Dignity has been recognised as Charity of the Year in The Australian Charity Awards 2025. The Australian Charity Awards program recognises charitable organisations that have achieved outstanding results through initiatives that have significantly benefited charitable causes, culminating in an overall winner for Australian Charity of the Year.
 
This award recognises the innovative design of the Ready To Work program, the dedication and passion of the entire Dignity team, and the impact it has made in the lives of people experiencing homelessness.

“We are honoured to be recognised as Charity of the Year in The Australian Charity Awards 2025. Dignity’s Ready To Work Housing program was designed to break the cycle of homelessness by combining safe, stable housing with employment pathways and wraparound support. Since launching in 2022, we’ve supported over 130 individuals with the support needed to find a path forward out of homelessness through employment. This recognition affirms the power of collaboration and innovation in creating lasting change. We hope to continue scaling this evidence-based model so more people experiencing homelessness can secure long-term housing stability.” 

Suzanne Hopman, Founder & CEO

This month, Dignity has launched our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan, with the endorsement of Reconciliation Australia. 
 
The Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan will lay the groundwork for future initiatives by focusing on relationships, respect, and opportunities. Over a period of 12 months, our organisation, led by a RAP Champion and supported by a RAP working  group, will undertake initiatives that will provide opportunities for cultural learning, further build relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders, and establish a vision for reconciliation. 
 
To read Dignity’s Reflect Rap, please visit Awards & Published Reports

Homelessness in Australia remains a pressing and complex social issue, which has only been exacerbated by a worsening housing crisis that continues to push more individuals and families into homelessness.

Rental prices have continued to soar, and affordable housing stock has dwindled resulting in the number of people at risk of or experiencing homelessness rising. This includes not only those sleeping rough, but also the hidden homeless: people couch surfing, living in cars, or staying in crisis accommodation.
 
Homelessness can happen to anyone. However, it disproportionately affects vulnerable groups such as women escaping domestic violence, First Nations communities, younger and older people.

Our sincere gratitude goes to Dignity’s past guests and residents who bravely shared their story for our Many Faces of Homelessness video.

In sharing these stories, we hope to educate by breaking down the myths and stigma surrounding people experiencing homelessness, and to motivate by encouraging government, businesses, services, and the community to come together to find the solutions needed to ensure homelessness is rare, brief, and not repeated.

Dignity has been named a Finalist in First NCOSS Excellence, Vision & Advocacy (EVA) Awards. Named after social justice icon and former NCOSS Director, Eva Cox, the EVA Awards recognise and honour the excellence, positive impact, dedication, and courage of individuals and organisations in the NSW Social Service Sector.

Dignity is honoured to be named as a finalist in the category ‘Excellence and Impact – Organisation’. 
 
Thank you NCOSS for this honourable recognition.

From left: Kieron Ritchard, Dignity Chair; The Hon. Jodie Harrison, NSW Minister for Women; Suzanne Hopman, Dignity Founder & CEO, at the NCOSS EVA Awards.

Coinciding with Homelessness Week this week, we are thrilled to announce the opening of Dignity’s latest longer-term housing program, Transition To Work, a program for women and women with children in Southwest Sydney. The 9 brand new units and family home will not only provide stable housing for women with children experiencing homelessness for up to 12 months but will also provide wrap around support, work readiness and employment opportunities for our residents to secure a job.

We are grateful for the contribution made by NSW Government’s Homelessness Innovation Fund (HIF) grant, in partnership with Homes NSW that helped realise this innovative new program.

Thank you also to our corporate partners Fantastic Furniture for providing all of the furniture for the new homes and Winning Group/Appliances Online for supplying the appliances and for joining us on site for a day of corporate volunteering to set up the new properties.

Dignity was founded in 2015 and over the past ten years, the organisation has grown from one guesthouse for women and children experiencing homelessness to multiple guest homes and housing residences across 25 locations, supporting and empowering up to 400 people experiencing homelessness each night.

