Wombat Housing Support Services

This National Reconciliation Week, Wombat is proud to officially launch our Reconciliation Action Plan and dedicated RAP webpage.

This is a big step for Wombat, and one shaped by reflection, honest conversations, challenge and hard work.

Our RAP has been developed through the commitment of people across the organisation, including the generous contributions of First Nations staff who shared their artwork, experience, wisdom and guidance throughout the process.

The 2026 National Reconciliation Week theme is All In. For Wombat, being all in means continuing to listen, learn, build respectful relationships and take practical action beyond this week.

Our RAP webpage is now live and shares more about our commitments and reconciliation journey.

Read more here:
https://www.wombat.org.au/about/reconciliation-action-plan

All artwork on this page is adapted from Visitors (2024) by Maddison Dunkley (Gomeroi) and Kevyn Manning (Larrakia). The collaborative work depicts the Spirit Creator and the journey of walking alongside clients — offering support, understanding, and hope.

Sharing and celebrating this important Treaty milestone. Congratulations to the newly elected Co-Chairs of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria.

We continue to stand in support of Treaty in Victoria.

If you’ve walked past our office on Flemington Rd today, you’ve seen our Windows for Change display filled with a message of solidarity. 🖤💛❤️

At Wombat, we stand in solidarity. Today, our staff have chosen to work because we recognise that January 26th is a day of mourning and survival, not celebration. In support of our First Nations staff, clients, and the wider community, we are continuing our support services while also taking time to attend the Invasion Day Rally in Central Melbourne this morning.

In the homelessness sector, we witness the devastating and ongoing impacts of colonisation every single day. We are in awe of the resilience, compassion, and spirit of the people we are privileged to walk alongside, and we remain committed to the fight for equality, recognition, and justice.

Want to show your support? Check out the incredible posters in our window! They are provided by the legends at Clothing The Gaps We want to thank them for giving us the tools to use our office space for advocacy.

We encourage you to visit Clothing The Gaps to find their Jan 26 campaign resources, sign the Australia Day - Jan 26 - Not A Date To Celebrate petition and get your own posters to display.

Let’s listen, learn, and act together. Always Was. Always Will Be.

Petition: https://www.change.org/p/australia-day-jan-26-not-a-date-to-celebrate?recruiter=968630202&recruited_by_id=70a86fa0-88d1-11e9-9036-d3680673480c&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=petition_dashboard&utm_medium=copylink

🎁 Need a meaningful last-minute gift? Send hope instantly. No wrapping or postage required!

Donate today on behalf of someone special, and they’ll receive an e-card you can personalise with your message.

Not buying a gift? You can still make this Christmas matter.
Your donation helps fund simple, powerful thing like a child’s first swimming lesson, a family outing to the zoo, a pet care package, or home essentials.

Whether you’re gifting or giving, you’re creating joy and belonging for families, singles, and young people rebuilding after crisis.

Donate now and create .
👉 https://www.givenow.com.au/wombathousing

As Christmas approaches, we’ve been collecting gifts from The Sixth Child — a partner who shows up for our young people every single year.
These gifts bring joy to families who are doing it tough, and they always go straight to parents and caregivers. That’s central to the program: preserving a parent’s dignity by ensuring they are the ones giving the gift. A small detail that means everything.

The Sixth Child also supports young people with practical essentials. Recently, Jason* — who had been managing health issues while couch surfing and trying to stay on top of school — finally secured long term housing. As he settled in, The Sixth Child provided him with a new pair of Nike sneakers. For Jason, it wasn’t just shoes — it was confidence, stability and a reminder that people in his community care.
This partnership helps families and young people feel seen, supported and not forgotten — at Christmas and all year round. We’re incredibly grateful for their ongoing support.

*Name changed.

Thanks to StreetSmart Australia and the amazing initiative, we’ve received a grant that will help us provide essential food items to families, singles and young people doing it tough this Christmas. 💛

This support comes from local cafes and their generous customers – thank you for making a real difference in our community!

🎶 We can’t wait for this! 🎶

Join us for a truly special night with the incredible Liz Stringer, standing together with Wombat Housing Support Service at the Corner Hotel for her To Survive tour show.

On the night, you’ll have the opportunity to donate to our Moments That Matter campaign — experiences that restore dignity and joy for families rebuilding after crisis.

📅 Friday, November 21
📍 Corner Hotel
✨ With very special guests Kyarna and Maeve Grieve

Liz has been a passionate friend and advocate for our community, helping us raise much-needed funds to support children, young people, singles and families across Melbourne’s inner west. We value authentic partnerships like this, and working with Liz is always a highlight for us.

🎟 Grab your tickets now and stand with us to make a difference!
👉 https://tickets.cornerhotel.com/outlet/event/c695708b-36d8-4616-a8dd-e18814d42445

We’re thrilled to be featured as one of the incredible charities on the To Survive Tour!

Liz Stringer has been a wonderful supporter of Wombat Housing Support Services, raising $12k for us in 2021 at The Thornbury Theatre. This year, she’s taking it even further by co-presenting the tour with us and helping to generate vital funds for our work supporting vulnerable communities in Melbourne’s inner north and west.

We deeply appreciate Liz’s friendship and ongoing commitment to our team, whose dedication makes a real difference every day. This partnership is invaluable and will enable us to continue delivering essentials for children, young people, and families—such as food, clothing, and other practical support.

Tickets for the Corner Hotel show and all other dates are available here: www.lizstringer.com/shows

You can check out our donation page here: https://www.givenow.com.au/wombatandlizstringer

Thank you for your support!

🏠 Housing Ends Homelessness 🏠

This week, we're proud to continue our year-round Window for Change campaign, with a special focus on Homelessness Week and the urgent need for more social and affordable housing.

Our Wombat team has filled our front window with colourful origami houses to spark conversations, raises awareness, and shows our support for safe, affordable housing for everyone.

But Window for Change is more than just a display. It's a call for more social and affordable housing in Victoria. Right now, there isn’t a single private rental affordable for a couple or single parent with children on a Centrelink income. This is pushing more families to the edge, and the need for action has never been greater.

As one of our team members shared:

“ We do this work because everyone deserves stability and dignity. We see firsthand how the lack of affordable housing puts families under enormous pressure. Even when homelessness is not always visible, its impact is very real. That is why we keep raising our voices for change. “

👥 Last year, Wombat supported over 800 people across Melbourne’s west, helping young people, families, and individuals find a path forward.

📸 If you are walking past, take a look at our window, snap a photo, and share it with or to help spread the word.

🧡 You can also fold your own origami house, pop it in your window, and keep the conversation going.

🔗 Learn more at vhn.org.au/housesatparliament

Let’s keep building awareness and working towards a community where everyone has a place to call home.