This week is NAIDOC Week, a time when we celebrate First Nations histories, cultures, knowledge systems and achievements.
There are lots of ways you can honour the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples this NAIDOC Week, and I encourage you, where you can, to get involved. You can find events near you here.
As members of the community housing sector, one of the most significant things we can do is incorporate Indigenous cultural safety into our organisations and the way we work – and NAIDOC Week is the perfect time to start.
There are many reasons why you should embed cultural safety in your organisation. Cultural safety is essential if you wish to work with Aboriginal people and organisations. But getting started on cultural safety can also help you attract and retain the best employees, tap into procurement opportunities, and bolster the reputation of your organisation.
Jenny is one of the key architects of the Framework and has put together an engaging, participatory and practical event that will feature interactive sessions, useful resources, and guest speaker Kerry Arabena, chair of the Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Framework.
The Big Housing Build is just six months old, but already more than 240 residences are ready to become homes, with some tenants already moved in.
These homes are part of the more than 1,100 houses that have already been purchased or started construction so far.Read on.
Homes Victoria: organisational growth and new appointments
Homes Victoria is a new organisation, which is growing rapidly, with new staff appointments and a burgeoning structure.
The organisational chart will provide you with an overview of Homes Victoria staff and roles, and we wanted to let you know about some new key appointments.
Hayley Parkes has been re-appointed to the role of Executive Director, Housing Growth and Commercial Development on a five-year contract. Hayley is now on parental leave, and Camille Kingston has been appointed to the executive team to fill Hayley’s role. Luke Bo’sher has also gone on parental leave for six month and his Executive Director role has been filled by Hannah Duncan-Jones.
Within the Strategic Partnership areas there is a team dedicated to community housing which is headed up by Julieanne Darling and they look after the Sector Development Fund amongst other things. Responsibility for the 10-year plan and the Industry Working Group rests with Social Housing reform.
Many of you would have worked with Steve Dunn and he recently retired.
There have also been two Director appointments to the Asset Management Branch. Lee Dobson will be joining Homes Victoria as Director Property and Leasing and Martin McCurry will be joining Homes Victoria as the Director of Asset Lifecyle Planning.
CHIA Vic is currently managing a wide range of projects to support the sector to deliver the Big Housing Build and support organisational growth as the sector scales up over the next few years. Here’s a brief update on some of the projects currently underway which may be of interest now. Read on.
New website for CHIA Vic! CHIA Vic is just putting the finishing touches on our new and improved website, which should be launched in the next month. You can look forward to a new look, improved functionality, and heaps of new content. The new site will include a dedicated area for developers and government partners interested in working with the sector to learn more about what we do.
It will also allow external parties to post collaboration opportunities. These could be anything from construction firms interested in working with the sector to developers or local councils with sites who are seeking a community housing partner to deliver social housing.
If you are a developer or council interested in submitting your collaboration opportunity prior to the launch of the website get in touch with jess.pomeroy@chiavic.com.au.
The new site also features examples of recent community housing development projects, and CHIA Vic would like to extend a big thank you to the members who contributed project details for us to share on the new website.
Community housing organisations who have in progress or recently completed projects they would also like featured on CHIA Vic’s new website are invited to get in touch with Margie comms@chiavic.com.au.
Introduction to property development A joint UDIA and CHIA Vic training course providing an introduction to property development is being held on 21 July. This course is for small to mid-sized community housing organisations with little or no experience in property development. It is designed to give participants a better understanding of what property development involves so that they can make strategic decisions for how they participate in the Big Housing Build. Don’t miss out, book your tickets now.
Embedded network review The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning has been reviewing embedded networks, to implement the Victorian Government’s election commitment to ban embedded networks in new residential apartment buildings, with appropriate exemptions.
They have just released their draft recommendations report for public consultation, with submissions due by 6 August.
Stakeholders are encouraged to make a submission to the Draft Report. Further information on the Review, including how to make a submission, can be found on Victoria’s Embedded Networks Review Engage Victoria webpage.
A public information webinar on the Draft Report will be held on Thursday, 22 July at 11am via Microsoft Teams. You can register to attend the online event via Eventbrite.
CHIA Vic membership renewals: now due CHIA Vic members were invited to renew their membership with both CHIA and CHIA Vic for the 2021/22 financial year in early June, and we have received quite a few renewals already.
Members who have not yet renewed their membership are asked to do so as soon as possible.
