1980’s

Norwood was founded in 1981, as the Western Region Apartment House Group, by concerned community members in response to high levels of social/financial hardship within their local communities. Norwood’s founding mission was to offer housing support for vulnerable individuals and families.

In 1983 funds were obtained from the Health Department to rent and furnish an ‘apartment house’. On 21 December 1983, 33 Norwood Crescent Ascot Vale, was officially opened, making it the first residential and mental health service in the western suburbs of Melbourne, allowing Norwood to implement a housing based program targeting the homeless population who were marginalised by society because of their disability.

In 1985 the Western Region Apartment House became a fully incorporated association, registered as Norwood Association Incorporated.

In 1986 the service profile was expanded to encompass home-based outreach, group activities and community engagement pathways for people living with a mental illness who may also be experiencing financial disadvantage and/or housing distress. This year also saw the ‘apartment house’ moved to 194 The Parade Ascot Vale, as well the acquirement of rental office space in Buckley Street Essendon.

In 1988 Norwood starts the Group Housing Program, acquiring a flat in Walter Street Ascot Vale. By the end of 1989 Norwood had access to 10 Group Housing properties, as well as the Norwood Project house.

1990’s

Between 1990 and 1993 the Group Housing increased by three properties in St Albans, Yarraville and Braybrook. The number of people supported in group housing grew to 20.

In 1991 Norwood introduced the concept of Individual Service Plans for Consumers.

In February 1995, Norwood Association Inc celebrated its 10th Anniversary. A small grant funded the development of a poster promoting Norwood; the production of a Consumer Orientation Kit (created with consumers); the launch of Norwood’s first fundraising activity - a raffle; and in October a celebratory dinner attended by keynote speaker the Minister for Health – the Honorary Marie Tehan. Norwood Association also received a grant in 1995 to establish a new office and employ a further support worker, moving to 223 Buckley Street Essendon.

Following changes to Government policy, the Norwood service model had a major shift in 1997. Housing support was functionally split from service provision – with the later expanded through the funding of an array of home-based outreach programs and day programs. Norwood relocated its efforts to the mid west over 1997-1999, acquiring 49 new properties and transferring housing properties on other catchments to the appropriate Psychiatric Rehabilitation Disability and Support service.

In 1997, Norwood Association also moved the base of its operations to its current offices, at 1 Andrea Street St Albans, from which it has continued to grow and diversify its services.

By 1999 Norwood had grown to 14 employees supporting over 90 consumers in any given month.

2000’s

The Community Advisory Group, which later becomes the Client Reference Group, was formed in 2000. This group, made up of clients who use or have used Norwood services, provides input and recommendation to management and staff about ways in which services can be improved.

In 2001 Norwood closed its original service ‘The Project’, 20 years after the Western Region Apartment House Group officially started. Staff resources were maintained by Norwood and were used to establish the Norwood Intensive Outreach Support Program in May 2001.

In 2003 Norwood was funded to create two new support positions which would focus on providing pathways for people with psychiatric difficulties, into more stable and appropriate accommodation. This year also saw the establishment of the Brimbank Carers Group, in partnership with Carers Link West and the Mid West Area Mental Health Service.

In 2005 over 200 clients, staff (past and present), carers, family, committee members and community members attended Norwood Association’s 20th Anniversary celebration dinner.

Following a recommendation from the Client Reference Group, the Group Activity Program (GAP) was created in 2007. This program provides Norwood clients with an opportunity to interact socially within the community.

In 2009 the Burnside Prevention and Recovery Care (PARC) service was officially opened. The initiative was a collaborative approach between two clinical Area Mental Health Services – North-Western Mental Health and Mercy Mental Health and two community Mental Health Services – Norwood Association and Western Region Health Centre. Norwood is responsible for the recovery services for 10 beds and offers 24 hour supervised care. In 2009 Norwood also hosted the hugely popular Streets aHEAD Mental Health Week Festival at the Community Reserve in Williamstown with over 2,000 people attending.

2010’s

In October 2010 Norwood staff and clients celebrated the organisation’s 25th Anniversary with a number of events.

As one of the first community based services to provide specialist non-clinical support to people affected by mental illness, over the years Norwood has developed a wide ranging network of partnerships and collaborations with government and non-government sectors. These relationships have been a critical success factor in enabling Norwood to achieve its strategic goals.