ncch ncchc housing news...think the end result will be a strategic plan that will provide us with a...
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NCCHC
HOUSING NEWS
NCCH HOUSING NEWS
ISSUE 31 / SPRING 2015
From our CEO—John McKenna
Dear NCCH Tenants, Lismore Office Relocation
I am very excited to an-nounce that NCCH has purchased its own premis-es to which our Lismore office will be relocating to
at the end of October this year. The purchase of this building is a signifi-cant event in NCCH’s history and firmly entrenches NCCH into the community in which we operate our business. Our new office is located at 107-109 Molesworth Street, Lismore and we hope out new location allows easier access for our clients as we will be located across the street from Lismore Transit Centre. Strategic Plan 2015-2018 Over the past few months, consulta-tion sessions have been held with our Board of Directors, Staff, Tenant Council and our key stakeholders, with whom we conduct business to ascertain how NCCH can improve our service—now and into the future. Interviews were held with our community partner organisations, as well as our ten-ants, giving them the opportunity to provide their input on how our organisation is viewed by our stakeholders. After the consultation process was com-plete, we worked our way through the feed-back to define our goals over the next three years, and how we hope to achieve them. We have now produced the draft Strategic Plan which will be put forward to the Board
for approval at the September Board meet-ing and, once approved, it will take immedi-ate effect. I would like to thank everyone who has tak-en part in the review process to date. I think the end result will be a Strategic Plan that will provide us with a clear guide as we move forward in the rapidly changing hous-ing sector in which we are involved, and the challenges that may lie ahead of us. Lunch with Minister Hazzard I attended a lunch with Family & Communi-ty Services and Social Housing Minister Brad Hazzard in Sydney in early Septem-ber which was held for the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Tier 1 Registered Com-munity Housing Providers. The lunch was an opportunity for CEOs to provide feedback to the Minister on issues being experienced in the sector. The meet-ing also allowed for the Minister to provide an outline of possible changes to the com-munity housing industry in the future and how these changes could impact on the sector. The Minister also addressed changes to the Public Housing – Antisocial Behaviour Bill, which our Housing & Communities General Manager, Colin Jones, has dis-cussed in his article on pages 2 & 4. NCCH will keep tenants posted on any changes that may impact the way in which NCCH operates its business.
Until the next issue,
John McKenna
A reminder about making payments to NCCH
Just a reminder to tenants that, if you’re making a payment to NCCH online or at the bank, you need to include your Bank ID number in the description including what the payment is for … eg. “200 rent“ or “700 water”. If there is enough room to include your surname, that would also be helpful.
This ensures that any funds paid by you to NCCH are received into your account and not into someone else’s account by mistake!
From the Finance Team—Hariet, Tanya, Linda & Anthea
What’s in this issue ... Page 2: * Housing & Communites update Page 3: * Property & Development update * Daylight Savings reminder * Final Tenant Forum for 2015 * Tweed Office update Page 4: * Housing & Communites (cont) * From our Grafton office * Contacting our Tenant Council Pages 5—8: * Community Noticeboard Page 6: * Tenant Contribution * 2016 NCCH Educational Award
Scheme
As from
Tues 27 October 2015,
NCCH Lismore office
will be located at:
107-109 Molesworth
Street, Lismore
Our phone number will
remain the same
(02) 6627 5300.
