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Message from the CEO

After months of hard work, I am pleased to let you know that CHIA Vic has launched our new website – and I really think you'll find it makes accessing news and resources so much quicker and simpler.

We’ve been collaborating with the digital agency, All or Nothing, to create our new website and we've learned a great deal about what makes an effective website.  

Put simply, the best websites are those where visitors find information and are able to digest the content easily. It’s not about high-tech plug-ins, fancy designs, or eye-popping graphics – it's entirely about the user experience. 

The new CHIA Vic website incorporates everything digital communications experts know about how people use websites. It’s simple and well organised and guides people intuitively to what they need. 

One of the best things about the new CHIA Vic website is that it caters for different audiences. It’s just as useful for those with little understanding about community housing, to those who have worked in the industry for years. It’s for local government, developers, suppliers and contractors, as well as CHOs. 

A new feature, that I am particularly excited about is the opportunities presented by our new Projects page. It offers a place for CHOs, developers, and local councils to connect with the view of collaboration, by sharing opportunities to partner on upcoming projects as well as showcasing great examples of community housing developments. It will greatly assist our members in planning and advancing their projects. 

Of course, the new website contains all the resources you need on a daily basis – the latest sector new, information about upcoming training sessions, as well as guides and templates. The website will continue to grow over the coming months as we refresh old content and put up new material.

So jump in and have a look, and please let me know what you think. 


Lesley Dredge
CEO, CHIA Vic

Mental Health Awareness Training - tickets filling fast
The COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t just seen an increase in mental health issues presenting in the disadvantaged and vulnerable with whom we work, but also in workers across the sector. Yet, too many of us are still unsure how to safely navigate the challenges of mental health in ourselves and others. CHIA Vic’s Mental Health Awareness Course provides information and insight into mental health, and direction, using the SAFE model of intervention, and how to promote your own mental wellbeing. Find out more.
 
Disability modifications & accessible design resources
Accessible housing includes features which enable use by people with a disability as well as support people to age in place. Building highly accessible housing allows community housing organisations to offer greater flexibility to their renters, as well as opportunities to make future modifications much easier and cheaper to do.

With the introduction of accessibility standards tipped to come in with the changes to the National Building Code, as well as requirements under the Big Housing Build design standards, CHIA Vic is working on developing resources to assist the sector in better understanding the opportunities to deliver highly accessible housing to their residents. This will include template policies for disability modifications, information on where renters can access additional funding, and an explainer on the differences between Liveable Housing and SDA accessible design guides.

The aim of this work is to demystify these topics and assist the sector to become a leader in delivering accessible housing. If you are interested in contributing to this work please get in touch with Jess: jess.pomeroy@chiavic.com.au
Are you the person we are looking for?
Are you a great project manager with a strong interest in social housing, looking for short-term projects?

CHIA Vic has received funding for a few new short-term projects and we’re looking for someone to work with us on a casual or part-time basis to bring the projects to life or to take on some of our current work.

This is a great opportunity for someone who is looking to learn more about how a peak organisation works, while supporting the sector and gaining experience managing sector wide projects. We would also welcome a secondment from one of our members currently working in the sector full time.

If you are interested and want to find out more please ring Lesley Dredge for a chat on 0407 886 066
If you are a not-for-profit community housing organisation and are responsible for the maintenance of properties you may be eligible to participate in the Community Housing Retrofit Program. The program helps save water and reduce water bills by identifying leaks and inefficient fixtures and covers the cost of some repairs. Find out more.

Here are the contact details for the other water authorities who are participating in the program:
Central Highlands Water: 03 5320 3188, rebecca.fletcher@chw.net.au
Barwon Water: 1300 656 007, communityhousing@barwonwater.vic.gov.au
Lower Murray: 5051 0740, rebateadmin@lmw.vic.gov.au
 
Using planning to generate social & affordable housing 
Modelling for the Constellation project suggests that between 32,000-160,000 affordable homes could be generated across the three largest Australian cities by 2036 if mandatory inclusionary zoning is adopted. Yet very few states have implemented it to date. This session from the CHIA Vic Big Housing Build Conference 2021 examines the proposed national mandatory inclusionary zoning framework put forward by the Constellation project, and reflects on the success of the City West model in delivering social and affordable housing for inner Sydney. Watch the video.
Grant for Victorian renters doing it tough

The Victorian Government has announced a new grant for Victorians struggling to pay their rent. The COVID-19 Rent Relief Grant program will help renters who are experiencing rental hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic. Read all the details.

Pet ownership has surged since early 2020 as Victorians have rushed to brighten up their locked down lives by adopting new furry friends.  Many of these new cats and dogs are in rental properties and the rental reforms have made it much easier for these households to keep pets through a new system that puts the onus on rental providers to apply to VCAT and prove that it is reasonable to refuse the request. Read more.
Older women facing homelessness in Australia: from awareness to action
An estimated 405,000 women aged 45 and over are at risk of homelessness in Australia. Awareness has been raised but policy responses are silent in addressing older women’s homelessness. Housing for the Aged Action Group is hosting the At Risk 2021 Forum (Friday, 17th of September, 10:30am – 1.00pm), where participants will hear from Federal politicians and guest speakers discuss what needs to change for older women today and in the future. Find out more.

Banyule community energy innovation grants

In line with their goal to be a carbon neutral community by 2040, the City of Banyule has established a new grant of up to $50,000 available to support the development of local community-led energy projects.

  • battery storage
  • renewable energy projects for social housing
  • power purchasing agreements
  • bulk buys, for example of electric vehicles, insulation, heat pumps, energy efficient heating or cooling appliances.
Submission close September 30th 2021. Find out more.
Victorian Homelessness Achievement Awards 2021 - nominations now open
The biennial Victorian Homelessness Achievement Awards (VHAAs) celebrate the exceptional efforts of Victoria's homelessness sector. They are a fantastic opportunity to showcase your 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. Categories include:
  • Excellence in Ending Homelessness – Children and families
  • Excellence in Ending Homelessness – Young people
  • Excellence in Ending Homelessness – Adults
  • Excellence in Ending Homelessness – Diverse Groups
  • The Leading Practitioner award
  • The Consumer Achievement award
  • The Beth Thomson Lifetime Achievement award
Nominations close on Sunday 26 September. Find out more. 
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