The future looks bright

Grab a cuppa, sit back and enjoy our gallery of awards photographs in celebration of the ahi: Brighter Future Awards year.

2023 was an ahi: Brighter Future Awards year, which meant shining a light on the outstanding achievements across the social and affordable housing sector in Australia and New Zealand. We've been proud to acknowledge a broad cross-section of people and projects that are having a positive impact at a time of housing crisis in Australasia.


Here's a video slideshow that captures the smiles and good times of the six jurisdictional award nights held across Australia and New Zealand in 2023.

Thank you to everyone involved in this year's ahi: Brighter Future Awards – from the nominees to the winners, to the judges, to the participants, and to the small but committed group of organisers. We can't wait to see how bright the future will be in two years' time!


The next ahi: Brighter Future Awards will take place in 2025.

Australasian Winners 2023

Tuesday 10th October 2023

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre


Excellence in Social Housing
Operations Department, Foundation Housing, Western Australia


Future Leader
Jayden Battey, Servants Community Housing, Victoria


Inspirational Team Member
Ashley Waugh, Link Wentworth, New South Wales


Leading Asset Member
Property Services Team, Junction Australia, South Australia


Leading Community Engagement Practice
Walking Groups, Junction Australia, South Australia


Leading Housing Development Project
Viv’s Place, Launch Housing, Victoria


Leading Innovation
Digital Strategy & MyBridge Portal, Bridge Housing


Outstanding Achievement
Helen Tighe, Bridge Housing, New South Wales


Tenant Led Initiative 
Common Ground Lived Experience, Mission Australia Housing, New South Wales

 


NSW/ACT Winners 2023 

Thursday 13th July

Rydges World Square, Sydney


Excellence in Social Housing
Nudge Project, Bridge Housing

 

Future Leader

Sebastiene Barbe, Link Wentworth

 

Inspirational Team Member

Ashley Waugh, Link Wentworth

 

Leading Community Engagement Practice

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Tenant Advisory Group, Bridge Housing

 

Leading Housing Development Project

Adira Apartments, Pacific Link Housing

 

Leading Innovation

Digital Strategy & MyBridge Portal, Bridge Housing

 

Outstanding Achievement

Helen Tighe, Bridge Housing

 

Tenant Led Initiative

Common Ground Lived Experience Program, Mission Australia Housing

 

 

VIC/TAS Winners 2023 

Thursday 20th July

Vibe Hotel, Melbourne

 

Anthony Hardy Award for Excellence in Social Housing
Community Housing Ltd Leadership Team, Community Housing Ltd


Future Leader

Jayden Battey, Servants Community Housing

 

Inspirational Team Member

Mikyla Battey, Servants Community Housing

 

Leading Community Engagement Practice

Home Handy Workshops & Tool Library Program, Mission Australia Housing Tasmania, Strengthening Renter Voice, Common Equity Housing Ltd

 

Leading Housing Development Project

Viv's Place, Launch Housing

 

Leading Innovation

Stage 1 Residences - New Epping, Placemaking, Haven; Home, Safe

 

Outstanding Achievement

Andrea Sharam, RMIT

 

Tenant Led Initiative

Tenants of 87-91 Campbell St Hobart, Salvation Army Housing Tasmania

WA Winners 2023

Thursday 3rd August

Doubletree by Hilton Northbridge, Perth

 

Excellence in Social Housing

Operations Department, Foundation Housing

 

Leading Housing Development Project

Hawkesville Vista - High Wycombe, WAI Group, Activ Foundation & CHL

 

Outstanding Achievement

Steven Walker, Stellar Living Ltd

 

Tenant Led Initiative

Building Tenancy Skills Project, Shelter WA & People With Disabilities WA

 

 

QLD Winners 2023

Thursday 24th August

The Inchcolm by Ovolo, Brisbane

 

Excellence in Social Housing

NRAS Acquisition & Transition Team, National Affordable Housing

 

Future Leader

Olivia Jackson, BHCL


Inspirational Team Member

Anthony Campbell, BHCL

 

Leading Community Engagement Practice

Coffee Connections, BHCL

 

Leading Housing Development Project

Akuna, Beerwah, Coast2Bay Housing Group

 

Leading Innovation

RISE Project, Coast2Bay Housing Group

 

Outstanding Achievement

Lee Banfield, Coast2Bay Housing Group

 

Tenant Led Initiative

Rainbow St Garden Improvement Project, Bric Housing

 


SA/NT Winners 2023

Thursday 7th September

The Lion Hotel, Adelaide

 

Excellence in Social Housing

Housing Communities & Property Services Teams, Junction Australia

 

Inspirational Team Member

Jamie Ward, Believe Housing

 

Leading Community Engagement Practice

Walking Groups, Junction Australia

 

Leading Housing Development Project

Clifton Park, Junction Australia

 

Leading Innovation

Solar Energy Project, Believe Housing & AnglicareSA

 

Outstanding Achievement

Alexandra Gibson, Venture Housing Company

 

Tenant Led Initiative

Our Community Cookbook, Unity Housing Company

 


NZ Winners 2023

Friday 15th September

St Andrew's on the Terrace, Wellington
 

Excellence in Social Housing
Practice & Customer Contact, Kāinga Ora

 

Leading Community Engagement Practice

Te Mātāwai Vincent St Community Pop Up, Kāinga Ora

 

Leading Housing Development Project

The Residences at Karamū, Kāinga Maha Trust

 

Leading Innovation

Housing Delivery System, Kāinga Ora

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