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We believe no one should be without a safe and secure place to call home.

We raise funds, then seek out and support smaller grassroots organisations doing vital work in our communities

We believe everyone should have a safe and secure place to call home
We work to raise funds and awareness to bring about change for people experiencing homelessness or at risk.

Through innovative campaigns we enable and empower communities
to raise vital funds and awareness
for smaller grassroots homeless services

We keep it grassroots, we keep it local

We seek out, support and partner with small organisations and projects, in the communities where funds are raised.

Our Start Up Story

StreetSmart was founded by Adam Robinson in 2003.  It was while working at a small youth service in Dandenong, in the outer suburbs of Melbourne, he gained first hand experience of the many barriers to funding that grassroots organisations face. The aim of founding StreetSmart was to simultaneously break down inaccurate prejudices about homelessness, raise vital funds for important smaller, local organisations and strengthen them through collaboration and connecting them to their community.

Funds raised  are distributed through Community Grants privileging locality — donations are fed back into projects as close to where they are raised as possible and targeted smaller services aimed at people experiencing homelessness. StreetSmart still operates at a local, grassroots level to fund critical services.  These smaller organisations are embedded in local communities and often deliver innovative responses to community needs.

We believe:

  1. No Australian should be homeless, housing is a human right
  2. Homelessness is complex and there are many contributing factors to be tackled
  3. A lack of affordable housing for those on a low income is a leading contributor to homelessness
  4. The provision of housing and supportive services is critical in solving homelessness
  5. People experiencing homelessness should be supported through provision of emergency aid and critical services, and development of projects and programs that encourage social inclusion, empowerment and sustainable change
  6. In working to prevent people from becoming homeless

Status:  StreetSmart Australia is a Public Benevolent Institute with DGR 1.

TEAM

National Board of Directors

Damien Farrell (Chair)
Anna Lyons, Minter Ellison
Denise Nguyen – Ernst and Young, (Treasurer)
Adam Robinson – Founder & Chief of Impact
Michael Sapountzis (Secretary)
Barb Taylor, Heide Museum of Modern Art

Staff

Geoff Hills – CEO
Adam Robinson – Founder & Chief of Impact
Ben Bugeja – Digital Campaign Manager
Cynthia Mac Caddon – Partnerships Manager
Geeta Buttery – Technology Lead
Isabella Stanley – Impact Coordinator

Grants Advisory Committee

Currently community grants are distributed twice a year. In VIC, NSW/ACT and QLD StreetSmart has a state-based volunteer Grants Advisory Committee who review and decide on grant applications. Our committees are made up of committed people looking to build stronger communities and help those experiencing homelessness or at risk, we thank them for their time and valued support.

Victorian Grants Advisory Committee:   Lucy Adams, Victoria Legal Aid; Cassandra Bawden, CHP Pier Education Support Program; Andrew Edgar,  Council to Homeless Persons: Carla Raynes, HomeShare Melbourne: Russell Shields, Community Grocer

New South Wales/ACT Grants Advisory Committee: Sue Cripps, Sue Cripps Consulting;  Katherine McKernan, Homelessness NSW; Lara Sabbadin, NSW Department of Justice, DV Team;

Queensland Grants Advisory Committee: Wendy Hovard, BHCLMaria Leebeek, QYHC; Darren McGhee, Salvation Army; Robert Reed, Minter Ellison; Ruth Toomey, Public Service Commission.

SPONSORS & PARTNERS

The work of StreetSmart Australia is made possible through the vision and financial support of a number of private philanthropists, corporate partners and pro-bono partners.

WORK FOR US

There are currently no positions advertised.