Our Empowerment Products and Services
Our Empowerment Products and Services provide a holistic solution for eligible renters to overcome the three major barriers into homeownership, being; the deposit, know-how and supply barriers. No other organisation in Australia provides support along the whole home ownership journey like we do. Our Empowerment Products and Services include our:
Our empowerment products:
Head Start Financial Capability Service: supports eligible clients to build financial capability by providing a dedicated specialist to support clients achieve their savings goals, overcoming debts and increasing their financial awareness.
Head Start Savings Plans support eligible clients to improve their financial capability and mortgage readiness. This includes access to a dedicated Head Start support person, budgeting resources, credit check support and referrals to specialist bankers and property coaches.
Head Start Purchase empowers eligible clients to find the right home at the right price by providing clients with access to a free property coach, property learning resources and discounted services like conveyancing.
Our empowerment services
Head Start Recycling Guarantee: we can act as a Guarantor for eligible clients which may remove the clients’ need for a bank deposit and lender’s mortgage insurance.
Access to specialist bankers and discounted home loan products: Our clients are provided with access to local specialist bankers who can provide discounted interest rates and fees for our clients. This can save clients many thousands of dollars over the life of the loan and improves their ability to service their home loan.
Enhancing access to the Australian Government's Home Guarantee Scheme by collaborating with our banking partners our clients have enhanced access to Government Guarantees. This includes specialist lenders, discounted interest rates and lower fees.
Head Start Affordable Rent-to-Buy (commencing in Wollongong LGA in 2026): An innovative rent-to-buy solution whereby we create more affordable rental housing that is managed by organisations like community housing providers. Eligible clients are offered a lease of up to five years, as well as a pathway to home ownership which includes access to our Home Ownership Empowerment Products and Services
Head Start Savings Plans
We provide a financial capability service for our applicants because we understand that empowered individuals can make the best decision for their own lives.
Our Head Start Savings Plans support eligible clients to improve their financial capability so they can be home loan ready. This service includes:
budgeting tools and resources
credit checks
achieving agreed savings buffers
a dedicated Head Start Homes support person who provides assistance throughout their entire homeownership journey
referral into a specialist lender at a participating bank when assessed as ready.
By regularly meeting their savings goals our clients accumulate a savings buffer that can be used for any unexpected expenses when they are homeowners.
This video explains how Charlene’s Head Start Savings Plan helped her to buy her own home. Note we now also help private renters who meet our eligibility criteria.
“Starting a savings plan was helpful. As soon as I was told about the opportunity - an opportunity of a lifetime for me - I had such a determination. I put things on hold. That’s was my mindset. ”
Our Head Start Recycling Guarantee
Head Start Homes acts in a similar capacity as parents who provide a parental guarantee for their children. However, instead of offering a parental home as security, Head Start Homes provides funds to the bank in a term deposit account, earning compounding interest.
The money sitting in the term deposit account is recycled back to us once the value of the home is 20% greater than the home loan balance. This is known as the loan-to-value (LVR) ratio. Both house price growth and principal repayments lead to a more favourable LVR.
Head Starts not Hand Outs
We never provide funds directly to our clients because we provide head starts not handouts. The way that our Recycling Head Start Guarantee is designed means that the funds are only transferred and recycled between Head Start Homes and the nominated bank. This means that our guarantees are continually recycled resulting in many families benefiting over time.
The Banks' Pledge
St George Bank, Bank of Melbourne and BankSA were the first banks to partner with us and accept our Recycling Head Start Guarantee. These banks may provide a bespoke home loan called the Head Start Pledge. Under these pledge loans, our HomeStarters may benefit from a reduced deposit or mortgage insurance as well as discounted interest rates and lower fees.
The interest rate discounts provided by a Head Start Pledge Home loan result in mortgage repayments being significantly reduced which increases serviceability and results in our HomeOwners saving many thousands of dollars over the life of the loan when compared to a traditional low deposit loan.
Benefits may include
Reduced or no deposit required for a home loan
No lender's mortgage insurance
Home loan interest rate discounts and savings.
Property purchasing support
Purchasing a home can be a daunting and complicated task. That’s why we may provide our clients who have pre-approval for a home loan with access to free property purchasing support. This may even include a free Property Coach (who is a qualified buyers agent) to help with finding the right home at the right price.
Our Home Starters are also supported by a wide network of socially-minded local home buying partners who provided discounted services such as conveyancing and building and pest inspections.
“It’s the Aussie dream to own your own home and Head Start Homes is helping people to do just that. For me, what you put out comes back so I’m a big believer in helping people. I’ve been doing this work for 17 years so it’s second nature to me and I could see what a great organisation Head Start Homes was.”