Our principles

Showing humility and courage

• Open Place wants Forgotten Australians to express your views.
• We will not shy away from criticisms or concerns of others or ignore the lessons of history (including the recent past).
• We will represent the interests of Forgotten Australians and your immediate families, in the wider service sector and the community.
• We will advocate for changes to the delivery of services to which Forgotten Australians are entitled where those services are seen as inaccessible, discriminatory or otherwise not meeting your needs.

Being respectful and strengths-oriented

• We will celebrate achievements, resilience and survival.
• Services, including individualised planning, recognise and work with the strengths and capacities of each individual.

Committing to flexibility and integration

• Every effort will be made to ensure Open Place is accessible to Victorian Forgotten Australians regardless of where you live, your abilities or their financial circumstances.
• We will provide information and assistance to help Forgotten Australians to access support from other services you need.

Demonstrating accountability

• Our staff and volunteers will be skilled and have the knowledge and values required to perform their duties to the highest possible standard.
• Action, learning and review will focus on outcomes and we will build knowledge to inform service development, policy and practice change.
• Working together and being inclusive.
• We will promote a sense of ‘place’ by providing the space and resources to enable Forgotten Australians and your families to feel safe, welcome and acknowledged.

Honouring diversity and being culturally sensitive

• We will value the beliefs, traditions and heritage of everyone and will make every effort to provide a service which honours culture.