Community Housing Industry Association NSW

Before joining the CHIA NSW Cadetship Program, Emily was ready for a change. She was ready for a career. That’s when she applied for the Cadetship Program, and it’s been a turning point ever since. Through her placement with Homes North Community Housing, Emily completed her Certificate IV in Housing and gained valuable, hands-on experience in the community housing sector. Emily’s story shows what’s possible when you take a chance on something new and commit to the journey. Our thanks go to the NSW Government and Homes NSW for their support for making the program happen and helping build the next generation of community housing professionals. Interested in applying? Applications for the 2026 intake are now open, check out the link down below!

🌟 Welcome back, Emily! CHIA NSW is excited to once again be partnering with CareerTrackers to host an intern over the summer. CareerTrackers is a national non-profit that coordinates internship opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander university students, supporting pathways to long-term career success. 🌱 Emily was part of our team last year and we’re delighted she’s chosen to spend the next few months with us again. During her placement, Emily will be researching Aboriginal employment policies and helping us shape our own. 🎯 👏 We’re excited to have Emily back on board and to continue supporting the professional development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the community housing industry.

When Abra joined Round 4 of the CHIA NSW Cadetship Program, he had one clear goal: to build a career, not just find a job. Through his cadetship with Evolve Housing, Abra completed his Certificate IV in Housing and gained hands-on experience that set him on the path to long-term success in the community housing sector. Reflecting on his journey, Abra’s advice to anyone applying for the cadetship is simple: embrace the experience fully — to take on every challenge and opportunity that comes their way. Abra’s story is a great example of how the Cadetship Program helps people grow their skills, confidence, and purpose while creating pathways to meaningful employment. Applications for the 2026 intake are open now! See the link down below for more info. We appreciate the NSW Government and Homes NSW for helping open doors to new skills, experiences, and careers.

🤖 AI isn’t coming – it’s here. Human-centred, ethical and responsible transformation. Doing more with less. Redefining work, not defining purpose. These are just some of the themes explored at our inaugural AI for Community Housing Summit on Wednesday, an event that brought together sector leaders and tech professionals to explore how AI can drive innovation and better outcomes in community housing. From global insights to real-world examples and expert guidance on governance and ethics, the day offered valuable direction for how our industry can responsibly and effectively implement AI. 🙏 A big thank you to everyone who joined us in-person and online. Your contributions made this a powerful start to an ongoing conversation about AI’s role in the community housing industry here in Australia.

Earlier this year, we celebrated Starr and our Round 4 Cadetship Program graduates at their official Graduation Day! For Starr, whose story you can watch down below, the CHIA NSW Cadetship Program was a journey into building a career, where she could make a real change to her community and the people around her. After 12 months of hands-on learning with Hume Community Housing, Starr graduated with a Certificate IV in housing, creating a clear path into a very rewarding industry. The Cadetship Program opens real opportunities to build skills, confidence and purpose within the community housing sector. We’re grateful to the NSW Government and Homes NSW for their continued support. Applications for the 2026 intake are open, you can see more in the link down below.

Yesterday we said farewell and congratulations to our CEO, Mark Degotardi, who after six and a half years with CHIA NSW is taking on a new challenge as the inaugural CEO of Australian Community Housing. We’ll miss Mark’s leadership and expertise here in NSW, but we’re thrilled that his skills and vision will now help guide the national conversation on housing. Congratulations and thank you, Mark Degotardi. We look forward to continuing to work with you and the team at Australian Community Housing to create a fairer housing system for all Australians.

For Jenieva, joining the CHIA NSW Cadetship Program was more than just a chance to gain experience, it was the beginning of a new direction. During her placement with Community Housing Ltd, she completed her Certificate IV in Housing and discovered a passion for helping others and creating positive change. That passion has now inspired her next step, Jenieva has been accepted into a Bachelor of Human Services at Charles Sturt University! Her journey is a wonderful example of how the Cadetship Program can spark confidence, purpose, and new opportunities for lifelong learning and career growth. Applications for the 2026 intake are open now!

Congratulations to Homes NSW on the release of the Homes for NSW Strategy. This is a clear and crucial commitment to a fairer housing system that ensures everyone in NSW has a secure place to call home. Backed by significant NSW Government funding and measurable targets, the Homes for NSW Strategy is a promise for more homes and better tenant outcomes. With decades of experience in delivering safe, affordable homes and strong communities, the community housing industry looks forward to continuing to work with the NSW Government, Homes NSW and valued partners to ensure this strategy delivers more social and affordable homes and real results for the people who need it most. Homes NSW

For more than 40 years, we have been building homes and hope, made by the community, for the community. We own or manage over 54,000 social homes for people who need them most. Tackling the housing crisis is one of the greatest challenges we face, and we are committed for the long haul. By working with government, financiers, and developers, we deliver real, lasting solutions. We are highly regulated and focused on creating value. Right now, we have thousands of potential new homes that can be unlocked with the right partners and the right funding. This is your chance to make a tangible difference. Join us to create affordable housing at scale and build stronger communities for generations. #WeAreCommunityHousing

When expertise meets commitment, partnerships deliver more than houses, they deliver homes, stability, and hope 🌟. Real solutions to the housing crisis happen when government and community housing providers work together 🤝 Housing Trust and SGCH are bringing this to life with projects like Gibbons Street in Redfern, delivered by St George Community Housing in partnership with Lendlease and City of Sydney, and Northsea in Wollongong, delivered by Housing Trust in partnership with Traders In Purple and Homes NSW. These developments aren't just buildings and homes, they’re vibrant communities that are creating long-term security and giving people the chance to truly thrive 💚 🏠 . Watch the video and see how these partnerships are changing lives and communities for the better. #WeAreCommunityHousing