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Helping to make a difference in regional communities
ASWA’s Leadership Team taking time-out to look at promoting Excellence in Service Delivery for 2009.
Front Row Left to Right - Lyn Mills (Team Leader Family Services), Jo Resta Team (Leader Busselton), Kris Robertson (Manager Clinical and Advocacy Services), Rachael Wharton (Team Leader Intensive Support and Accommodation), Jud Milligan (Team Leader Prison Services)
Back Row Left to Right Michael King (Manager Housing and Education Services) Neil Hamilton (CEO), Ben Davidson (Team Leader Bunbury Support and Accommodation Services), Andrew Arthy (Manager Accounts and HR) and Shane Hewerdine (Team Leader Disability, Advocacy and Substance Services)
When Neil Hamilton returned to study humanities he hoped it might provide him with the opportunity to work in regional and remote Western Australia. Little did he know that over the next 20 years his career would move him to Karratha, twice to Kalgoorlie, to Bunbury, and provide two small breaks in Perth. His experiences in each community fuelled his passion for regional WA and served to strengthen his resolve to provide people who live in regional areas with access to high quality counselling, advocacy and support services.
For the past year, Neil has been the Chief Executive Officer of Agencies for South West Accommodation (ASWA) Inc, the largest provider of services to homeless people in the South West region. Over the course of the year ASWA provided emergency relief, accommodation, referral, information, advocacy, financial advice, employment and training, counselling and job placement services to 2,469 families and individuals. Of the 1,000 young people who contacted the organisation, the housing services team housed 168 children who would have otherwise been homeless. ASWA also arranged crisis accommodation and a referral system for homeless people, as well as transitional supported accommodation and assistance to obtain independent housing for people at risk.
Although Neil has 20 years experience of working in this field, the programs are demanding and he acknowledges they have altered significantly over time. He is constantly poised to respond to the unexpected and the creative, as well as to plan for initiatives such as building extensions, and to constantly improve the organisation’s capacity to service isolated people within the community. Neil acknowledges that Lotterywest has provided grants that enabled ASWA to respond appropriately to their changing circumstances.
In terms of “the unexpected,” Lotterywest supported the replacement of a computer server after a virus rendered its information technology ineffectual. Lotterywest also provided assistance with “the creative” by supporting the set-up of video-conferencing facilities to support clients living in very remote communities and isolated towns. We have also received grants for building works to ensure we have had a safe place to work with families in remote regions. In addition we received support to undertake projects like the “Transport Action Research” which engages with young people isolated through the lack of transport.
As the management team at ASWA begins to plan for the decade ahead, they are involved in the development of a Strategic Plan. The plan is aimed at strengthening the organisation’s resilience in order that ASWA remains equipped to meet the growing and diverse needs of the community.