Feminist and social justice practice refers to all staff, Committee of Management and members’ commitment to valuing women's diverse experiences. 

Feminism, Social Justice and Cultural Diversity, as a combined philosophy, is integral to WISHIN as a service in that it informs every aspect of WISHIN’s practical operation. 

“Feminism” and feminist practice refers to workers’, Committee of Management and members’ demonstrated commitment to valuing women’s diverse experiences. Processes used to achieve this include consultative decision-making, the active participation of women service users, the willingness and ability of all to contribute to constructive organisational debate, the active promotion and sharing of knowledge and experience and the development of further rights and services through community development.

“Cultural Diversity” and culturally aware practice refers to workers’ inclusion, embracing and promotion of differences in race, gender, ethnicity, culture, age, sex, religion, political persuasion, physical and intellectual ability, class, parental status, marital status, location etc. In this regard WISHIN respects and works in accordance with the Racial Discrimination Act 1975, the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Act 1986 and the Workplace Relations Act 1996.

Vision

WISHIN’S vision is that all women will have safe, secure, suitable and affordable housing. We believe that this greatly contributes to quality of life and wellbeing and is a fundamental human right.
Mission Statement
WISHIN will work in the Northern Region towards ensuring the provision of safe, secure, suitable and affordable housing for all women, with or without accompanying children. We will work towards this goal and with women and their children of all cultures, beliefs and health status, treating them with dignity and respect, through effective and appropriate direct support. To this end, WISHIN will also promote and provide gender specific services for women and actively work towards social change.
Value Statement
WISHIN is informed by feminist philosophy and guided by principles of social justice and cultural diversity.
WISHIN believes that every woman has the right to make informed decisions and choices about her life.
WISHIN believes that all individuals should be given every opportunity to reach their full potential.
WISHIN believes that all individuals should have the fundamental right to be treated with respect and dignity.
WISHIN believes that access to safe, secure, affordable and appropriate accommodation is a fundamental human right.
 WISHIN believes that Homelessness is broader than the absence of shelter and is the result of structural factors.
WISHIN believes that every woman has the right to self determination and that she should be provided with information that will assist her to make informed decisions about her own life, and on issues that may have an impact on her life.
WISHIN believes that all women have the right to inform decision making processes that impact on their lives. 
WISHIN works actively to redress the patriarchal and discriminatory values in our society which affect women’s lives.

In 1994 SAAP published a systems review which recommended changes to service structure and the amalgamation of small services in order to strengthen their infrastructure through shared resources. This led to the mutually agreed upon amalgamation between two Brunswick and Coburg based organisations who had been providing services to women and their children who were homeless or at risk of homelessness; CHAIN Youth Housing - a housing and outreach support service to young women and their children and Single Women in Supportive Housing Options (SWISHO) - an outreach support service to women in rooming house accommodation.
Women's Housing Outreach and Support Service (WHOSS) was formed in July 1996 from these two services via changes to CHAIN's constitution to incorporate the operations of SWISHO and the name change.
This amalgamation process facilitated the development of a larger women's only housing and support service (WHOSS) and provided the way for the funding of a part-time Manager's position.
In 2001 the Department of Human Services placed a well established SAAP funded women's support and housing service open for tender. Safe Place had been providing a housing and support service to women and their children in the Darebin area since 1993. In addition to its SAAP funding Safe Place received Psychiatric Disability Specialist Service's (PDRS) funds to provide outreach support to women who have a psychiatric disability and their children.
WHOSS submitted a tender for this service in order to ensure the continuation of a locally-based gender specific service for women and their children and was successful. Women's Information Support and Housing In The North (WISHIN) became the newly incorporated body on the 11th February 2002 from the previously separate WHOSS and Safe Place. 
This expansion of service also allowed for an increase in Executive Officer's position.
Prior to 1997 all SAAP funded services provided both the tenancy management and support to publicly funded properties in which women and their children who were homeless or at risk of homelessness were housed for periods of time until more permanent housing became available. In 1997 the State Government restructured the Crisis Accommodation sector creating large regional bodies - Transitional Housing Management Services (THMS) - who were to primarily provide the housing and tenancy administration for those who were living in transitional/emergency housing. Services such as WHOSS and Safe Place were required to relinquish tenancy management to THMS and became support service providers only.
 In addition the PDRSS funds for WISHIN (and previously Safe Place) provide for outreach support to women who have a psychiatric disability and their children. The housing for this program is primarily provided under the Housing and Support Program, being long-term tenure housing administered by the Office of Housing.

Incorporation Number: A0016368L | Australian Business Number (ABN): 535 786 63810 | Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) Number: 900 461 117

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EXEMPTION
As a gender specific organisation WISHIN's members, Committee of Management and staff are women. The service is also only provided to women and their children. In order to be able to provide such a specific service WISHIN has exemption under Sections 13,100 and 195 of the EOAC 1995. A205/2006