Page 2 of 8
NCCH
HOUSING NEWS
From the Housing & Communities General Manager
Tenant Survey Recently a tenant survey was sent out to all our tenants providing an opportunity for you to provide us with your feedback on NCCH services, which we take very seriously. We are very grateful to the number of tenants who have returned their surveys and we look forward to the analysis of your responses to know where we are going right and find out the areas where we can improve. Without your contribution we are unable to improve or monitor the service we provide to you, our valuable tenants. We appreciate your input in to improving our service and your thoughts in to the future of NCCH. We look forward to work-ing alongside you in building a bigger and better NCCH. We wish everyone who entered the draw to win the $250 the very best of luck. Complaints and Appeals With the help of the Tenant Council, we are currently updating our complaints and appeals system. The NCCH complaints and appeals system is designed to address matters where a tenant or client ex-presses any dissatisfaction with the service they receive from us, including decisions made about their tenancy or social housing application. Our aim is to encourage a fast resolution of your issues and help us improve the quality of what we do, so each com-plaint that is raised allows us to think about future procedures that enable us to help other people too. We thank the Tenant Council for their assistance in helping us to achieve this goal. Tenant Responsible Maintenance (TRM) Policies
We have been doing a lot of work on the policies surrounding Tenant Responsible Maintenance to devel-op a clear understanding for tenants of their responsibilities in maintaining their properties. The release of the new policies will be distributed to all tenants as soon as they have been finalised. This will hopefully create a better understanding of what is and what is not the maintenance responsibil-ity of the tenant.
Our role at NCCH is to establish and maintain your tenancy. We take pride in providing you with a safe and comfortable property for you and your family and have confidence that you, our tenants value your homes as we value your tenan-cy. We appreciate the effort you have taken in looking after your property and look forward to our inspections with you as a way to catch up with you on anything you need taken care of. Please do not hesitate to contact your local NCCH office if you have any concerns about your property. Tenancy Laws As a courtesy to our tenants, we are advising you that the NSW Parliament is currently debating the Public Housing – Antisocial Behaviour Bill. It is currently at its second reading and is expected to pass through Parliament without any major amendment. Once the bill has been passed, it will also apply to community housing providers. This will mean the following changes for our tenants: 1. One-Strike Policy There will be a toughened stance on serious criminal behaviour by tenants, with a reduced standard of proof for land-lords. The bill will cover a much broader range of criminal activity than the current Act does; such as breaches of the Bail Act, possession of illegal weapons, prostitution, child pornography. Confidential Neighbour Impact Statements will be allowed and considered by the NCAT. NCAT must provide a written response if orders not granted. 2. Three-Strike Policy As it implies, there will only be allowed 3 breaches within 12 months and we will have the right to end a tenancy. Ten-ants have the right of appeal against each breach. Tenant’s failure to appeal (according to the new laws) is conclusive proof that a breach has occurred. Any strikes “follow” the tenant to another property. 3. Rental subsidy fraud Where a tenant has committed rental subsidy fraud and has not repaid the money owing, NCCH will have the right to terminate their tenancy.
continued on page 4
NCCHC
HOUSING NEWS
Page 3 of 8
NCCH
HOUSING NEWS
Property & Development Update
Smoke Alarm Services All tenants should have received a letter advising them that the Smoke Alarm Service would be carried out as from 1 September. If you haven’t heard from your designated contractor, either Power-Rite (Tweed & Lismore) or Darryl Smith Electrical (Grafton), please be patient as they will be in touch with you as soon as possible.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the tenants who have allowed the contractors into their homes to conduct this testing which is an unavoidable necessity designed to keep everyone safe. New Property Surveyor We would like to introduce our new Property Surveyor—Craig Salvatori—who has joined the Property & Development team. Craig is a qualified builder and brings with him to the position a wealth of experience in the social housing and building sectors.
The Property & Development Team— Chris, Andrea & Craig
Final NCCHTenant Forum for 2015 Tweed Office Update
A warm hello to all our tenants in the Tweed and Byron Shires! Spring is here and summer is fast approaching … those warm, long days that we love so much! “Christmas in July” function—Wednesday, 15 July We all had a wonderful time at the Christmas in July party that was held in July (which seems so long ago now!). It was fantastic to see you all there and catch up with every-one. Thank you to Marianne from the Tenant Council who organised the raffles and seating arrangements. The day was a huge success, and the food was delightful. Don’t forget that the Tenant Forums are open to all our ten-ants and are a wonderful opportunity for you to have your say.
