Hunter Community Alliance, Australia

At the end of 2024, Hunter Community Alliance's (HCA) discernment process launched two powerful new campaign areas—loneliness and social isolation, and stretched community services—bringing our total to four alongside climate/transition and housing/homelessness.

This set the stage for a big year. Our Assembly injected fresh momentum and confidence into

the organisation, energising our leaders, expanding our networks, and helping deliver a

tangible win: securing government action (with others) on a $2.3billion investment by the

federal government on home batteries.

HCA secured $150k per year for three years for the tenant-led renewal project at Hamilton South —funding that last year received only in-principle support. HCA organising and the assembly helped drive a $1B investment for crisis and transitional accommodation, plus $6.2M in grants to strengthen sector advocacy. Sharon Claydon committed to bringing HCA to a meeting with Federal Housing Minister Clare O’Neil. In energy, Federal Minister Chris Bowen announced $145M of the $800M for social housing upgrades will go to NSW, with around 10% expected in the Hunter. We also received a “maybe” on hubs, and Bowen committed to meeting HCA twice over the next year to progress a model.

Mid-2025 HCA rolled out a listening campaign that dug deeply into the pressures people face— overstretched services, growing isolation, and the toll these take on daily life. Dozens of

personal stories were shared across 5 locations, and some new leaders emerged. Along the

way, they learned invaluable lessons about how to run listening campaigns that truly connect

with communities, setting them up for more powerful organising in the year ahead.

Information taken from the NSW Community Alliance 2025 Annual Report. View the full report here.