WIN $100 Westfield Gift Card Enter by 30th November. See page 5.
IN THIS ISSUE
T. 1800 myevolve (1800 693 865) · W. evolvehousing.com.au @evolvehousing @evolvehousing @evolvehousing SUMMER ISSUE • DECEMBER 2023
FOOTY FEVER
Join the RAG Nominations are now open! Page 2
Annual Report
Our Annual Report for the 2022–23 financial year is ready. Page 2
WSABE Patron’s Choice Award We are honoured to have won! Page 4
Win $100 Westfield Gift Voucher We have two prizes to give away. Page 5
Annual Resident Christmas Party Fun for everyone! Page 5
Window Safety
Keeping children safe near open windows. Page 7
School Student Broadband Initiative Are you eligible? Page 8
AQUATOPIA Holiday Events see page 6
EVOLVE HOUSING NEWS T HRIVING CO MMUN ITIES FO R ALL PEO PLE
Evolve Housing’s school holiday Imaginate events are highly anticipated amongst our residents and on some occasions, we had 60+ families and kids attend! SEE STORY ON PAGE 3.
RAG Chat
It’s a RAP
The Resident Advisory Group (RAG) has been working hard with feedback on major system updates that will benefit tenants in 2024. We have also had significant input into the upcoming resident Christmas party at Penrith Panthers Leagues Club. There will be lots of fun activities for all ages: See more details on page 5. You also have an opportunity to join the RAG as new nomination rounds are available. You can be part of the Advisory Group and have your say on how things could be done. Please email: community@evolvehousing.com.au
Annual Report 2022–2023 2022–23 financial year is available for download from our
Evolve Housing’s vision for reconciliation is to work together respectfully and collaboratively with Australia’s First Nations people.
website, or a free hard copy can be obtained from our head
We aim to create culturally safe and appropriate homes,
office in Parramatta. We are particularly proud of the year that
communities and services for Aboriginal and Torres
was and would love for you to download a copy for yourself.
Strait Islanders that empower those individuals and
To get your digital copy of the annual report:
communities to share with all Australians in a prosperous
www.evolvehousing.com.au/reports/
and healthy future.
Our Annual Report for the
In July 2023, our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) was
Acknowledgement of Country
approved by Reconciliation Australia. We have formed a Reconciliation Action Plan Group consisting of Evolve
Evolve Housing acknowledges the Traditional
Housing employees and Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Custodians of the land where we deliver our housing
Islander clients who meet monthly to discuss, lead
services. We acknowledge and pay our respects to all
and implement our actions within our ‘Reflect’ Reconciliation
Elders past, present and future. We welcome all First
Action Plan (RAP) 2023–2024.
Nations Peoples to our services, as we walk together towards reconciliation.
To ensure we are accountable and continue to keep our tenants informed we will be highlighting our progress in newsletters in 2024. To view our RAP please visit: issuu.com/evolvehousing/docs/2023-04-reflect-rap-a4
2 | EVOLVE HOUSING NEWS
IMAGINATE Footy Fever & Smoothies
Evolve Housing’s school holiday Imaginate events are highly anticipated amongst our residents and on some occasions, we had 60+ families and kids attend! In September, we held a Footy Fever event where kids and their parents learned the basics of NRL and AFL. Everyone was encouraged to wear their favourite team’s colours and jerseys, ready to show off their amazing footy skills. The kids were divided into small teams, ready for some
was considered a fierce showdown. But at Evolve Housing, everyone is a winner! After an action-packed morning, everyone worked up quite an appetite and it was time for a delicious smoothie! But not just any smoothie, it was one where you ride a stationary bike and simultaneously blend some fruit.
friendly competition as they learned how to kick the perfect
The day was a huge success, and our Resident Engagement
goal and how to pass the ball to their fellow teammates.
Team, Rob and Terina could not have such incredible turnouts
Soon enough it was time for a game of tug-of-war, which saw
if it weren’t for YOU, our residents!