Best wishes from the Team in Tweed— Dane, Lisa, Kylie and Helaine
NCCH
Tenant Forum
Maclean Services Club
36-38 River St, Maclean
Wednesday, 14 October
RSVP by 7 October to
(02) 6642 9100
Everyone who attends, goes into the draw for a $50
gift card!! Congratulations to Coral, who won a gift
card at our August Tenant Forum held in Evans Head!
Special Guest
Speaker from
the
State
Emergency
Service
It’s that time of the year again!
Daylight saving time begins in NSW on Sunday, 4 October 2015 when
clocks go forward one hour at 2:00am!
Page 4 of 8
NCCH
HOUSING NEWS
Contacting Tenant Council Members
If you would like to speak with one of the NCCH Tenant Coun-cil members about an issue you may be having in regard to your tenancy, please give them a call by using one of the
numbers listed below. All calls are treat-ed in the strictest of confidence.
Dolores (02) 6643 1209
Peter (02) 6624 2619
Marianne 0408 821 230
Just a reminder that our Grafton office will be closed for the Labour Day public holiday on Monday, 5 October 2015 and on Thursday afternoon, 5 November 2015 from 12:00pm for the Jacaranda Thursday public holiday in Grafton.
Our next Tenant Forum is for our Clarence area tenants on Wednes-
day 14 October 2015 at Maclean Services Club (River St, Maclean), from 10:30am to 12pm.
Anglicare North Coast (located in Grafton) offers emergency relief for
people in crisis (grocery vouchers and help with utility bills). Phone: (02) 6643 4844.
Storm season is coming up! Contact SES in case of emergency on
132 500. See our tips on how to prepare for storms on the right. More information is available from the Storm Safe website www.stormsafe.com.au
From the Grafton Team—Kris, Helen,
Amanda, Terri and Jelena
Tenancy Laws continued... 4. Tenant damage This change will limit the NCAT’s ability to reduce tenant damage charges at the NCAT hearing. 5. The current legislation gives HNSW the right to employ “probationary tenancies”. At the end of a fixed term agreement, tenancies can be terminated. Up until this point, HNSW has been lenient in extending tenancies but, in the future, will have a tougher stance on terminating probationary tenancies. What does this mean for NCCH tenancies? We are now discussing the many policy and system issues this Bill raises. We will be challenged by these changes in terms of balancing sustaining tenancies (and protecting the right to natural justice of our tenants) with our new legal rights. Remember, it will be OUR POLICY CHOICE to either enact (or not) the new Act’s provisions. We are passionate about the work we do in providing and sustaining affordable housing for vulnerable tenants. We would like to remind you that although this Bill gives community housing providers more rights to act and/or terminate disruptive and nui-sance tenancies, we will treat this Bill as a last resort in sustaining tenancies. We’ll keep you updated on the Bill’s progress and its enactment.
Colin Jones
From the Housing & Communities General Manager (continued)
From our Grafton Office
NCCHC
HOUSING NEWS
Page 5 of 8
NCCH
HOUSING NEWS
Community Noticeboard
Telephone contact service provided by Australian
Red Cross Telecross is a service that provides the elderly and
housebound with a reassuring daily phone call to en-
sure that they are safe and well.
If this call goes unanswered an agreed emergency
procedure will be activated and help arranged if necessary. Telecross calls are made by trained volunteers daily at an agreed time
that suits the recipient of the call. Telecross provides peace of mind to
clients and their families, and allows the elderly and housebound to
maintain their independence for as long as possible. Telecross also has the added benefit of providing
a degree of companionship and contributes to a decrease in the sense of isolation many people experi-
ence. Telecross calls are made by trained volunteers daily at an agreed time that suits the recipient of the
call. Telecross provides peace of mind to clients and their families, and allows the elderly and house-
bound to maintain their independence for as long as possible. Telecross also has the added benefit of
providing a degree of companionship and contributes to a decrease in the sense of isolation many
people experience. For more information phone 1300 885 698 or click here.
