The judges proudly recognise the pioneering Make Room project, the first known adaptive reuse initiative in Australia to leverage a council-owned asset to deliver critical housing solutions for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness.

This innovative pilot project, developed in partnership with the City of Melbourne, Unison Housing, CoHealth and the Victorian Government, demonstrates exceptional vision and collaboration. By transforming a council-owned building into 50 supportive apartments, Make Room not only addresses urgent housing needs but also establishes a scalable model with the potential to benefit communities nationwide.

This award recognises the project’s complexity, groundbreaking partnerships, and its profound commitment to saving lives and providing sustainable support for those most in need.