Our story is your story
A lot can happen when you’ve been immersed in the South West since 1983. We were here when Charles and Diana visited Bunbury. We were here when The Endeavour docked at Busselton Jetty. We saw the Collie Power Station first fire up – and the devastating bushfire that ripped through Yarloop. For some of the people we serve the South West Native Title Settlement (2015) recognised Wardandi rights, returning land, compensation, and cultural protections, fostering reconciliation. Through good times and hard times, Accordwest has been here for you, for us. Now, as we look back on our journey together, we are proudly celebrating 40 years of walking “Side by Side” with the Southwest community.
Across the years, we’ve proudly sparked real positive change by staying true to a simple idea – every story matters, no matter how big, how small, or who is telling it. Your stories have motivated us to help write brighter tomorrows into existence, from young people on the verge of experiencing homelessness turning their life around after a stay at our Bunyap facility, to parents engaging with our programs and helping their family become stronger, happier and more resilient, and individuals who’ve experience incarceration taking a new lease on life achieving incredible things in the community. Your stories of hope, love and redemption have helped shape the South West for the better – and our best is yet to come.
Our 40th Video
Join us as we journey though significant moments across our 40 year history proudly supporting our local South West communities.
Side By Side all local South West Peoples
Accordwest offer support to everyone in WA’s South West communities. Walking Side By Side Noognar people, we are committed to the wellbeing of Bibbulmum, Kaneang, Minang, Wardandi and Wilman now, and into the future.
It’s been an unforgettable journey since we first opened doors in 1983, rising from humble beginnings as a youth accommodation service to stamping our name as the Southwest’s most trusted local not-for-profit provider of community support services.
With you all the way
It’s been an unforgettable journey since we first opened doors in 1983, rising from humble beginnings as a youth accommodation service to stamping our name as the Southwest’s most trusted local not-for-profit provider of community support services.
Walking into the future,
Side by Side
Side by side, we can do anything. We can spark positive change. Give a voice to First Nations people. Enrich the lifestyle, health, and wellbeing of entire communities. Even solve homelessness. If you think we have achieved a lot in our first forty years, just wait for the next forty, as we ramp up our mission to support more people experiencing hardship and disadvantage to live the life they choose to live.
Our highest priority? Realising a bold vision to build at least 100 social and affordable homes in the Southwest and alleviate the homelessness crisis. The evidence clearly shows the best early intervention and prevention strategy is providing housing to vulnerable people in the places we live in, with benefits ranging from preventing mental health disorders, to improving educational growth, and protection against domestic violence, all while boosting the economy via job creation.
To get there, we need the community, government, private sector, and community housing providers working together, Side by Side. Our successful ‘Tiny Houses’ initiative proves what’s possible when we collaborate for a common goal. We have done it before, and we will do it again (and again, and again). Because homelessness is a problem best solved together.
We are right at home in the Southwest. As locals looking out for locals, Accordwest is uniquely placed to explore innovative new ways to develop not-for-profit services that deliver sanctity in the outcomes. We see first-hand the unique needs of our communities, all with different cultures, backgrounds. By providing safe spaces for people, your stories motivate us to make courageous decisions that lead to real outcomes.
Looking forward, we see a brighter future for the Southwest. A future where more people experiencing hardship and disadvantage are supported to better manage their lifestyle, health, relationships, and general wellbeing. As we actively listen, understand, and engage in partnership with First Nations people and culturally diverse communities to advocate on issues that matter, we will continue to grow and diversify our suite of evidence-based services, collaborating with other organisations and groups to find the best solutions that leave an enduring social impact.