A call each day to
check you're OK.
Copies of From There To Here are still available Copies of NCCH’s publication From There To Here, are still
available from any NCCH office or request a copy by sending
an email to [email protected].
Info Session for Family, Friends & Neighbours of someone living with
Dementia
Understanding Dementia +
Effective Communication
When: Thurs 15 October Time: 6pm – 8pm Venue: Casino RSM Club, 162 Canterbury St, Casino
RSVP to Donna Byer
(02) 6620 1810 or email [email protected]
*Registration essential for catering purposes as light
refreshments will be provided
This session covers an intro-duction to dementia for family carers and explains the caus-
es of dementia, the im-portance of diagnosis and
early planning. The session will also explore changes in
communication that occur for a person with dementia, prob-
lems that may arise from com-munication breakdown and
helpful suggestions for easing communication challenges for the person with dementia. It is also a chance for you to find
out about local services/supports available to you.
If respite care is required for you to attend, please contact
Commonwealth Carer Respite Centre on 1800 052 222
to book in-home support to enable you to attend.
Page 6 of 8
NCCH
HOUSING NEWS
Free medium to long term counselling
Rape & Domestic Violence Service Australia together with the Northern Rivers Women and Children Services are offering free counselling to women who have experienced sexual as-
sault in childhood.
Vacancies are currently available for medium to longer term counselling for women in Lismore.
The following eligibility criteria applies:
Clients must be 18 years or older.
Clients must have experienced sexual assault under the age of 18.
Client must not have experienced adult sexual assault in the last three months (if this is the case, please refer to the Lismore-
Richmond Sexual Assault Service on 02 6620 2970).
For further information about referral or for any other queries, please contact Intake via phone: (02) 8585 0363 or
email: [email protected].
A snippet from one of our Tenants
One of our tenants sent in a tip to be careful when heating water in microwaves which can result in hot water erupting out of a cup after over-heating. This can result in superheated water (past its boiling temperature) without appearing to boil. This type of phenomena occurs if water is heated in a clean cup. If foreign materials such as instant coffee or sugar are added before heating, the risk is greatly reduced. If superheating has occurred, a slight disturbance or movement such as picking up the cup, or pouring in a spoon full of instant coffee, may result in a violent eruption with the boiling water exploding out of the cup. Thanks to Lorraine for this reminder!
Community Noticeboard (continued)
Family Support Network Inc offers quality family and chil-dren services to families mostly in the Lismore local gov-ernment area, with some services offered across neigh-bouring local government areas. Areas include the metropolitan areas of Lismore, Goonel-labah as well as surrounding rural villages such as Dunoon, Modanville, Clunes, Bexhill, Rosebank, Jiggi, Rock Valley, Bentley, Wyrallah, The Channon, Nimbin and others. Services include provision of family work/support, facilitat-ing parenting programs as well as supported playgroups. Phone: (02) 6621 2489 Website: www.fsn.org.au Email: [email protected]
Applications for the 2016 NCCH Educational Awards Scheme are now open! Applications are now open for the 2016 Educational Awards Scheme! The Scheme is designed to assist NCCH tenants by easing the financial burden of educating their children and/or themselves. It is also designed to encourage tenants to pur-sue their ambitions in sport and creative arts. By supporting students to achieve, the Educational Awards Scheme is a way of building community capacity, leading to future social and economic engagement in society. To date, NCCH has assisted several young students to meet some of their educational expenses. Downloadable information packs for the 2016 NCCH Educational Awards Scheme are available on our website (www.ncchc.org.au) or from any of our offices. Applications close on Tuesday, 31 October 2015.
NCCHC
HOUSING NEWS
Page 7 of 8
NCCH
HOUSING NEWS
Great things start with you
Hello there, we’re your local Community College and just dropped in to say hi. Perhaps you’ve heard of us.
