Common Ground Queensland

Meet Mohamed, known affectionately as ‘Habibi’.

Mohamed arrived to Australia in 2013, after leaving Afghanistan and seeking Asylum in Australia.

Mohamed was a tenant in our Asylum Seeker and Refugee Assistance housing program for a number of years, before he successfully transitioned to independent living.

He has also worked as a cleaner here at Brisbane Common Ground since 2022. His tireless work ethic and dedication to keeping our common areas clean makes him a legend.

This week marks Refugee Week, where the central theme of 2026 is ‘A Million Stories’, celebrating the historic milestone of Australia welcoming one million refugees since World War II.

Mohamed’s story is just one of many around Australia, but here at Common Ground Queensland, we love our ‘Habibi’ dearly.

The reason why Supportive Housing is so important comes down to the belief that everyone deserves support.

The average person receives a lifetime of care and support from their friends and family. Receiving support from those in our networks is a completely normal part of life.

People who have experienced chronic homelessness, many times through no fault of their own, are devoid of this support.

This is where Supportive Housing steps in. Through specialised tenancy management paired with support services, we assist those most in need to receive the help they might have missed out on while sleeping rough.

Because everyone deserves support.

Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting our annual Reconciliation Week events at Common Ground Queensland.

Led by a tenant planning committee, we held key events such as:
🔹A Reconciliation Week morning tea in our BCG foyer
🔹A themed weekly tenant dinner
🔹A guided tour of Archie Moore’s ‘kith and kin' at QAGOMA
🔹A yarning circle led by Corey, our Community Development Lead

With this year’s Reconciliation Week theme being ‘All In’, we wanted to commit to action, and ensure that reconciliation is collective, and not solely the responsibility of First Nations people.

We would also like to acknowledge that the end of Reconciliation Week marks Mabo Day, in which Torres Strait Islander man Eddie Koiki Mabo overturned the colonial concept of terra nullius through The High Court’s decision in Mabo v Queensland in 1992.

The numbers are in - and everyone really showed up for us at Common Sound.

We raised an amazing $6,202 - from ticket sales, raffle tickets and donations made on the night from some very generous folks.

100% of these funds will now go towards giving our families and young children the opportunity to thrive through Supportive Housing.

With Common Sound, we hoped to build a community of people committed to ending homelessness in our communities, and we succeeded.

You rock Brisbane. See you next time!

Brisbane, thank you for showing up for your community.

Last Friday, we held Common Sound 2026, our first ever fundraising concert.

Held at Lefty's Music Hall, we partnered with local talent Sofia Cirino, Kelly's Heroes Brisbane and The Fried Okras.

We danced, laughed and raffled the night away, knowing that every minute we were there made a difference to the families and young kids that would be calling our new Supportive Housing building home.

We are so thankful for your support.

Today, we honour the strength, truth and lived experiences of Stolen Generations survivors and their families.

Saying sorry matters. It acknowledges truth and signals compassion.

But sorry without action is not enough.

Sorry Day is a reminder for all Australians to acknowledge the truth of how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were forcibly removed from their families, communities and Country, and the enduring, intergenerational impacts that continue today.

Listening to and acknowledging the full history of the Stolen Generations is essential to building understanding, respect and lasting change and turning sorry into action.

Two days left until Common Sound 2026!

This Friday isn't just a fundraising concert; it's a gathering of like-minded people committed to ending homelessness.

Our talented lineup Kelly's Heroes Brisbane, The Fried Okras and Sofia Cirino are performing because they know our mission, and want to help our vulnerable families and young kids with their talents.

The generosity shown from Lefty's Music Hall also shows that they are committed to helping us to end homelessness for those most vulnerable in our communities.

So grab a ticket and come along, knowing that your ticket sale will help children and families who have experienced chronic homelessness get the fresh start they deserve.

Tickets via OzTix: https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/70ff2e29-a584-4c95-be68-8ba4d608ab86