St Joseph Affordable Homes News Edition 3 – 2025
Welcome to the latest edition of the St Joseph Affordable Homes Newsletter! As the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer, I’m honoured to step into this role and lead an organisation that is deeply committed to building homes for today and foundations for the future.
In this edition, we’re proud to share some exciting updates and milestones from across our organisation. We celebrate the completion of key projects, the achievements of our dedicated apprentices, and our participation in meaningful events that reflect our values. We also highlight important WHS information regarding site vandalism, and provide updates on our current and upcoming construction projects.
Thank you for being part of the St Joseph Affordable Homes community. I look forward to working alongside our passionate team and partners as we continue our important work.
Warm regards,
Adrian Broomhall
Chief Executive Officer
Strengthening Our Mission Through Leadership
We are pleased to announce exciting leadership changes at St Joseph Affordable Homes that mark a new chapter in our journey.
Adrian Broomhall has been appointed as our new Chief Executive Officer. Adrian brings nearly 30 years of experience in the building and construction industry, including several impactful roles within the Housing arm of the Archdiocese of Hobart over the past 5 years.
With a background as a carpenter/joiner, a long history in sports coaching, and a passion for youth development, Adrian has consistently demonstrated his ability to bring people together and deliver positive outcomes. His experience spans education, vocational training, and strategic leadership, making him uniquely positioned to lead us into the future.
We want to acknowledge Brant Webster for his outstanding leadership during the CEO recruitment process. Brant will continue in his role as Chief Operating Officer, providing continuity and strength to our executive team.
At the same time, we bid farewell to Andrew Martin, who has taken up a new opportunity within Loreto Community Housing’s Property Development team. We thank Andrew for his contributions and look forward to collaborating with him on a growing pipeline of upcoming projects.
We’re pleased to welcome Sam O’Brien as our new Construction Manager. Sam has been a valued member of the St Joseph Affordable Homes team since 2020 when he joined us as one of our first site supervisors, and we’re confident Sam will thrive in this new role.
We also welcome Jacinta Direen in the role of People and Culture Manager.
Our purpose remains as strong as ever: to provide substantial and sustainable employment opportunities for young people with barriers to employment, and to alleviate housing stress and homelessness. If you have any questions about these leadership changes, please feel free to reach out to Adrian Broomhall directly. We thank you for your continued support.
SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY Shorts Day
On Friday 20th of June, our teams proudly took part in SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY’s Shorts Day, an initiative deigned to spark mental health conversations and break the stigma, especially in industries like construction where speaking up can be tough.
Held on the shortest day of the year, Shorts Day encourages people to wear shorts in winter to brave the cold and brave the conversation. It’s a light-hearted way to tackle a serious issue. Every dollar raised supports Stay ChatTY’s work in schools, workplaces, and communities across Tasmania.
With warm coffees, good food, and even better conversations, our teams showed that mental health matters. In partnership with Loreto Community Housing’s Build Up Tassie program, we’re proud to support a culture where it’s okay to speak up and support one another.
Apprentice Graduation
St Joseph Affordable Homes is celebrating a proud milestone as four apprentices – Kurt Beschle, Sean Robb, Hugh Patman, and Zeke Sharman – have officially completed their apprenticeships and TAFE qualifications, stepping into the workforce as fully qualified tradespeople.
It has been an honour to witness the journeys that these young men have taken over the past four years with St Joseph Affordable Homes and their host employers.
Each graduate has an inspiring story of resilience and transformation. From Hugh who has worked hard support his young family, to Sean who took a chance on himself and his future, to Kurt who changed his path and realised his leadership potential, to Zeke who – in his own words – says “I didn’t want to be a dropkick my whole life” and found purpose in his trade. Their journeys reflect the power of opportunity and belief.
CEO Adrian Broomhall shared, “This is why we do what we do. Seeing young people grow, overcome challenges, and thrive.”
We are incredibly proud of each of them. We wish them the very best for their future as they each move on to the next stage of their careers and carry with them a legacy of resilience, growth and hope.
Staff Milestones
Congratulations to our apprentices Ronan (Carpentry) and Shan (Plumbing) for ticking over to the fourth year of their apprenticeships!
Project Highlight – Paice Street
We’re proud to announce the successful completion and handover of our commercial project in Bridgewater for Loreto Community Housing (formerly Centacare Evolve Housing).
Loreto Community Housing is Tasmania’s largest provider of community housing, offering tenancy support, in-house maintenance services, a community wellbeing team, and the Build Up Tassie construction pre-employment program.
Throughout the project, St Joseph Affordable Homes worked closely with Loreto to ensure the facility met the needs of both staff and tenants.
The building features a thoughtful blend of open-plan and dedicated workspaces to support a flexible and balanced work environment. An enclosed courtyard offers a private, comfortable outdoor area for breaks and informal gatherings. Accessibility was a key consideration in the design, ensuring ease of use for Loreto Community Housing tenants and visitors.
This commercial build also provided invaluable experience for our apprentices, many of whom had the opportunity to work on a larger-scale commercial project for the first time – gaining skills and confidence that will serve them well in their careers.
We thank Loreto Community Housing for their continued partnership and look forward to future collaborations.
Work Health & Safety
We have seen an increase in the amount of vandalism and property damage on our sites. The safety of those working on our sites is the highest priority. Please do not put yourself in any danger if the site you’re working on has been vandalised or if you suspect that the vandal/s could still be onsite. Contact the site supervisor or construction manager. They will then call the relevant authorities.
Report Immediately:
Inform your supervisor, manager or the WHS officer as soon as possible about the incident. All incidents involving a vandal or vandals still being encountered onsite MUST be reported on HazardCo.
Prioritise Safety:
If you witness vandalism or damage, ensure your safety and the safety of others. If there is a risk of personal harm, retreat to a safe location and call for help.
Our Projects
147 homes are currently under construction or are recently completed:
Nielsen Esp, Bridgewater – 8 dwellings
Weilly Pl, Bridgewater – 1 dwelling
Home Ave, Blackmans Bay – 7 dwellings
Kent St and View St, Geeveston – 19 dwellings
Cambridge Rd, Cambridge – 9 dwellings
Franklin St, Triabunna – 36 dwellings
George Town Road, Newnham – 49 dwellings
Agnes St, Ranelagh – 8 dwellings (delayed)
Faraday St, Ravenswood – 10 dwellings (delayed)
Future projects:
McLeod St, New Norfolk – 10 dwellings
Aquilla St, Glenorchy – 9 dwellings
Franklin St, Campbell Town – 5 dwellings
Hayfield Pl, Bridgewater – 56 dwellings
Drummond Cr, Perth – 15 dwellings
Dontay Drive Rokeby – 1 assisted residential dwelling
Dontay Drive Rokeby – 4 dwellings
Agnes St, Ranelagh Presbytery – 1 dwelling
