What an innovative project the Sidney Myer Haven program is for Bendigo. In fact, this project is unique to Australia, the first of its kind based on the philosophy of giving, and it’s happening here in Bendigo. We should be shouting it from the rooftops!

 J.G. King Homes have built the 23 units on the old Paynting Nurseries site in Flora Hill. Included is an education centre which gives residents, particularly young residents aged 18 and 24, the opportunity to gain new skills relevant to a long-term working future. This program is about providing residents, both singles and families, the chance to stay for two years, experiencing a stable home while they return to school for education and training programs. They must be ‘earning or learning’ to quote Gabriella Browne, the centres’ general manager.

Funding for the Sidney Myer Haven was strongly supported with $4 million coming from the Victorian Property Fund, the Yulgibar Foundation (Baillieu Myer) and the Sidney Myer fund ($1.4 million) who also helped finance this exciting project worth $7.5 million.  It was also seeded with money from support agencies, other state government departments, philanthropic organisations, and includes a very generous local donation of $500,000 from the Carol and Bill Holsworth family, all of whom strongly believe in this project of self-help.

This whole philosophy is about changing lives for the better for people going through a ‘rough patch’. It offers education through improved reading, writing and numeracy skills which many of these residents lack, and a work ethos which results from better education skills and confidence. There are cooking and parenting classes, budgeting advice, and life skills. These are skills many of us take for granted.

Families and singles have the opportunity to turn their lives around, planning for a future and making informed decisions. Many of these residents’ lives have been chaotic from birth...not their fault but, unfortunately, the families they were born into. Sidney Myer Haven gives them an opportunity to change their lives permanently. Some have already found employment in commercial services, retail and skilled trades.

Haven; Home Safe is the overarching umbrella over Sidney Myer Haven and has stated that the aim of this project isn’t simply to resolve the crises that occur regularly in the lives of these residents, but to make enduring changes to their lives by getting these people skilled up in every aspect of their lives.  Ken Marchingo, CEO of Haven: Home Safe has said ‘Sidney Myer Haven is a medium-term transitional program from which we graduate people into long-term housing after 18 months to two years. They leave Sidney Myer Haven, move into a private rental residence in the community, bringing with them new skills and employment prospects’.

The centre is built close to facilities that support these families. Children are back in school as schools are close and convenient. There is a shopping centre within walking distance, a swimming pool and an accessible bus stop.

Part of the responsibility of the service providers is to support residents with career guidance. The impact on families who benefit is life-changing. When you educate parents you educate the whole family.

Sidney Myer Haven is doing this every day. What a visionary scheme, the first of its kind in Australia to address social, educational and rental deficiencies.

ANNIE YOUNG