Groundbreaking new Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Framework
National NAIDOC Week is a time to celebrate the culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. In that spirit, we're excited to update you on a Victorian first: The Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Framework, being led by Aboriginal Housing Victoria.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples face homelessness at 11 times the rate of non-Indigenous Victorians.
To help address this egregious disparity, Aboriginal Housing Victoria (AHV) has been funded to support the development of an overarching Framework to improve housing outcomes for all Aboriginal Victorians.
“The challenge is to reduce the incidence of Aboriginal homelessness, build the supply of social housing, increase access to the private rental market and build inter-generational wealth through growing homeownership. We need new tenures, new thinking and a rights-based approach. Most of all we need self-determination to shape this work,” says AHV CEO Darren Smith.
The work being done by AHV is essential. Most importantly it is being driven and managed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
A Housing Summit with over 130 participants held earlier this year, resulted in this report of findings which will help guide the next step in developing the framework.
There will also be an important conversation about the development of an Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Framework at this year’s Victorian Homelessness Conference on 14 & 15 October. We hope you'll join us.
Read our full NAIDOC Week blog here.
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Introducing #VCH2019 Keynote speaker Dr Steven Gaetz
October 14-15
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in Southbank
The 2019 conference is a must for those looking to get up to date on the latest homelessness practice, research and, insights from those with lived experiences, including practitioners, policymakers, researchers and other community sector representatives.
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CHP is thrilled to introduce the first keynote speaker for the Victorian Homelessness Conference 2019 International homelessness expert, Dr Stephen Gaetz.
Dr Gaetz hails from Canada, where the Federal Government has recently committed to two things the Australian homelessness sector has long been demanding; a national housing strategy and a national homelessness strategy.
As the President & CEO of the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness, he'll be giving insight into what Australia can learn from Canada's experience of having national strategies implemented, which system reforms have succeeded, and which have faltered.
Don't miss out!
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CHP submission to the Royal Commission into Mental Health
CHP has made a formal submission to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System asking them to recognise the importance of housing for those receiving mental health care in the community.
Homelessness damages people’s mental health and undermines their ability to get treatment. We’re calling on the Commission to recognise that a range of housing options are needed to support people with a wide range of different mental health needs. Read our submission here.
A special thanks to our Peer Education Support Program members who provided insights from their own very difficult times. You can see some of their insights below
‘Having a home when you’re receiving mental healthcare keeps you safe and
secure.’
- Nigel Pernu, Consumer / Advocate
‘You can actually start building up a good relationship with your GP and all of the services in your area, so that you finally get a good overall history going, and build a relationship with your professional’
- Christine Thirkell, Consumer / Advocate
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Get ready for #HW2019
Homelessness Week (4-10 August) is an annual opportunity to bring the issue of homelessness into the spotlight and onto the agenda of local, state and national governments.
Planning an event? Let us know
If you're planning a Homelessness Week event, remember to register it on the HW2019 Event page - it's a great way to promote your activities. Just email information about your event including date and time, location and a brief description to andrew@chp.org.au.
The kit below contains all the information you need to throw a Homelessness Week event including where to register your event and how to attract media coverage.
Download it here
Joining in online
A #HW2019 Digital Kit will be available soon - watch this space!.
Special guest lecture
Please join us on Thursday 8 August for a 90-minute guest lecture by Dr Peter Mackie of Cardiff University, who will talk about his pioneering work on homelessness prevention in Wales, in particular the legal duty on local authorities to prevent homelessness.
The event is being co-hosted by Council to Homeless Persons, Unison Housing, the Centre for People, Organisation and Work, and the Social Global Studies Centre at RMIT University, and will also feature a Q&A-style panel discussion moderated by Dr Cameron Duff, and featuring some of Victoria’s leading thinkers on homelessness prevention.
When: Thursday 8 August
Where: RMIT Building 56, 115 Queensberry Street
Time: 4:30pm to 6pm
Cost: Free ( registration required)
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Applications coming in for Victorian Homelessness Achievement Awards
CHP is proud to present this beautiful original artwork that will appear on the 2019 Victorian Homelessness Achievement Awards; Yelka Yabini Waaly (Hawks Healing the Cuckoo Spirit Bird), 2018 by artist Morgs,
The Victorian Homelessness Achievement Awards celebrate the exceptional efforts of workers, consumers and organisations within the homelessness sector. Applications have already started to trickle in, so don’t miss your opportunity to nominate your excellent program, consumer, or colleague before applications close on Sunday 25 August.
In exciting news we have secured Sammy J as MC of the Awards presentation. Sammy J is known for his satirical takes and insightful commentary on Australian news and politics.
The awards represent an exceptional opportunity for organisations to showcase their best work and innovative practices to the sector, Government bodies and prospective funders. Nominating staff and consumers also shows that their work and contribution is recognised and valued. Check out last year’s winners
Applications close Sunday 25 August
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What's your People's Pick for best media story this year?
Word has spread through newsrooms and across editor's desks about the Victorian Homelessness Media Awards and we’re delighted to see a range of outstanding entries being entered by Australian journalists.
We have introduced a new way for the public to get involved in the VHMAs. The People's Pick is a way for you to bring our attention to excellent stories on homelessness.
Your suggestion is not an official nomination but will prompt the Council to Homeless Persons to contact the journalist to encourage that person to enter the VHMAs.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Launch's Bevan Warner joins as judge of panel for Homelessness Media Awards
The Victorian Homelessness Media Awards were established to recognise and reward excellent journalism in relation to homelessness.
Journalists from all over Australia are invited to submit their stories via the VHMA website into one of four categories to go in the running to win a share of a $6500. The categories are:
- Best breaking news
- Best longform and investigative journalism
- Best opinion and analysis
- Best student or early career journalism
As an independent media awards program, the entries will be judged by a panel of 12 judges, including a diverse representation of journalists. Also on the panel will be three community sector leaders. Our latest recruit is Bevan Warner, the CEO of Launch Housing, a Victorian secular community agency whose mission is to end homelessness.
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Read Parity Magazine
Every month, CHP showcases some of the terrific contributions to Parity magazine in our eNews and on Twitter. Below you can read two articles from the May 2019, Homelessness: Diversity and Inclusion edition:
"Understanding our communities' diverse identities & lived experience are vital to ensuring we respond effectively to homelessness for LGBTIQ+ people"
A must-read on promoting safety, respectful communication and self-determination for trans, gender diverse and non-binary people experiencing homelessness by Starlady, Zoe Belle Gender Collective & Jennifer Tobin.
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Get full access to Parity - become a subscriber
For complete access to every new addition of Parity, and to a 13-year back-catalogue, simply register as a New User on the CHP Member Portal and choose your subscription type.
If you work for a CHP member organisation you can access Parity free online once you activate your staff login to the Portal. Your CEO can send a link to your staff that enables you to log in.
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Free community tram advertising
The annual Yarra Trams Community Partnerships Program is open for applications from Monday 1 July, until Friday 26 July.
The program provides $1 million of free advertising value to community organisations making a "positive impact on diversity and inclusion in Melbourne".
All eligible community organisations are welcome to apply for a share in the advertising and eight partner organisations will be chosen.
Find out more information here.
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