Defence Housing Australia (DHA) staff, Board members and special guests gathered at the National Press Club in Canberra on Thursday 16 August to celebrate 30 years of service.

DHA Chairman, the Hon J.A.L (Sandy) Macdonald welcomed guests and reflected on DHA’s proud history—highlighting the organisation’s important role in supporting our Australian Defence Forces.

‘DHA is a great Australian institution. It is an organisation that is committed to Australia and how we perform impacts very clearly on Australia’s influence in the world,’ said Mr Macdonald.

‘DHA is committed to its staff, to its Defence and Finance stakeholders and to our investors. Most of all, DHA is committed to ADF members and their families. All of us serve together in a truly unique and successful Government Business Enterprise.

‘We are recognised as an integral part of Australia’s Defence capability, because we are an extremely important part of the mix of keeping ADF families secure and content; keeping the home fires burning while our military men and women secure our safety, frequently a long, long way away from the house or residence we provide.

‘Through a commitment to good service, innovative sale and lease back programs, targeted and appropriate residential development activity and through an immense amount of hard work and good will by DHA staff—all of you—we are where we are today.

‘DHA is a fine organisation and I think we all feel a great degree of pride to be part of it. We are fortunate to have a job where we can make a difference.

‘It’s been a great story so far,’ said Mr Macdonald. ‘I know the next years and decades will reflect well on our record and lead on to even better service and housing options and opportunities for our Defence families.’

Managing Director, Ms Jan Mason paid tribute to DHA’s staff across the country.

‘Our biggest strength is our people and their unwavering commitment to serving Defence members and their families,’ said Ms Mason.

‘This was true in 1988 when William Kirkby-Jones led a pioneering team of hardworking and enthusiastic staff to undertake a massive overhaul of Defence housing delivery, and it remains true today.

‘I am excited about DHA’s future,’ said Ms Mason. ‘I’m confident that with the commitment, expertise and dedication of our staff and key partners we will continue to deliver quality and innovative solutions to the Defence community and successfully lead our business into the future.’

The celebrations in Canberra marked the start of a series of regional events to be held across DHA’s national locations in coming weeks to commemorate this important 30^th anniversary milestone.