Dale Parker Place
Supported living for people experiencing long-term homelessness.
Employment and Education Housing
Accommodation for people relocating for work, study, or training.
Karingal Patient Transition Accommodation
Short-term housing for remote patients accessing health services.
Long-term Community Housing
Secure, affordable homes for families and individuals in need.
Reverend Charles Harris Diversionary Centre
Short-term care for vulnerable people at risk in public.
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Construction & Rental
Purpose-built housing for residents with high disability support needs.
The Ernest & Maud Hoolihan Elders Village
Independent housing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders.
Flora House & Elsie House Women’s Shelters
Safe, supportive homes for women and children escaping violence.
Our Community,
Our Voice
Hear from the individuals within our community — in their own words.
“Yumba-Meta really put me in my place. If it wasn’t for them, I’d be a parkie. I wouldn’t have got this far, I wouldn’t be on my way to starting this business.”
Charlie Gibson
Dale Parker Place Tenant
Charlie Gibson
Dale Parker Place Tenant
Coming to reside at Dale Parker Place two years ago was a turning point for Charlie Gibson.
While completing a course in Ingham, travelling back and forth, and staying in the park, Charlie heard about Dale Parker Place through family members.
“Coming to Dale Parker Place gave me a heads up,” says Charlie. “It was a big change for me. I’ve always wanted my own little ranch, my own space. Now I’ve got it, I’ve settled down.”
Recently, Charlie has achieved his coxswain certification. “My next step is getting my own little business in fishing tourism, maybe here or on Palm. I want to get those young fellas on track, give them something to do to keep them busy, employ them and mentor them.”
Charlie’s other skills are in engineering, fabrication and welding, which he would like to teach. “There are so many aluminium boats over there [in Palm]. I’d like to teach the kids how to weld, keep their hands busy, focused.”
Ultimately though, Charlie says he would love to be a Ranger and protect the fishing green zones around Palm Island.
“Yumba-Meta really put me in my place. If it wasn’t for them, I’d be a parkie. I wouldn’t have got this far, I wouldn’t be on my way to starting this business.”
“It’s very quiet out here. It feels safe and private, and we’ve had not one break in. I get along with everyone out here, they’re all good people,”
Robert Leon
Ernest & Maud Hoolihan Elders Village Tenant
Robert Leon
Ernest & Maud Hoolihan Elders Village Tenant
After a long career working in the mining sector, both underground and as a boilermaker, in Mount Isa and Townsville, Robert Leon now lives a much slower-paced lifestyle in his retirement. Today, his days are filled with visits to friends and neighbours, fishing trips and watching the football.
‘Home’ for Robert is Yumba-Meta’s Ernest & Maud Hoolihan Elders Village, where he has lived for the past eight years since the village first opened in 2012. In fact, Robert was the third tenant to move into the 16-unit complex, and today he is the village’s longest residing tenant.
What’s kept Robert content in his unit for so long is the convenience. “The shops and the doctor are within walking distance, and I walk to the shops every day,” tells Robert.
“The [Yumba-Meta housing] staff are good to deal with, and prompt in fixing things. All the maintenance is done for you. As soon as I say there’s something wrong, they are onto it. My hot water broke down just a couple of weeks ago, and they sent an electrician out the same day.”
In 2018, the Elders Village was one of the first Yumba-Meta-owned housing developments to receive solar panels, which Robert says has drastically reduced his electricity bills. “My bills used to be $150 per quarter,” shares Robert, who estimates his energy bills now total just $50-60 per year.
“Now I’m always in credit; I’ve never been in the red, I’m always in the black. I bought a small air conditioner, and had it running in summer, all the time, and my highest bill was about $41. It’s cheap as. We’ve all got solar panels on out here now, which helps everyone out because we don’t have to worry about big power bills.”
It’s the peace and quiet that Robert says he enjoys most about his home. “It’s very quiet out here. It feels safe and private, and we’ve had not one break in,” says Robert. “I get along with everyone out here, they’re all good people,” he adds of his fellow villagers.
“We have had a few barbeques with the neighbours. We look out for each other. Loneliness is a killer; it’s good to get together.”
