GROW
Compass GROW Program, our Total Sustainability Initiative
Compass Housing aims to be more than merely a housing provider. We wish to engage our clients, and encourage improvement in their physical and mental well-being to ensure they have a bright future. Compass has recently released the Compass GROW program our total sustainability initiative, which is a broad, wide ranging program aimed in essence at improving the lives of our clients in many ways.
The GROW Program incorporates the community development and environmental aspirations of Compass Housing towards its residents, clients and other stakeholders. It strives to be the greatest value-add endeavour to the existing provision of social and affordable housing currently seen in the Australian Housing Sector for the benefit of Compass Housing residents and other stakeholders. We seek to partner, influence, guide and/or educate collegial organisations towards similar objectives and activities for the benefit of the sector and the broader community.
With inspiration and invaluable contribution, this program has delivered many environmental sustainability outcomes with active participation from staff, Board, tenant representative groups as well as external stakeholders. It is now ‘core business’ for Compass Housing and underpins the strategic direction of the company. This program aims to enrich the lives of our tenants through enhancing their personal, social, environmental and economic sustainability, by way of increasing awareness and participation in:
- Health & nutrition; esteem and well-being; security of tenure
- Community contribution; economic participation; generational advancement
- Practising sustainable living practices
Part of this program also entails our community development workers to conduct one-on-one surveys with our tenants, questions tailored to the above subjects, interests in various social and educational groups, as well as ascertaining whether the tenant requires or would like to be referred to our partnered support agencies.
To view the Program document click here to download GROW Program
Community Development & GROW Program
The Compass Housing community is a connected community. Compass Housing is committed to supporting and strengthening individuals and families in an inclusive way. One of our community development initiatives is our GROW Program. This is a holistic approach which assists our tenants to achieve self-reliance, contribute to solutions and participate in outcomes that affect them as individuals and members of the community.
Green (Environmental Sustainability)
Compass Housing is directing its attention to the environment with its retrofitting of existing features to dwellings; enviro-build projects; sustainable office & business practices and good environmental practices.
By recycling, turning off lights, watering plants early morning, participating in Earth Hour, you are participating in environmental sustainability. Compass Green has been formed to look at initiatives that our Compass Housing community can adopt that will benefit our environment. Tenants are encouraged to become a member of Compass Green. Please contact your housing manager for further information.
Responsible (Community Sustainability)
The Compass Housing community is an important member of our wider community. For our community to remain sustainable we each need to contribute and participate. We can all be part of the ‘solution’.
The Compass Housing community is sustained through our tenants' participation and involvement. The wider community also relies on our tenants' contribution to connect with others and develop strong and resilient communities.
Compass Housing has many initiatives in which tenants can become involved. We offer opportunities for tenants to meaningfully participate and interact with the community. At a local level, this may involve volunteering, training or joining a tenant group. Our tenants, staff and stakeholders can help another community by participating in our Child Sponsorship Program or our online micro-finance lending program.
Compass C.A.R.E has been established to consider how the Compass Housing community can assist other communities in need, particularly those affected by natural disasters. This group will be participating in fund-raising activities to raise funds.
One of our most recent initiatives is the STAR Program – this program is specifically designed to work with partner agencies and corporations to enable our tenants to access elite training, development and mentoring opportunities that may not otherwise be available. The program will consist of a scholarship scheme and a youth mentor scheme. For more information please contact Callan Walker at the Compass Housing Central Administration Office.
Opportunities (Corporate Sustainability)
Sound business practices and good governance are adopted by Compass Housing as an organisation. These attributes together with efficiencies and improvement in delivery of services enable Compass Housing to be sustainable as an organisation. Compass Housing is a leader in the social housing sector and continues to use its competitive strength to its tenants' advantage.
Welfare (Personal Sustainability)
Ensuring our tenants' personal sustainability is very important to Compass Housing. Our tenants' personal sustainability concerns health and well-being and their ability to maintain their tenancy. Personal sustainability is unique to each person.
We encourage all our tenants to keep healthy physically, mentally and financially. We can provide our tenants' with information about nutritious food and food preparation, healthy lifestyle and budgeting. We are able to connect our tenants' with services that can assist them with lifestyle changes and achieving personal sustainability.
Ensuring security of tenure is important. Compass Housing wants to ensure our tenants' are equipped with the skills and information they need to comply with their rights, responsibilities and obligations under the lease. Compass Housing has created a Living Skills Workshop specifically created for new or existing tenancies that require assistance or support.
2012 GROW Brochure
Click on the above link to view our 2012 GROW brochure