Evolve Housing staff jumping in to help each side in what EVOLVE HOUSING NEWS | 3
WSABE Award
Women’s Coffee Club
JOIN OUR BI-MONTHLY
Women’s Coffee Club C A L L T E R I N A 0 41 2 8 0 6 4 6 1
Evolve Housing is extremely proud to have won the Western Sydney Awards for Business Excellence (WSABE) Patron’s Choice Award presented by Hon Alan Cadman OAM, at the 2023 gala dinner. We are very grateful and honoured to have received this
Women’s Coffee Club is a space for women to come together, build social connections and feedback to the functions of Evolve Housing.
award and look forward to continuing to make a difference
Have a chat with a coffee and cake on us! Our next catch
in the housing sector across Australia.We were also named
up will be 10am–12pm on Wednesday 31st January 2024 at
finalists in the categories of Excellence in Sustainability for
Affiniti’s Café (69 The Mall, Bankstown). For more information,
our Evolving Green program and Excellence in Innovation for
please text Terina on 0412 806 461 or email:
our profit-for-purpose real estate agency EchoRealty.
community@evolvehousing.com.au
Happy Holiday Season!
CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS WISHES Evolve Housing wishes you a Merry Christmas for 2023. As the holiday season is nearing, we would
DIWALI FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS To all our residents who celebrated the festival of lights on the 12th November, we wish you a happy Diwali! We hope you had a bright, happy and safe celebration.
like to take this opportunity to inform you that Evolve Housing will be closed from Thursday, 21st December 2023 and will be reopening on Tuesday
HANUKKAH
9th January 2024. During this time, the office will
Hanukkah is a festive eight-day
be closed, and online forms and emails will not be
celebration and one of the most widely
monitored.
observed Jewish holidays. Also called
For emergency maintenance issues ONLY, please
the Festival of Lights, the holiday brings light, joy,
call 1800myevolve (1800 693 865). Evolve Housing
and warmth to our homes and communities as we
wishes you a very happy and safe holiday period.
celebrate with candles, food, family, and friends.
4 | EVOLVE HOUSING NEWS
COMPETITION CORNER WIN $100 Westfield Gift Card To keep the family entertained during the summer school holidays we will be holding a Unscramble the Words competition with Westfield Gift cards as the prize! The prize: We have 2 prizes to give away. Each winner will get a $100 Westfield gift card.
How to enter:
ANNUAL RESIDENT
CHRISTMAS PARTY
Unscramble the letters to make a word that matches the hint, when you’re done send the photo by SMS to Terina on 0412 806 461. Use the subject line “Unscramble”. Please include your full name, Evolve Housing address and phone number. All correct entries will go into the running to win, then we will draw 2 winners randomly. Please note you must be an Evolve Housing resident to enter. Entries close midday Thursday 30th November 2023, and we will contact the winners directly.
To celebrate the year 2023, Evolve Housing will be holding our Annual Resident Christmas event at Penrith Panthers Leagues Club.
FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN Activity: Enjoy a 3-course buffet, face painters, magician, jumping castle, Aqua Golf, DJ, family movie and water activities. Date: Sunday 17th December 2023 Time: 11am–3pm Location: The Backyard area at Penrith Panthers Leagues Club.
Unscramble EEMDECRB ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Hint: The last month of the year LYOIDHA ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Hint: An extended period of leisure and recreation, especially one spent away from home or in travelling
ADULTS AND SENIORS
MUMRES ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Hint: A season of the year HCSOLO
SOYHILDA
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Hint: A break away from school EWN
RYAES
___ ___ ___
YDA
___ ___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___
Hint: Public holiday HISMTSRCA ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Hint: Green and Red are the theme colours for this time of year
Activity: Enjoy a 3-course sit-down buffet, live music, bingo with prizes and more. Date: Sunday 17th December 2023 Time: 11am–3pm Location: The Jamison room at Penrith Panthers Leagues Club Residents can only attend one of the two events on the day. Limited transport options available. RSVP by Sunday 3rd December 2023 To book tickets please visit: bit.ly/eh-whatson
EVOLVE HOUSING NEWS | 5
SAVE THE DATE 2024
AQUATOPIA Splash, Swim & Sun!
12pm–4pm Tuesday 23rd January 2024 Aquatopia, Prairewood Leisure Centre, Prairevale Road, Prairewood Cabana 1, 2, 6, 7 & 8 (near the toddler pool)
Lunch will be provided or bring your own food. Sunscreen provided What to bring: A towel, hat, change of clothes & toiletry items (optional) floaties if needed. Lunch will be provided or bring your own food.
