Spring Edition September 2026
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Habitat for Humanity Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country on which we work throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We recognise their continuing connection to land, water and culture. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as Australia’s First Peoples and recognise their lands and sovereignty were never ceded.
Your compassion helped Mrs. Sa move into her new home.
They struggled to generate a stable income for the family. Their home measured only 3 square metres. When it rained, their old zinc-sheet roof leaked, putting the whole family’s health at risk.
Your support for families in Cambodia means a strong mum like Mrs. Sa can finally have a safe place to relax and plan for the future. Mrs. Sa and her family have now moved into a newly built, climate resilient home with locking doors and windows.
“My children can now access a better education and learn for a better future.”
Ms. Sa is also proving that it’s never too late to learn new skills and has taken part in a micro-grant and livelihood guidance sessions. Now, new income from her expanded farm contributes to her family’s financial independence, helping cover daily costs and grow their savings for emergencies.
Mrs. Sa’s final message was to say thank you to the caring donors who recognise that a home is more than just a roof and walls.
You’re working towards sustainable access to homes across Cambodia
Across Cambodia, families work hard to build a good life for the people they love – often across generations, with grandparents, parents and children supporting one another under one roof. Community runs deep, and a home is not just shelter, but a place to spend time with loved ones.
Your support reaches families across this country of 18 million people. In Cambodia, it can be hard to secure land ownership, clean water, and building materials due to a lack of accessibility. While Cambodia’s cities and economy are growing rapidly, outpacing housing supply.
This leaves many families with few options beyond shelters that leave them exposed to the elements, and without running water or electricity.
Following the devastating loss of life under the Khmer Rouge regime (1975–1979), the systems that usually help a country build safely and fairly (land tenure frameworks, and infrastructure development) had to be rebuilt almost from nothing.
Families across Cambodia adapt constantly, and what’s missing isn’t effort. It’s access. That’s where people like you come in.
Since 2003, the Habitat community have worked alongside more than 188,000 families in Cambodia building safe, resilient homes, improving access to clean water and sanitation, and supporting community-led development.
With your continued support, by 2028, that impact will have reached over 940,000 people.
The impact of your support after the 2025 Nepal Flood.
Over the past year, Talamai has been actively working to make her home more flood-resilient, because she knows that disaster doesn’t always come with a warning.
In October 2025, heavy rainfall triggered widespread flooding and landslides across Nepal. Talamai’s family was just one of many racing to cope against the rising waters.
Within 24 hours of the disaster, your support enabled rapid aid, and 30,000 families could access life-saving emergency shelter kits and transitional shelters.
A year on from the floods, and Nepal’s first prefabricated bamboo shelters are also being fully utilised. These innovative homes have been designed for rapid, temporary assembly in emergencies, to then be reconstructed as sturdy and permanent homes later.
Talamai’s family was supported in their recovery with a transitional shelter. Talamai can now breathe a sigh of relief. She lives with her children in a safe home, rebuilding her life after the devastating floods.
Beyond the delivery of a safe home, your compassion is increasing awareness and enabling innovative housing technologies, to change the way communities respond to disaster and plan for the future.
An inspiring promise of safety for women and their children
In Australia 1 in 4 women experience domestic violence. Escaping from a violent home often presents the greatest risk for a mother and her children. In these moments, your compassion makes a world of difference.
Your support contributes to the construction of Habitat Penrith, as part of a growing and impactful partnership with DV West.
Each year, Habitat Penrith will provide a nurturing recovery space for 200 women and children, and additional outreach support for another 650 women and children.
Habitat Penrith will provide counselling and legal support, a multipurpose room for safe remote court hearings, age-appropriate spaces for children, and units which are pet friendly and accessible.
When people like you care about supporting women escape violence, you become part of a bigger network of support for DV West sites, including their refuge, Wirrawee Gunya. Since 2024, this purpose-built crisis accommodation and outreach service has supported Aboriginal women and children across the Blacktown LGA, offering stability, care, and pathways to independence.
Your kindness builds the support that every mother and child deserve safety and healing in a space that offers a sense of home.Â
Transforming how we live healthily in our own homes
As we emerge from winter, you may have noticed some typical issues that impact families in Aussie homes. Freezing cold temperatures, washing that won’t dry quickly, and dark rooms that don’t let in enough light. These issues can carry more risk than you might think.
1.1 million Australians are living in unsafe or unsuitable conditions right now. Often, the people at highest risk are the ones already fighting against housing insecurity.
With your support, the newly launched Healthy Homes program improves health and wellbeing for low-income residents of social or community housing.
These families have access to home assessments which look at poor insulation, energy inefficiency, pests, and safety hazards.
