Persisting through recession to expansion. Throughout our journey, funding has been a persistent challenge. With every two steps forward in growth, we faced a step and a half back in finances. By 1992, as recession gripped Australia, we hit crisis point! Consolidation and cost efficiency were essential for our survival, while expanding our horizons was necessary. Outdated properties were sold to free up funds for diversification into new programs like Forest Lodge Youth Hostel at Glebe, and broadening our reach into new areas with different needs.
With just $7,000 to our name in the early 1990s, we were in big trouble and the emergence of other NGO providers equally hungry for available funding added competitive pressure.
1995 – Safe supported stays
By 1995 our re-shuffle had paid off, making more beds available to as many as 61 people within our Core Housing (21 beds), Halfway Houses (16 beds) and Outreach/Satellite stays (24 beds). It positioned us for a $66 million lifeline from the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care Boarding House Relocation Program, offered to us for provision of more supported accommodation options for people with psychiatric issues.
1997 – Bigger contracts, higher stakes
With an eye to expansion, we made the ambitious move to take our services to new neighbourhoods and social needs in Western Sydney. RFNSW’s reputation and track record in the inner city won us a bid to provide rehabilitative housing to Wentworth Area Mental Health Service. One year later, future funding for broader ventures, like crisis care and preventative outreach support, was cemented with the government.
1999 – With growth comes confidence
Our team’s capacity for making the necessary adjustments to cover multiple government-run area health services strengthened our resolve to dream bigger! Continuous improvement through trial and error became our forte as we adapted our approach to the needs, expectations and demands of each different locality and special interest group.
To this day, a pillar of Flourish Australia’s widely successful service delivery framework is programs co-designed with the communities we serve. The 1990s saw our mental health services become even more integrated with mainstream health services, helping to ease system overload, which diminished stigma and improved accessibility of practical, recovery focused supports.