When Hannah first heard about the Community Housing Industry Association NSW Cadetship Program, she had been thinking about a career in real estate.
“My mum was a Home in Place tenant and Erin, her Tenant Relations Officer, knew I was interested in real estate and suggested I look at the cadetship,” Hannah said.
“I didn’t really know anything about working in community housing at that point, but it sounded like something that could suit me. I applied and everything happened pretty quickly from there.”
Delivered by Community Housing Industry Association NSW in partnership with the NSW Government, the Cadetship Program combines study towards a Certificate IV in Housing with 12 months of paid employment with a community housing provider.
For Hannah, that provider was Home in Place.
Learning from both sides
The cadetship began with face-to-face training in Sydney alongside cadets placed with community housing providers across NSW, followed by study and practical workplace experience.
Hannah spent time across different Home in Place teams, including Customer Service, Maintenance and Finance, gaining an understanding of the many different roles involved in providing housing and supporting tenants.
It also gave her a very different perspective on an organisation she had previously known from the other side.
“Before starting the cadetship, I’d only known community housing from the tenant side. I didn’t understand everything that was happening behind the scenes or how much goes into providing and managing housing,” Hannah said.
“Working here has completely changed that. I understand the processes now, but I also understand the people behind them and how much work goes into supporting tenants.”
Supporting Hannah throughout the cadetship was Home in Place Tenancy Relations Officer Lee, who took on the role of workplace mentor for the first time.
“When Hannah first started, she was very quiet and quite shy. Over the year you could really see her come out of her shell,” Lee said.
“Now she is cracking jokes with everyone and is completely part of the team. That confidence has come through in her work as well.”
For Hannah, having someone she could turn to made settling into a completely new environment easier.
“Lee always made sure I knew he was there if I needed him,” she said.
“Having someone you can go to with questions makes a huge difference. I always felt supported.”
More than a qualification
In May, Hannah joined cadets from across NSW to graduate with her Certificate IV in Housing, with her mum and nan there to celebrate the achievement.
At the graduation ceremony, NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness the Hon. Rose Jackson MLC spoke about the broader opportunity created by the program, saying it was not only about building more homes and creating a functional social housing system, but using community housing as “a pathway to change the lives of the people who live in social housing”.
The significance of that opportunity was also captured by a fellow graduate who became emotional as she reflected on her experience.
“This past year has taught me that community housing is not just about properties or policies. It’s about people. It’s about dignity, safety and hope.”
For Hannah, graduation marked the end of a year that had given her both a qualification and a new career path.
“When I started, I didn’t know where the cadetship was going to lead,” Hannah said.
“To finish with a qualification, a year of experience and the opportunity to keep working at Home in Place was something I was really proud of.”
Lee was equally proud to see how far she had come.
“You could see how proud her mum and nan were at graduation, and I was proud of her too,” he said.
“She put the work in, grew in confidence and became a really valued part of the team.”
The CHIA NSW Class of 2026 graduation video captures the celebrations and reflections from cadets and those involved in the program.
From cadet to colleague
Hannah has since moved into a Customer Service Officer role with Home in Place, putting what she learned during the cadetship into practice every day.
“Being a CSO is definitely more full-on,” she said.
“At the beginning I was nervous because there is a lot happening and a lot to learn, but I’ve settled into it now and feel much more confident.”
There has been another significant step for Hannah outside work. She has moved out of her family home and is now sharing a home, something she says has given her greater independence.
“It has given me more space to grow and work out what I want for myself,” she said.
For Lee, it is all part of a journey he has been proud to watch.
“She has gone from living in community housing, to taking on the cadetship, getting her qualification and becoming a CSO, and now she has moved out of home and is building her own life,” he said.
“Hannah is a real asset to the team and I’m very proud of what she has achieved.”
Hannah is still considering where she would like her career to take her next.
“The cadetship has opened up opportunities I didn’t know were there before,” she said.
“I’ve got a qualification, experience and a much better idea of what I’m capable of. For now, I’m happy to keep learning and see where that takes me.”
