Our interactive annual report highlights our significant achievements, financial growth, and the transformative impact Head Start Homes has had over the past year.

We’ve doubled our home ownership outcomes in less than a year and developed a healthy surplus, ensuring we can continue to deliver amazing client outcomes into the future:

📊 Highlights from our 2024 Annual Report

• 🎓 Financial capability: 161 households have used our Savings Plans and improved their savings by an average of 96%.

• 🏡 Home Purchases: 18 homes have been purchased by our clients, which represents a doubling in the number of homes purchased since November 2023.

• 👩‍👧Equalising home ownership access: 67% of our new homeowners are First Nations, 44% are single mums, and 78% were social housing tenants.

• 🏠Social housing: We’ve freed up 14 social and affordable homes for families on a waitlist and at risk of homelessness. 📈

• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑Client Stories: We showcase inspiring client stories in our annual report that emphasise the success of our Empowerment Products and Services, as well as the incredible achievements of our clients. 🌟

• 🎥Kamini’s Film: This year, we are excited to showcase Kamini's short film. Kamini is an extraordinary mother who has triumphed over considerable obstacles to realise her dream of owning a home. Her journey exemplifies the strength of perseverance and underscores the positive influence of our Empowerment Services at Head Start Homes.

• 📈 Financial Growth: Our revenue increased by 55% to $643,778, our assets grew by 162% to $4,801,705, and our operating surplus increased by 151% to $157,568. 📈

• ♻️ Recycling capital fund: We have successfully secured $5.7 million for our recycling capital fund. This funding allows us to offer our Head Start Guarantees and introduce innovative initiatives such as our Affordable Rent-to-Buy solution. These efforts are part of our mission to transform the housing and homeownership landscape towards a more equitable system.

• 🪙In-kind Support: We received significant in-kind contributions from a variety of organisations, valued at over $470,000.

• 🤝Community Engagement: Our partnerships and community outreach programs have significantly expanded, enhancing our ability to support more individuals and families with our ground-breaking empowerment services.

• 👥Team Growth: The team at Head Start Homes has doubled in size over the past year, reflecting the expanding impact and increasing demand for our services. Our amazing new team members bring unique skills and perspectives that enhance our ability to serve clients effectively. This growth has not only strengthened internal capabilities but also fostered a culture of collaboration and innovation, driving our mission forward.

Gratitude and thanks🙏

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Board for their strategic guidance, our dedicated staff for their passion and hard work, our partners and volunteers for their unwavering support, and our clients for their courage and determination. Together, we are making a difference, one home at a time.

Graphic design

A special thanks to Bianca Bettley for her beautiful artwork that features on the cover and throughout our annual report and also to Natasha Kahn, Mikaede Conway and Stephen Woodlands for their work in completing the Annual Report.

Special Thanks to our Major Partners:

Westpac, The Wollongong City Council, Aboriginal Housing Office, Snow Foundation, Lendlease, Stockland

This Year’s In-Kind supporters:

AJB Insurance, Brady Marcs Buyers Advisory, Canva, Centre for Social Finance Law, Community Housing Limited, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Decisions meeting software, Earthstar Productions, Enlightening Films, Google, High Spec Properties, JLL, Link Wentworth, Lendlease, Microsoft, Mobile Monster, MinterEllison, MS Deeds Conveyancing, Stockland, The Aboriginal Housing Office, NSW, Westpac.

Supporters:

We have over 100 organisations that support us. Here are some that feature within our report:

Aboriginal Community Housing Limited, AHURI, Bank of Queensland, CommBank, Community Housing Canberra, Community Housing Limited, Habitat for Humanity, Indigenous Business Australia, King & Wood Mallesons, Link Wentworth, Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation, Nightingale Housing, PhoneCycle, Prolegis Lawyers, Shelter NSW, St.George Bank, Impact Investing Australia.

Our Board

Vanessa Chan, Chairperson, Stephen Woodlands, Founder and Managing Director, Arlie Fox, Director, Joel Larsen, Deputy Chair, Jodie Stevens, Director, Richard Yong, Director, Natasha Kahn, Secretary.

Our Members

Graham Brown, Judith Carpenter, Nichola Woodlands, Peter Adcock, Paul Madden

Volunteers

We have over 100 skilled volunteers. Here are some that feature in our annual report:

Josh Moyes, Risk, Regulatory and Compliance Volunteer, Patricia Wade, Brand and Marketing, Fran Dobbie, Aunty in Residence, Michael Ryland, Legal Consultant, Bart Mead, Valuations, Brady Yoshia, Property, Jessie Lenson, Property, Keith Rovers, Legal, Heather Green, Credit Risk, Hannah Grievson, Strategy, Vanessa Chan, Governance, Jodie Stevens, Community, Airlie Fox, Legal, Joel Larsen, Banking, Richard Yong, IT & Cyber Security

Team Members:

Kate Fenton, Chief of Client Success, Pam Jackson, First Nations Collaboration and Liaison Officer, Jo Formosa, Chief of Empowerment Products & Services and Partnerships, Natasha Kahn, Chief of Staff and Communications, Linda Bunclark, Wollongong Community Partnerships Coordinator, Dee Trubarac, Human Resources, Georgie Jaques, Home Ownership Success Team Assistant, Tanya Eldridge, Grants Writer, Cindy Lee, Client Manager, Hugh Fenton, Storyteller and Creative Specialist, Mikaede Conway, Administration Assistant, Karen O’Connel, Financial Capability Worker