
