These days Community Colleges are a place where you can really amplify your life and career possibilities.
In our work we see people at all kinds of crossroads, not knowing which way to go. Our tip is
don’t focus on the problem, focus on the solutions. Here are three stories to share:
After completing high school Luke Skinner decided to gain qualifications in aviation, hospi-
tality and language so he could go in new directions; and says “training is an experience in
itself. It prepares you well to confidently reach out to employment and employers. Defi-nitely do it, work hard and you can get there”.
Helen Want has transitioned from hospitality into the world of business. Having successfully
navigated her way through MYOB and excel she is about to start a certificate course in busi-
ness administration through flexible delivery. “I realised I wanted a career change and eve-ryone at the College has been fantastic, I’ve been supported in selecting the right courses, made friends with other students, use my new skills at work every day and would say to
anyone thinking about training don’t hesitate. Yes it can be challenging, but you really do need qualifications to get ahead”.
Former transport logistics coordinator Malcolm Campbell is just 7 weeks away from com-
pleting his certification in aged care. “The College experience has been wonderful; the team organised 100 hours of work placement and provided an opportunity for me to gain my first aid certificate as well. Training locally means I don’t have to travel, and I really enjoy the
classroom learning over an on-line option. I’m paying my way through this course, and se-lected the College because of its established links to the local aged care industry”.
We say go right ahead and back yourself. Stay motivated by surrounding yourself with ener-gised people and get to where you want to go. Perhaps your goal is a first job, or you are
seeking to realign your employability profile. Taking that first step is sometimes the hardest. Recognising your personal value and really using that to best advantage is the key.
The Ballina Region Community College offers so many options and delivery formats, which means you don’t have to live in Ballina to train with us. Driver education, tech savvy seniors,
skill sets and qualifications linked to careers are just a tiny insight into the range.
What’s the reward for stepping out of your comfort zone? A full, happy and vital life – jump in.
Check the website www.ballinarcc.edu.au or phone our customer support team on 6628 5426 to explore what will work best for you.
Kind regards,
Ballina Region Community College
Community Noticeboard (continued)
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NCCH
HOUSING NEWS
Launch of new App for
women experiencing
violence
What is Daisy? Violence against women is unacceptable. Daisy is an app that connects women around Australia to services. Dai-
sy can link you up with a service phone number, be used to search the internet for more information and let you
know what to expect when contacting a service. Family members and friends can use Daisy to gather information
and support a loved one’s decision making. Why Daisy? Domestic and family violence affects one in three Australian women, and sexual assault affects one in five women
over the age of 15. Daisy connects women who are experiencing or have experienced sexual assault, domestic
and family violence to services in their state and local area. Daisy provides women with an easy way to find a wide
range of services. Responding to violence requires a whole-of-government ap-
proach, so in addition to specialist services Daisy also lists legal
services, housing and finance services and children’s services.
You can create a list of favourite services for easy reference. Find out more at the 1800respect website.
Download Daisy from Google Play or the App Store for iPhones (Tip: Search for Daisy Medibank
Online Counselling Click here to access online counselling delivered by
qualified, experienced professionals 24-hours a day,
seven days a week.
Telephone Counselling 1800 737 732
Call this number to access counselling delivered by
qualified, experienced professionals 24-hours a day,
seven days a week.
Feeling Unsafe?
If you, a child or another person is in
immediate danger CALL 000.
Community Noticeboard (continued)
Handmade by Catherine Perry One of our tenants has worked hard on a range of hand dec-orated cards and notebooks. The range includes Christmas, Birthday, Kids, Thank you, Get Well, Thinking of You, Con-gratulations, Best Wishes, With Love, and Invitation cards, as well as small & large note books. They are for sale at our Lismore Office and range in price from $2.50 for most of the cards, $3.80 for the small notebooks, up to $8 for the largest notebooks. We have included a few photos of Catherine’s card designs.