A commitment to enriching lives and uniting communities 

One of the great challenges for any leading social service agency is to maintain a commitment to delivering quality responses to growing community demand for assistance whilst looking ‘over the horizon’ to plan responses to emerging needs and expectations.  

Through a year in which COVID has continued to be a significant disruptive force, for our customers, clients, staff and volunteers, we have needed to remain agile in keeping our doors open, our staff on the road and in people’s homes and in keeping our residential homes welcoming and accessible to families. This is only possible with a committed and passionate workforce for which Uniting Communities is deeply indebted. Through all the trials and tribulations of growing exposure to the pandemic, we were able to start up several new programs including our privately funded family reunification program, Newpin, across three metropolitan sites. This was just one example of our commitment to trial new solutions to entrenched problems – a hallmark of our approach to enriching lives and uniting communities. 

The past year has also offered us the chance to plan ahead, in the knowledge that the world is changing, with a period of economic uncertainty impacting on the financial security and mental health of our community. Following extensive consultation across the organisation, we launched UC’s new Strategic Plan at the end of 2022, plotting a renewed course of action and focus for the coming years. This plan outlines how we seek to shape the world around us and better support those who seek our assistance. It builds on our history of leadership in the South Australian Community as an agent of positive social change, a champion of social justice and a builder of compassionate community.  

Ruby’s expands to Canberra 

Our Ruby’s youth reunification program, which has helped close to 2000 families stay together, has expanded to Canberra. Ruby’s expansion is a proud example of South Australia showing national and international leadership in addressing housing and homelessness. 

For nearly 30 years we’ve delivered Ruby’s in SA, using a unique approach which combines family counselling and a residential component, focussing on early intervention to keep family relationships on track. Longitudinal data shows that, on average, 74 per cent of young people who accessed the service did not return to the homelessness sector.  

Due to national demand for a solution to reducing homelessness, Ruby’s roll-out in Canberra is the first time the model has been established outside South Australia. It’s testament to the hard work and belief in the program by those within Uniting Communities and the South Australian Housing Authority who have resourced and invested in the model for over nearly 30 years. 

Ruby’s is funded by State Government agency South Australian Housing Authority (SAHA), with Uniting Communities working closely with the housing provider to support young people and avoid the need for them to access homelessness services into their adult lives. 

Improving intervention orders in South Australia 

We developed a joint research report with the University of South Australia about the use and enforcement of intervention orders in South Australia. The report, launched at our Powerful Interventions Workshop in July, identified policy and legislative changes needed to better protect victims of domestic violence.  

Tenants as water customers 

At a solutions-focused forum in June, we set out to identify the pathway to recognising tenants as water customers. Stakeholders from SA Water, the Department for Environment and Water, Landlords' Association and tenant advocates participated in activities that highlighted solutions to recognise tenants as water customers. The event contributed to the development of a final recommendations report. 

Our pathway to Net Zero 2035 

Net Zero is a bold commitment that relies on the collective efforts of everyone at Uniting Communities. Since the launch of our Net Zero 2035 pathway in August, we have commenced work on a Net Zero 2035 plan which will incorporate key initiatives to drive down Uniting Communities emissions. This includes sourcing our electricity from renewable sources, transitioning our fleet to electric vehicles and replacing gas hot water and appliances with electric alternatives.   

Equally important is the ongoing commitment of employees to save energy, reduce waste to landfill and consider carbon impacts in all the decisions we make and across all Uniting Communities sites.

First forensic mental health service in SA 

In December, we opened South Australia’s first non-government operated forensic mental health service, contracted by SA Health. Chrysalis, named by forensic patients of James Nash House, is a nine-bed accommodation service that will support clients to develop the necessary skills, make community connections, and find suitable housing to ensure their return to the community is safe and successful.