Two weeks ago, we hosted out first-ever Gala Dinner to mark Dignity’s 10th Anniversary and raise much-needed funds to support even more people in the future. What a night it was! We are deeply grateful to the many individuals and businesses who contributed to making the evening such a success.

Thank you to our event sponsors Endeavour Energy, Winning Group/Appliances Online, Fantastic Furniture, HSL Group, 5 Star Builders, SDJA and Happy Hair Brush. We asked our event sponsors to share why they choose to support Dignity and people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

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Thank you to those who volunteered their time including emcee extraordinaire Sarah Macdonald, videographer Rob Leggo, Photographer Rob Lloyd, Dignity Dish volunteers and Brigidine College St Ives students. And to everyone who joined us on the night, and to those who joined in from home buying raffle tickets and bidding on the auction items, thank you for your generous support of people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

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Our 10th Anniversary video reflects on this journey—highlighting key moments, stories and the collective effort of our team, volunteers, partners and community who have all played a part in ending homelessness in Australia, one person at a time.

A very big thank you to our partner Birribee Housing and artist Uncle Dave for the gift of this meaningful artwork. Representing the importance of partnerships within community, the artwork symbolises how working together and valuing Aboriginal voices can lead to stronger, more connected and culturally safe communities. It also celebrates unity, belonging and the ongoing strength of Aboriginal culture and identity.

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Throughout Reconciliation Week this week, our team have attended community events to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures and more about this year’s theme, Bridging Now to Next. The theme is a call for all Australians to step forward together, to look ahead and continue the push forward as past lessons guide us.

Dignity is committed to looking ahead and pushing forward to progress reconciliation. We are also committed to walking alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specialist homelessness and housing organisations to improve outcomes for First nations people experiencing homelessness in Australia.

Over the 10 years, Dignity has grown from one guesthouse for women and children experiencing homelessness to multiple guest homes across 25 locations, supporting and empowering up to 400 people experiencing homelessness each night.

To mark the occasion, we will be hosting our first ever Gala Dinner to raise much-needed funds for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

Join CEO and Founder Suzanne Hopman and emcee, journalist Sarah MacDonald, and the Dignity team for an evening of fine food, beverages and lively entertainment including a live auction and music to dance the night away.

Together we can create lasting change, empowering people to prevent, respond to and end their homelessness.

We hope you can join us!

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Friday 15 August 2025
Time: 7pm–11pm
Where: Doltone House Hyde Park, Sydney

Buy tickets here

After three impactful years of partnership, working together to make a difference, the Raine & Horne Foundation have pledged additional support contributing $100,000 in 2025 to enable Dignity to further advance our ‘1 Million Meals’ project as well as explore interstate expansion for Dignity’s supported temporary accommodation and longer-term housing programs.

With more people at risk of or experiencing homelessness than ever, this donation will ensure Dignity is there to support and walk alongside as people are empowered to find their way forward.

“Thank you Raine & Horne foundation for believing in Dignity’s mission of empowering people with Dignity to prevent, respond to and end their homelessness. On top of the financial donations, the Raine & Horne team has provided countless hours of corporate volunteering over the years and launched creative collection drives to support people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. We are grateful for their continued support. Collaboratively, we can end homelessness in Australia.”

Suzanne Hopman, Dignity CEO

In Partnership with Homes NSW and NSW Government’s Homelessness Innovation Fund (HIF), Dignity’s new Transition To Lease Housing program is an innovative initiative designed to help families experiencing homelessness to secure private rental housing. Many families experiencing homelessness face barriers such as poor rental history, existing debts, or sudden life changes, which make it difficult to compete in the increasingly competitive rental market.

The Transition To Lease Housing program provides residents with a  leased home, complete with furniture and appliances, along with essential support and tenancy education to support families towards a transfer of lease during the 12-month program period.

Stable housing, tailored wrap-around support and tenancy education will provide families with the opportunity for long-term tenancy success, empowering them to end their homelessness.