New Lifeline Darling Downs CEO Grant Simpson outlines plan for his term

The list of challenges facing Toowoomba’s disadvantage and marginalised residents is long and will require government, business leaders and philanthropists working to together to make long-term change.

Grant Simpson, CEO Lifeline Darling Downs & South West QLD Picture: Nev Madsen.

GRANT Simpson only took on the role of leading Lifeline Darling Downs and South West Queensland two months ago but already he is preparing to tackle the systemic disadvantage bearing down on Toowoomba’s most marginalised residents.

The biggest of those challenges is the housing crisis and Mr Simpson has called on governments, business leaders, community groups and philanthropists to work together.

“We need to have a long term plan to deal with the housing crisis because it affects everyone but particularly people who are really struggling socio-economically,” he said.

Data from the Queensland Council of Social Service revealed the housing crisis is reaching boiling point, with wait times increasing by nearly 200 per cent in four years.

In 2017, residents who needed a roof over their head had to wait an average of 8.2 months.

That has since skyrocketed to 23.7 months in 2021, buoyed by a growing number of applications and a shortage of housing stock.

More than 650 applications for social housing in the Toowoomba Regional Council area were submitted this year, a significant spike from the nearly 400 four years prior.

Mr Simpson said the solution must include more short term crisis accommodation, low-cost rental accommodation and other measures to address housing affordability.

“Toowoomba needs to address that now because we have so many people moving to the town and the region we have got to start planning for the next 20-25 years,” he said.

Mr Simpson replaced Derek Tuffield who held the CEO position for 21 years.

The organisation has early plans to open more disability support accommodation in the area which Mr Simpson saw as a growing part of the Lifeline Darling Downs portfolio.

The other key projects on the agenda include expanding support services for teens and young people with a focus on people who move into the city from out west as they chase employment and education.

Mr Simpson said the Covid pandemic has hit teens hard and led to spike in mental illness, depression and suicide.

“Often young people do not have any support here,” he said.

They are lofty plans for the new boss but Mr Simpson said those challenges were what attracted him to the position.

“Lifeline Darling Downs is an organisation that is already doing so much in the community,” he said

“We really are an intrinsic part of the community here.

“We are helping very marginalised and vulnerable people in different ways, from our op-shops, to counselling services, we do a lot of work with domestic violence and gambling help and we can help a lot of distressed and affected people.”