UnitingSA should be proud of our achievements over the 2022-23 financial year. Despite these very challenging times, we have continued to provide incredible support to vulnerable South Australians.

We keep our vision at the heart of everything we do – always striving for a compassionate, respectful and just community in which all people can participate and flourish.

During this financial year, homelessness and affordable housing were the most pressing issues for our community. Through a merger with the Salisbury Housing Co-operative Incorporated, a further 23 homes were added to our community housing portfolio.

These properties are located in Adelaide’s northern suburbs and include a mix of social, affordable, and retirement living options.

It was our first year delivering services as part of the Adelaide North West Homelessness Alliance. As part of our work with the Alliance and SAHA, we celebrated the opening of Peppertree Place at Paralowie. This initiative provides homeless families, who might otherwise have to move into motels, with the opportunity to live in refurbished homes nestled among gum trees and equipped with a children’s playground.

It was great to see our Ferryden Park Community Housing Development receive recognition during the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) SA Awards for Excellence. This innovative project provides housing for women aged 55 years and over – the fastest growing homeless population in the country.

Our mental health services team have continued to deliver exceptional outcomes for their clients. Over the past 20 years, our Avalon program has provided stable accommodation and psychological support for those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. In May, we were delighted to provide Louise Miller Frost MP with a tour and overview of the facility. She was able to see this terrific service in action and we were able to advocate for ongoing investment in these types of programs.

Aged Care continues to be another key area of our work. We remained focused on investing in our services to support people along the continuum, from Retirement Living through to Residential Aged Care. During the year, over 1,500 people received our Aged Care services and 610 people were provided Residential Aged Care.

We are focused on providing modern aged care accommodation with high-quality facilities. Our West Lakes Aged Care site was nominated as a finalist in the Property Council of Australia Innovation and Excellence Awards. This contemporary building offers extensive communal indoor and outdoor spaces and is also home to a beautiful ground floor café. Solar panels, smart air-con upgrades and advanced energy monitoring are also keeping our residents comfortable without costing the planet.

The Board level farewelled Dr Melanie Tan, who shared her wealth of experience from her background as a lawyer and medical practitioner. On behalf of UnitingSA, I thank her for her service. In Melanie’s place, we welcomed Dr Carolyn Astley, who brings with her over 20 years of experience as a nursing clinician, along with expertise in health care policy development, quality improvement, health promotion, and research. We look forward to Carolyn’s contribution to the Board and as a member of our new Great Client Experience Committee.

Finally, on behalf of the Board, I would like to acknowledge the efforts of every member of the UnitingSA team throughout the year. The cost of living crisis has dramatically impacted the people we serve. Our staff showed inspiring agility and dedication in response to the hugely increasing needs of those we serve.

I would also like to extend a huge thank you to our donors, funders, community partners, and above all, the communities we work within. We are privileged to be able to walk alongside you. Together, we can.