JOIN US! Register at evolvehousing.com.au/whatson Limited tickets are available. 6 | EVOLVE HOUSINGFREE NEWS event run EXCLUSIVELY for children & parents of EVOLVE HOUSING
Stay HEAT resilient this SUMMER
While the weather’s been fairly mild so far, any Australian will know that our summers really heat up, especially in western Sydney! Anyone who lives in Penrith would find it hard to forget the 48.9 degree day on 4 January 2020, when Penrith was the hottest place on earth! Evolve Housing is proud to have collaborated with other Community Housing Providers and the NSW Government to participate in the Western Sydney Heat Resilience Project. This project is designed to give community housing residents ideas on how to battle extreme heat in the summer without using too much costly energy. We encourage you to view the resources on our website for helpful tips and tricks on managing the heat this Summer: https://evolvehousing.com.au/im-a-resident-2/support-forresident/#heatprogram
Window safety
As the heat of summer approaches and windows and doors are being left open, we wanted to remind you of the danger to children of leaving open windows and balcony doors. Increasing numbers of children are admitted to hospital each
• 80% had significant or severe injuries;
year, with serious injuries resulting from falls from windows
• 3 out of 5 cases admitted to hospital were boys;
and balconies. These falls often occur in the child’s own
• 50% of these falls were associated with furniture near the
home, with children aged from one to five years most at risk,
window.
as they are naturally curious, but lack the ability to recognise
Window safety devices have been installed in eligible
danger. On average, each year 10 children are admitted to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead after falling from a window. Of the children who have presented to Childrens Hospital
homes which enable your windows to be locked open at 10 centimetres. Please ensure these locks are being used to protect your family. If you become aware that the window lock is not
Westmead, approximately:
functioning, missing or would like to enquire about whether
• 80% were under 5 years of age;
your property requires window locks, please contact us
• 80% had fallen more than two metres;
immediately through the Call Centre on 1800 693 865. EVOLVE HOUSING NEWS | 7
School Student Broadband Initiative
SUPPORT OVER CHRISTMAS We understand that Christmas can be a difficult time for many people, both financially and emotionally. There is a wide range of support services available if you need to access them. It is OK to ask for help and we encourage you all to check
To boost education opportunities and narrow the digital divide, Evolve Housing has been working with NBN to provide our families with school-aged children that don’t have a NBN connection with 12 months FREE internet. We’ve had a good response so far from residents and have been able to assist 46 eligible families to date. For more information visit: School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI) | Department of Infrastructure, Transport,
out the list below.
Regional Development, Communications and the Arts To
Ask Izzy: askizzy.org.au
express interest and provide consent complete the form:
Ask Izzy provides information on a variety of services that are
https://forms.office.com/r/jeCGLjCJzV
available locally including accommodation, food, domestic violence, support and counselling, drugs and alcohol, employment, legal support and more. Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636, beyondblue.org.au Beyond Blue offers free telephone and online counselling services open 24/7 for everyone in Australia. Beyond Blue also offers an online chat function through their WebChat Support Service. Lifeline: 13 11 14, lifeline.org.au, or text 0477 131 114 Lifeline provides Australians with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800, kidshelpline.com.au Kids Helpline is a free (even from a mobile), confidential 24/7 online and phone counselling service for young people aged 5
WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK SEND YOUR COMPLIMENT OR COMPLAINT TO:
ihear@evolvehousing.com.au CALL 1800 693 865 OR Scan the QR code for our compliments, complaints and appeals forms
to 25. Qualified counsellors at Kids Helpline are available via WebChat, phone or email anytime and for any reason.
Food and financial assistance: Salvation Army: 1800 722 363 Food hamper and gift assistance: https://www.salvationarmy. org.au/christmas/need-help-this-christmas/food-hamper-andgift-assistance/ Financial assistance: https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/needhelp/financial-assistance/ St Vincent De Paul: 13 18 12, https://www.vinnies.org.au/findhelp
evolvehousing.com.au/whats-on or by calling 1800 myevolve (1800 693 865) @evolvehousing evolvehousing
HOW TO LODGE AN APPEAL If you are unhappy about a decision made about your tenancy you can lodge an appeal within three months from the date of the original decision. To lodge an appeal, fill out our Appeals form on our website by scanning the QR code above or contact our office on 1800 693 865