The First Nations partnership behind Home to Stay’s success 

“There are many ways to view the world, but when we look through the lens of true culture, one thing becomes clear—at its heart, culture is about respect. It’s about the willingness to listen, even when we don’t fully understand. And that willingness must go both ways.” – Aunty Alison Croall 

Tharawal Housing Manager Aunty Alison Croall (pictured, left) and Kath Flack-Crane, Service Manager at Neami Campbelltown, recently told the story of their successful partnership at the 7th National Housing and Homelessness Forum. 

Neami and Tharawal work in partnership to deliver the Sustaining Tenancies in Social Housing program, which is known to staff and the local community as Home to Stay. The program supports people at risk of homelessness to sustain their tenancy and improve wellbeing. 

They’ve shared a reflection with us on how they’ve worked together as a national service provider and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) to deliver the best outcomes for community. 

It was clear from the outset that connection and trust would be an integral part of Neami and Tharawal’s partnership. 

Kath recalls when she first learnt that Neami had approached Tharawal about delivering the STSH program together. “I was sitting on a bench in the sun and Aunt came and sat with me,” she said. “She asked me about Steve Suttie (Neami Senior Manager Operations) and whether I knew and trusted him.  

“I said he was my manager, and I had also known him for a long time. I said I did indeed trust him, and he had been a sounding board for me for a long time. She said to me ‘if you trust him, I will trust him’.” 

For Aunty Allison, there is deep value to this work. “For me, every decision I make is driven by one purpose: the wellbeing of the community. It’s always at the forefront of my thinking,” she said.  

“I believe that this focus on community is shared by many, but as an Aboriginal person, it goes even deeper. When I help build a healthier community, I’m also helping to heal and strengthen my own family. Our stories, our connections—they’re all tied together.”

Kath says the “real magic” behind establishing the partnership was a genuine collaborative approach. “(Neami) asked Aunt what she really wanted, listened, and were able to give it to her. She asked for a full 50 percent of the funding and decision-making and was given it.” 

While both organisations share a common goal to benefit community, we need to establish ways of working that accounted for our different processes and cultural protocols. “I remember how much work both teams put into making sure the policies and procedures, forms and service delivery met the need of both mainstream and Aboriginal clients,” said Kath. 

Aunty Alison reflected, “Being in a position to make a difference in someone’s life is an incredible honour. To do so in a way that’s grounded in cultural understanding makes the journey more balanced and meaningful. That’s why working with Neami has been so positive. They listen—really listen—and they don’t try to reshape our cultural practices to fit a predefined model. Instead, we find ways to walk side by side. 

“Yes, challenges come up,” she said. “But honesty, openness, and a shared commitment to doing what’s right for the people we serve have placed both our services in a strong and safe place. This is what true collaboration looks like. This is what culture in practice can be.” 

Department of Communities and Justice has since extended the STSH program into four more regions, including the Neami-led Inner Sydney and Nepean-Penrith services.

For Kath, this can be attributed in part to Home to Stay’s success, which wouldn’t have been possible without the trust established with Tharawal. “You have to do what you say you are going to do, listen to what they say – particularly if you are asking for their input – and never dismiss their point of view.

“People may have experienced disadvantage and trauma perpetuated by well-meaning services and organisations,” said Kath. “Don’t be another of them.”