PowerHousing Australia was pleased to welcome back all our Members and Affiliates to the nation’s capital for our Annual PowerHousing Academy Scholarship and National Awards ceremony. As part of the first face to face Member Exchange Conference since 2019, the 2022 PowerHousing Academy Scholarships and National Awards took place at the National Arboretum in Canberra with around 400 Members, Affiliates and guests gathered.
The PowerHousing Academy Scholarships and National Awards are designed to showcase the individuals and teams in our membership who have gone above and beyond to support their colleagues and tenants during these unprecedented times. The Awards acknowledge our sector and the community at large, as well as highlighting the difference that PowerHousing Members make to the lives of tenants, local communities, and our nation.
PowerHousing Australia would like to thank all of our Affiliates and offer our sincerest gratitude and appreciation to the award sponsors who made our 2022 Awards possible: JLL, ANZ, Bunnings Trade, EveryOne (a Division of Metricon), Harvey Norman Commercial Division, Karndean DesignFlooring, MRI Software, Content Security, Simonds. In addition to sponsoring, our Award Sponsors have also facilitated the winners, runners up and highly commended scholarships that are presented to award recipients in the individual categories.
The PowerHousing Academy Scholarship & National Award recipients for 2022 are:
Category 1 – Outstanding Achievement Award & Scholarship
Winner – Greta Egerton (BHC, QLD)
This award recipient demonstrates innovation and excellence in practice; works inclusively within the organisation; develops positive relations with tenants; works successfully with business and community partners. This award recipient makes a real difference over a sustained period to housing outcomes for tenants; they add value to the nominating organisation and their community; and make a positive contribution to the community housing sector.
The runner up nominee is Billie-Jo Williams from Link Wentworth (NSW) and the highly commended nominee is Lisa Sorrentino from City West Housing (NSW).
Category 2 – Rising Star Award and Scholarship Immersion
Winner – Kate Saunders (HousingFirst, VIC)
This award recognises an up-and-coming staff member who is not currently part of the Executive or Management team, but who has demonstrated potential through their work to be a leader in the organisation or sector. The award winner demonstrates the following characteristics, they are proactive and demonstrate initiative; work inclusively; and develop positive relations in the workplace and has leadership potential. They have a proven ability to enhance housing outcomes for tenants; add value to the nominating organisation and make a positive contribution to the community housing sector.
The runner up nominee is Chelsea Preen from Housing Plus (NSW). The highly commended nominees are Gabrielle Hopping from Argyle Housing (NSW), Rhiann Martin from Evolve Housing (NSW), and Mayra Sheargold from Link Wentworth (NSW).
Category 3 – Excellence in Customer Service and Business Support Award & Scholarship
Winner – Staum Giannagostino (Foundation Housing, WA)
This award recognises an individual whose contribution to their organisation has resulted in real benefits to the organisation in a business support role. The winner demonstrates innovation and excellence in practice and processes; works inclusively within the organisation; develops positive relations with stakeholders; works successfully with business partners.
The runner up nominee is Zia Baqiri from HousingFirst (VIC) and the highly commended nominee is Teresa Papadopoulos from SGCH (NSW).
Category 4 – Tenant Engagement and Social Inclusion Award
Winner – Client Support Program (Centacare Evolve Housing, TAS)
This award is given to a team or organisation who demonstrates outstanding programs contributing to tenant enrichment, encompassing social inclusion within the local community, and resulting in community development. Award recipients have demonstrated innovation in practice, have provided sustainable social, economic and housing outcomes for tenants, and has driven community development and social inclusion, all the while making a positive contribution to the community housing sector.
The runner up nominee is Mallee District Aboriginal Services in Partnership with Haven; Home, Safe (NSW) and the highly commended nominees are Devitt Street Blacktown Covid-19 Lockdown Response from Evolve Housing (NSW), Central Coast Community Hub ‘The Meeting Place’ from Home in Place (NSW), and Common Ground, Lived Experience Program from Mission Australia Housing (NSW).
Category 5 – Team Leadership and Culture Award
Winner – People and Culture Team (Housing Trust, NSW)
This award recognises a team that demonstrates exceptional effort in workplace leadership and/or genuine innovation for encouraging a positive workplace environment. Award recipients have demonstrated innovation in practice, have built or enhanced resilience capabilities within their organisation, actively provided wellbeing awareness and support and have embedded diversity and inclusiveness into workplace duties and responsibilities.
The runner up nominee is Operation Team and People & Culture Team: Argyle Housing’s Organisational Realignment from Argyle Housing (NSW) and the highly commended nominee is Leadership Team from Housing Plus (NSW).
Category 6 – Government Program Collaboration Award
Winner – Community Housing Growth Program (Centacare Evolve Housing, TAS)
This award recognises a project or a program that demonstrates industry leadership and/or genuine innovation in partnership with a State or Commonwealth Government. The award recipients have demonstrated outstanding leadership within the organisation and with the partners, innovation and through the partnership have enhanced outcomes for their tenants and communities.
The runner up nominee is Homes of Hope, St Kilda (includes Cornelia Program) from HousingFirst (VIC) and the highly commended nominees are Allawah House from Pacific Link Housing (NSW), and STEP to Home from Bridge Housing (NSW).
Category 7 – Modernisation of a Built Form Development Award
Winner – Viv’s Place (Launch Housing, VIC)
This award recognises a project or a program, including a new build or revitalisation, that demonstrates industry leadership and genuine innovation. The project demonstrates functional built form that has features of environmental sustainability, universal design and enhanced well-being.
The runner up is Community Housing Asset Renewal Program (CHARP) from Unity Housing (SA).
Category 8 – Business Partner Award
Winner – Housing Investment Fund (BHC with QIC, QLD)
This award recognises a corporate partner, commercial partner or industry consultant working with a PowerHousing Member to develop projects, construction developments or services that result in measurable improvements for the nominating organisation and positively contribute to the housing sector.
The runner up nominee is Griffin Green Affordable Housing Project from Argyle Housing with Griffith City Council (NSW) and the highly commended nominees are Solar Project from City West Housing with Allume Energy (NSW), and The Community Support Hub from Homes North Community Housing with Armidale Neighbourhood Centre (NSW).
Category 9 – Outstanding Sector Leadership
Winner – Nicola Lemon (Hume Community Housing Association, NSW)
The Outstanding Sector Leadership Award is just one opportunity to acknowledge the amazing individuals who are driving change in the community housing sector and have demonstrated exceptional leadership in this space for many years. From the PowerHousing Board of Directors and our Principal Partner, JLL, this award is provided to an individual who has displayed outstanding leadership in the sector over their career to date.
Category 10 – Lifetime Achievement Award
Winner – John McKenna
The Lifetime Achievement Award is nominated by the PowerHousing Australia Board and recognises the outstanding dedication, commitment, and contribution to the community housing sector in Australia.