Wrapping up 2023

Image: Communities ‘elves’ sort through donated gifts for children in care.

As 2023 comes to an end, we reflect on some of the Department of Communities’ achievements and how we have made a difference to the lives of Western Australians, often when they are most vulnerable.

We supported 5174 children in out of home care and housed more than 2500 applicants from the public housing waitlist in the past 12 months, while also completing 1750 new social homes since 1 July 2021.

We also supported 287 Aboriginal adults and 214 children in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions with affordable housing and support services through the North-West Aboriginal Housing Fund. The fund also saw three families progress to home ownership through the programs in Karratha and Kununurra.

Here is a brief look at some of our other key projects, initiatives and achievements from this year:

• We supported Kimberley communities ravaged by flooding in January, caused by ex-tropical Cyclone Ellie. Communities provided emergency and temporary accommodation, relocation and repatriation support, and culturally responsive social and wellbeing supports, as well as the rebuild of flood-damaged dwellings. 
• The women’s refuge, Koort Kulaark (which translates to 'heart of our home') was launched in November. This will assist women in Perth’s eastern suburbs seeking refuge from violence, with 24/7 on-site support and wrap-around services, including specialist mental health support. 
• The Seniors Strategy and Action Plan was launched in April. This will support seniors in WA to feel valued, safe and empowered to lead happy and fulfilling lives in age-friendly communities. 
• The WA Volunteering Strategy Action Plan was launched in May. The plan highlights a range of initiatives that promote, support, celebrate and demonstrate the importance of volunteering. 
• Communities’ five-year Disability Access and Inclusion Plan was launched on Global Accessibility Awareness Day in May, setting out a guide and framework for the agency to deliver and achieve better services and outcomes for people with disability. 
• The Homestretch initiative reached a major milestone with 150 young people accessing the program. The $37.2 million program assists young people leaving the child protection system up to the age of 21, as they move towards independence. 
• Supporting Aboriginal businesses to ensure a culturally sensitive and informed approach to decision making in our community is a priority. As a result, Communities was named one of the top agencies supporting Aboriginal businesses in WA this financial year.
• A new foster carer recruitment campaign kicked off during Foster Care week in July, which saw about 300 new foster carers sign up for information. Almost 2000 households provide care for children and young people. 
• Boorloo Bidee Mia marked its second year of successful operation during Homelessness Week. Our successful partnership with Wungening Aboriginal Corporation and Noongar Mia Mia has resulted in support of more than 35,000 combined nights of accommodation for residents since launching in 2021. 
• Four Early Years Partnership Community plans to improve the wellbeing and school readiness of children living in the communities of Armadale West, Central Great Southern, Derby and Bidyadanga were launched this year. This is part of the Early Years Partnership, which is led by Communities, Minderoo Foundation, Telethon Kids Institute and local communities. 
• A 16-unit Aboriginal Elders Residential complex in Kununurra was opened, providing culturally appropriate social housing for Aboriginal people from the age of 55 and includes wrap-around services tailored to individual needs. 
• Communities was recognised nationally in October as the first WA State Government agency to achieve accreditation as a Carer Friendly Employer through the Carers and Employers program. This program defines best practice standards to support staff with unpaid caring responsibilities.
• Communities introduced its Family and Domestic Violence taskforce, which will drive change and strengthen the agency’s response to FDV in WA. It will bring together leaders of State Government agencies, peak community organisations and academic experts.
• About 2120 monitoring and compliance visits were completed at childcare centres across WA. 
• The newest member of Communities’ Story Animals family, Wonky the Whale, was launched. Wonky joins other Story Animal friends who are characters in our Yarn Books, used by our child protection workers, support services and schools to strengthen cultural planning and teach protective behaviours for children in care. 
• Communities acquired the former Murray Hotel in West Perth to support people sleeping rough or experiencing homelessness in the metropolitan area. Our Office of Homelessness appointed Vinnies WA to manage the new transitional accommodation service for some of our most vulnerable Western Australians, as they transition out of homelessness into stable, long-term accommodation.
• As part of its annual Christmas gift drive, Communities delivered more than 5,650 presents to bring some joy to children and young people in care across WA, as well as some children in Intensive Family Support and Best Beginnings.

Delivering meaningful services to thousands of people across WA this year has been possible through strong working relationships with our partners. We are grateful for their continued support and will continue to work hard in 2024 to support vulnerable Western Australians.