Congratulations to the Hoarding and Squalor team for being finalists in HESTA’s Compassion in Action – Social Justice Awards 2021.
The online presentation was judged live with the panel of judges including Board Director CHA Julien O’Connell AO, and CHA Board Director Virginia Bourke. The finalists each presented a short five-minute thesis outlining their programs, before announcing the winner, St John of God Murdoch Hospital and their partnership with DJaalinj Waakinj Aboriginal Ear program.
“We were truly honoured to have made the top four. This was a great achievement among some heavy contenders,” says Mercy Splitt, Hoarding and Squalor Manager at Home & Community Services.
“Our Buried in Treasures program aims to achieve equity for the most marginalised people in our community. It was an honour to be recognised for our commitment to positive and social change.”
Buried in Treasures is a 15-week online course to support people who accumulate excessive items. It is aimed at people aged over 65, and over 50, who are at risk of homelessness. It’s open to those who are eligible for the NSW Government’s Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP).
The course is based on the successful self-help book Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, and Hoarding written by Dr Randy Frost, Dr David Tolin and Dr Gail Steketee, who are among the world’s leading experts in the study and treatment of hoarding disorder.
Buried in Treasures topics include:
- Understanding hoarding and why people collect.
- Motivation and confidence to start organising clutter.
- Practical skills and strategies to decide which items to save, and resisting the temptation to collect more.
- Overcoming feelings of anxiety and/or depression.
Participants engage in online learning sessions with a Catholic Healthcare facilitator in small groups of 12, meeting for two hours, one day a week. Run by Catholic Healthcare’s Hoarding & Squalor team, the program is free and occurs every six months.
Congratulations to the Hoarding and Squalor team for this great achievement.
For further information call 1800 225 474 or visit