Your NNC: Blog
Welcome to 2026!February 2026
The year is already off to an exciting start at Newtown Neighbourhood Centre. Over the coming months, we’ll be shaping our next three-year Strategic Plan. This process will draw directly on the series of Community Conversations we held in the second half of last year, along with client surveys and ongoing feedback.
Our goal is simple: to ensure our direction continues to reflect the voices, hopes and lived experiences of the people we serve. We look forward to sharing the completed strategy with you at the start of the new financial year. We’re also proud to share that, at the end of last year, NNC was awarded Best Workplace at the Xref Engage Awards. We undertake a staff survey every two years, and this is the fourth consecutive time we’ve received this recognition, benchmarked against our sector. It’s a reflection of the care, commitment and collaboration that underpin everything we do for our community. Connection and ContributionThis month, we’re sharing two stories that capture the heart of our work. Our profile on our amazing volunteer, Adam, celebrates his generosity and dedication in giving his time to strengthen our community. His story is a powerful reminder that local action creates lasting impact. 5 MINUTES WITH ADAM After retiring from a long career in community welfare and social housing policy, our volunteer Adam was looking for a way to stay connected to both his values and his community. What he found at Newtown Neighbourhood Centre was more than a volunteer role – it was a place to belong, to contribute in meaningful ways, and to stay connected to the people and streets he cares about. What began as one opportunity to get involved has grown into a deep and lasting commitment. Q What led you to start volunteering with NNC? A On retiring, I was looking for voluntary work that aligned with my background, values and community. Much of my career had been in community welfare policy and sector development, particularly social housing, and NNC offered the chance to move beyond policy to working with real people in real communities. I’d long been impressed by NNC as a leading community sector organisation, especially around homelessness, and that connection deepened when then CEO Liz Yeo became Chair of Shelter NSW, where I was working before retirement. I’d also moved from Erko to Tempe and was missing Newtown and King Street. Q You support several programs across NNC - could you share which ones you’re involved in and what your volunteering usually looks like? A NNC seems to have drawn me in further as time goes by. I started with Newtopian outreach after Liz suggested it as a way to get involved. It’s a simple role on the surface – once a month going out onto the streets of Newtown to engage with people sleeping rough – but it confronts your fears about homelessness: what to say and what you can do. It was designed to educate volunteers, and you learn about the lived experience of homelessness, sometimes becoming part of engagements that profoundly change someone’s life. That led me to a weekly shift at what was then Information and Referral and is now the Drop-in Hub, providing support, referrals or conversation to meet immediate needs, while seeing how confusing the system can be. I’ve since joined the Work, Health and Safety Committee and the Reconciliation Plan implementation group, helping bring a volunteer perspective to NNC’s work. Q What do you get out of volunteering? A It gives me a sense of belonging, which sits at the centre of what NNC does. As the website says, it exists to build an inclusive, resilient, self-reliant and creative community and provides a welcoming hub where people from all walks of life can access support, connection and opportunity. That’s not just about the people who use the centre – it does that for me as a volunteer. It’s also taught me so much, in real and tangible ways, about what we as a society do – and don’t do – to give everyone security and community. Through NNC I’ve had the chance to hear and share the frustrations, fears and triumphs of people I would never otherwise have met, and sometimes to feel I’ve made a small difference. Q Is there a particular experience that’s really stayed with you? A The most important moments are when I really connected with someone who urgently needed to connect to another human being – someone who heard, understood and cared. But there’s also the moments of being carried away by the band at a Winter Vibe. And then there are the times on the Work, Health and Safety Committee when I’m struck by how professional and rigorous this organisation is. Q Why do you think this work and volunteering at NNC is important? A All communities need places that work to hold them together and where people can work to support each other. Sometimes it’s a local school or a sports club. But they also need ones that seek out those who are excluded, and work to hold them together in the community – to find the barriers they face and the ways to overcome them. These days governments, with their narrow funding objectives, have forgotten that. So its left to places like NNC and the huge numbers of volunteers that fill the gaps. In return, their sense of belonging is enriched. Inspired by Adam’s story? Volunteering at Newtown Neighbourhood Centre is a chance to connect, contribute and be part of a community. Whether you can offer a few hours or a longer-term commitment, there’s a place for you. Find out how you can get involved and make a difference. Connection that Changes LivesAt Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, Just Social is more than a weekly gathering. It’s a safe, welcoming space where people with lived experience of homelessness and significant vulnerability can reconnect – with others, and with themselves.
Just Social is a facilitated social connection program for people receiving case management support at Newtown Neighbourhood Centre (NNC). Many participants have experienced homelessness, trauma, or prolonged instability. What they often share is resilience – and a desire to belong. “Just Social is a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space where people can connect with others and build genuine friendships,” says Phuong, who leads the program. “We support participants to feel a sense of belonging – to be seen and heard – and to contribute in ways that feel meaningful to them.” Sessions are informal and gently guided. The rhythm of the group is shaped by the strengths and interests of those who attend. There might be a painting session, gardening, or a pottery class. “Rather than expecting people to fit into a program, we open the space up to participants’ voices, interests and ideas,” Phuong explains. “Staff walk alongside participants, creating opportunities for them to actively engage, lead, and contribute in ways that feel safe and achievable.” That approach makes a tangible difference. Participants consistently describe Just Social as a place of warmth and relief. For people navigating housing insecurity or ongoing stress, two hours of connection can ease the weight of the week. “Many participants say the group ‘feels like family’,” says Phuong. “It offers acceptance and care that is often missing elsewhere in their lives. For some, it lessens the load they carry.” Importantly, Just Social isn’t just about receiving support – it’s about contribution. Members have helped repaint outdoor furniture at the NNC Drop-In Hub, shared creative skills, and facilitated art activities for one another. These peer-led moments build confidence and reinforce a powerful message: you are valuable here. “What makes Just Social unique is its meaningful, person-centred approach,” Phuong says. “People are valued for who they are, not defined by their struggles. We intentionally focus on strengths and lived experience, recognising that everyone has something to offer.” One of the Just Social participants says the program gives them much-needed space. “For those two hours, I can breathe. I can be me. I can set aside whatever’s weighing on me and just be part of something good. That feeling of connection – of belonging – is what keeps me coming back every time.” Another member shares: “When you’ve been through tough times or felt pushed to the edges of society, it can be hard to feel connected. But in this group, I feel accepted for who I am. I feel included. I feel part of a community again… Being part of Just Social has given me confidence, motivation, and a sense of being grounded.” Just Social exists because of community support. Funding doesn’t just cover activities or meals – it creates space for dignity, connection and hope. Taking Action TogetherOn 23 February, we’ll once again partner with Inner West Council to conduct the annual homeless street count. In recent years, we’ve seen significant increases in the number of people sleeping rough. While we remain realistic about the challenges ahead, we hope this year’s count shows signs of improvement. Accurate data is essential to advocate for the resources and responses our community needs.
We’re also looking forward to celebrating International Women’s Day on 6 March from 2–4.30pm. Join us for food, activities, music, pampering and giveaways as we come together to recognise the strength and contribution of women in our community. From 2-13 March, we’ll be hosting a series of events and activities as part of the NSW Seniors Festival 2026. We invite you to explore the full calendar of events and join us in celebrating our senior community members. |
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