Once an assessment has been completed, families then receive the necessary targeted repairs and education, addressing these harmful systemic issues in a home.
This entire program is delivered by Habitat Women, the social enterprise where trainees develop confidence and skills in maintenance and repairs.
You are part of the hopeful community fighting to improve living conditions, climate resilience, energy efficiency, and build the knowledge households need to maintain a safe and healthy home.
Let’s Find Out Together – How Healthy is Your Home?
Around 1 in 6 Aussie households are overcrowded, unsafe, or unaffordable.
True / False
Drying wet clothing on racks indoors can increase the amount of mould growing in your home, associated with poor health.
True / False
The German technique Lüften, (aka “house burping”) where you open all windows for 10 minutes a day, to rapidly cross-ventilate to bring in fresh air in does not work.
True / False
Over 200,000 Aussie households are currently experiencing housing stress.
True / False
38% of people seeking homelessness services in Australia are escaping domestic violence.
True / False
Women aged over 55 are the fastest growing group of people experiencing homelessness in Australia.
True / False
Habitat for Humanity only builds homes overseas, not in Australia.
True / False
*Answers a the bottom of the page
Greg shares how your support helps transform crisis accommodation
Meet Greg:
Greg is the Volunteer Program Manager, leading and delivering volunteer days across NSW and QLD. He works closely with community partners to identify renovation, repair and maintenance work to be done behind the scenes, then gets stuck in on-site leading the volunteer teams.
What inspires you to continue the work you do?
Our volunteers provide fresh insight and energy on every project we take on. They give heaps of motivation and bring so much to the project. It never ceases to amaze me how much work we can get done with a group that knows they have 7 hours to make the biggest impact possible.
Real-world Impact
You’ve worked alongside many volunteers and partner families over the years. Can you share a moment that stayed with you?
I remember the moment we put the final touches on one of our projects that took nearly a year to complete. This was a site which supports young teenagers in their recovery from drug and alcohol abuse. It was a huge, challenging, undertaking but well worth it to see the result, and the impact was clear on the young residents’ faces!
What’s something that would surprise supporters about the difference their compassion makes behind the scenes?
Many of the people who benefit from the renovations we do with volunteers have never experienced the mental clarity a fresh paint job provides. For many of our beneficiaries this can be the springboard to a new life.
How do financial donations help make these community projects possible?
Our donors help purchase building materials, vehicles, tools, fuel and mobilise a workforce of volunteers. It’s as simple as that. Without you, we can’t roll out to a job.
What happens on site that donors might not always see?
Imagine being in a community that hasn’t experienced a strong sense of togetherness for some time. Then, an enthusiastic group of volunteers in blue t-shirts come and generate conversation and prompt neighbours to share the experience. It creates a sense of ownership and motivation to preserve a newly renovated space. Volunteers help to get people to a place they never thought possible because the job looks too big or costly to take on.
Wrapping up
If you could say one thing directly to our supporters, what would it be?
If we have never met before, great to meet you and hopefully I get to thank you in person one day because you are doing amazing work!
Celebrating Fifty Years of Deadly through housing
You’re part of a Habitat community that recognises the ongoing impact of colonisation, including access to safe, affordable homes for First Nations people.
This year’s NAIDOC theme of “Fifty Years of Deadly” was the perfect opportunity to stand with First Nations families to ensure welcoming and culturally safe spaces are available for people who need them.
Your support helped refurbish 10 homes, supporting 60 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children escaping Domestic and Family Violence, helping keep First Nations kids with their mothers.
It’s inspiring to think about the impact the next fifty years could have as we stand alongside First Nations families working to achieve safe and secure housing.
Meet Bronwyn:
As someone passionate about safe, affordable housing, Bronwyn has been working alongside Habitat as a donor, volunteer and fundraiser for over 10 years.
“I feel I have always had a strong sense of social justice. I have become more of a voice within my circles to raise awareness of need. I have also developed a much more conscious approach to being grateful for what I have and for the people in my life.”
Bronwyn’s first overseas Global Village volunteer build was at age 67, and at home in Australia, she continues to volunteer, advocate, and fundraise. She’s also preparing for her next build in Nepal, that she’s recruited 10 of her friends to join.
Like so many of the Habitat community, Bronwyn’s support isn’t a one-time act. It’s proof of a continuous and impactful appreciation that home is the foundation on which we build strength and stability for the future.
“Even if donors are not actively taking part [in volunteering], then their dollars are also providing safety and security for others. I have learnt over the years that if we don’t ask for support, then we are depriving others of the joy of contributing.”
We want to hear from you!
To be featured in our community spotlight, send in your stories and photos to: [email protected]
get involved
Healthy Homes quiz answers:
true, true, false, true, true, true, false
