Lisa will be missed. Under her leadership, NNC has achieved significant outcomes for this community. In 2009, following the Rudd government’s White Paper on homelessness, called “The Road Home”, and the subsequent National Affordable Housing Agreement, NNC convened a conference: “Boarding Houses – Time for Change”. This conference paved the way for a strategic move by the organisation to provide case management and support services to people living in unlicensed boarding houses.
NNC became a high-profile advocate for the rights of people in boarding houses and at risk of being homeless.
The campaign, with several partners, ultimately led to the NSW Boarding Houses Act 2012, which for the first time provides some legal protection for people living in boarding houses and guidelines for boarding house operators.
NNC’s Boarding House Outreach Service has grown to become a leading provider of services to people who are at risk of homelessness. It now delivers services across eight local government areas – City of Sydney, Marrickville, Leichhardt, Canada Bay, Burwood, Homebush, Ashfield and Strathfield. The Centre continues to be a key participant in the broader discussion of homelessness in NSW, and is on the working committee to evaluate the implementation of the new Act.
Under Lisa’s leadership, Newtown Neighbourhood Centre was refurbished in 2011 by Marrickville Council, which installed a lift and a ramp to make the old Newtown Town Hall building fully accessible. Lisa also spearheaded a broader campaign for an accessible railway station in Newtown. For many years, the only way to access Newtown Railway Station was an imposing flight of stairs – an insurmountable barrier for many people. This campaign, commenced at Newtown Festival, achieved its goal in 2012.
Newtown Neighbourhood Centre’s staff and services nearly doubled during the period of Lisa’s leadership. Today, the Centre remains firmly focused on its commitment to diversity and inclusion, operating outreach services for people living in licensed residential centres, a shopping service and a good neighbour program, as well as social engagement and support services for people from diverse cultural backgrounds, people who are disadvantaged, and the broader community.
NNC also operates Newtown Market from the front of the Centre each Saturday, and the Sydneyvision Song Contest, now in its sixth year, continues to grow in popularity. NNC has recently been endorsed as an LGBTQI safe space, and last year participated in the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras for the first time. It has since followed up this commitment with an official launch of its new advocacy campaign in support of marriage equality at the 2014 Newtown Festival.
In her final year as CEO, Lisa chalked up two major wins with key awards for the Newtown Festival, which last year attracted 90,000 people. NNC’s annual fundraiser, the Festival recently won the NSW title of Best Community Event at the Australian Event Awards and this month won the title of Best Music Event at FBi Radio’s SMAC Awards.
In 2011, Lisa was nominated for NSW Woman of the Year. Reflecting on her achievements, it’s easy to understand why.
