Humelife Winter 2022

Connecting you to your community

& Puzzles reCiPe inside! A splash of colour

Hume and the Tenambit community team up

An angel at the tables: Jessica’s story

A day out with Tribal Warriors Pop-up repairs day a first for Hunter seniors community

Contents

5 social Outcomes update.

Jess and Kate bring a wealth of experience in training and employment services.

6 A splash of colour

Hume and the Tenambit community team up to transform O’Hearn Park.

8 An angel at the tables

Today, Jessica’s life is on a new path –helping others who struggle with the issues she once did.

10 Community noticeboard

Discover services, activities, and support local to you.

17 A day out with Tribal Warriors

The activity was funded by the Australian Government as a part of the National Australia Day celebrations.

18 Pop-up repairs day

A team of local contractors from Programmed and Hume worked with customers to get jobs done

22 Be fire safe this winter

Accidental house fires in winter are avoidable by taking extra care and knowing the possible dangers.

23 Keep warm on a budget

There are many cost-effective ways to reduce your heating bill and save energy during winter

27 Colouring page

This free colouring page was created by the artist Mulganai and is titled ‘Spirit of Community’.

5

10

Welcome to our Winter issue

From Hume’s CeO nicola lemon

Welcome to the Winter edition of HumeLife Magazine.

As our state starts to open following the past couple of years, I’d like to thank all of you for your patience and commitment in helping to keep yourselves and your communities safe. Our offices in Fairfield and Maitland are now back open for customers, and the Parramatta office is by appointment only. For all face-to-face meetings, we encourage you to follow our COVID-safe guidelines and where possible interact with us through our online communication channels.

As you are aware, we have a new Federal Government. We particularly look forward to the new government implementing the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund which will build 30,000 new social and affordable housing properties in its first five years.

We were also thrilled to hear the Prime Minister’s pledge to all

Australians on election night that “No one left behind because we should always look after the disadvantaged and the vulnerable. But also no one held back because we should always support aspiration and opportunity. That is what my government will do. That is the what, but the how is also just as important because I want to bring Australians together”.

This gives greater hope to many of us that we can collectively work towards building a fairer and more compassionate society and directly aligns to Hume Community Housing’s purpose “To create opportunities for people to prosper”.

Hume constantly advocates to reduce the stigma of public and social housing customers and having a Prime Minister who is the son of a single mother who was a disability pensioner and grew up in public housing down in Camperdown fills many people with optimism that their

nAidOC WeeK 2022

nAidOC Week 2022 falls on 3-10 July and the theme is ‘Get up! stand up! show up!’

This year’s theme encourages all of us to champion institutional, structural, and social change while celebrating those who have already driven and led change in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

experience aligns with our Prime Minister’s experience and aspirations.

We hope you enjoy reading our Winter issue, which is filled with wonderful stories of our customers and community enjoying connecting with each other at our Mural Project event in Tenambit, our Senior Olympics, and the Tribal Warrior Cruise on Sydney Harbour. We have also included some tips on keeping your home warm and toasty during winter on a budget and being fire and heater safe as we all turn up the heat to beat the Winter cold.

I hope you enjoy reading the issue.

Take care,

Nicola nicola lemon Chief Executive Officer

At Hume Community Housing we create opportunities for ALL people to prosper. To do this, we must recognise inequality and injustice. We must be proactive in what we can do to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to succeed and prosper on their terms.

Through learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, and languages and ensuring we reflect this knowledge in our policies, practice, structures, and communications – we are contributing to long term change in Australia.

social Outcomes update

We are very pleased to introduce Jess Weaver and Kate Mitrevski who have recently joined the Hume social Outcomes Team as Program Officers – Training and employment.

In these newly created roles, Jess and Kate will be supporting customers of all ages to connect with training and employment pathways and opportunities in their local communities.

Jess and Kate bring a wealth of experience in training and employment services, particularly supporting young people, and we are very happy to have them on board!

senior Olympics

The Social Outcomes Team designs and delivers programs to meet the needs, goals and aspirations of our diverse customers. Our programs work with individuals and groups, especially our youth, senior, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander customers.

Want to get involved in your community? Connect with us on Instagram at @humehousing or Facebook at @Hume Community Housing.

In April, we held our inaugural Senior Olympics at Avoca Beach! Our senior customers from Metro and Regional areas connected with each other through fun activities such as egg and spoon races, rhythmic gymnastics, walking soccer, and hula hooping.

A big thanks to our sponsor The Department of Communities and Justice NSW, whose support gave our senior customers the opportunity to take part in this fun event.

Jess Kate

A splash of colour

O’Hearn Park was a quiet and unassuming patch of green grass surrounded by graffitied corrugated iron fences.

That is, until one Saturday in May, when Hume’s Community Cohesion team transformed the park with a kaleidoscopic mural along with community organisation UP&UP and enthusiastic locals.

The colourful mural that now surrounds the park features respectful words and handprints painted in bright colours and the outline of Kawal, the spirit that

watches over the land of the Wonnarua people in the form of the wedge-tailed eagle.

The mural is the result of a special collaboration between Hume, UP&UP, Mindaribba Lands Council, Maitland Council and the Tenambit community. Earlier in May, a community workshop was held where everyone could brainstorm words, colours, and imagery for the mural.

Community Cohesion Officer Richard Hershman said: “Tenambit is a resilient community with many strong community leaders, and I’m looking forward to more partnership projects in the future which help to empower the community.”

Hume’s Community Cohesion teams’ aim is to create vibrant and connected communities. Last year, they facilitated 183 different activities involving 1,193 customers in the Hunter region both online and in person.

On the day of the mural painting, Mayor Cr Phillip Penfold and Jenny Aitchison MP watched on as the energetic crowd of families and community members brought the fences of O’Hearn Park to life with a splash of colour. Also present to support the project were representatives from Maitland Council, NSW Police, Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council, and Youth Off the Streets.

Local children used the hustle and bustle of the mural painting as an opportunity to take pride in their community as well as build and form relationships with local services, the Police other children in the neighbourhood.

THe MurAl is THe resulT OF A sPeCiAl COllABOrATiOn BeTWeen

HuMe, uP&uP, MindAriBBA lAnds

COunCil, MAiTlAnd COunCil And THe TenAMBiT COMMuniTy

It is hoped that the vibrant mural will encourage the Tenambit community to take pride in O’Hearn Park, enjoy the colourful surrounds and represent a fresh start for kids and families in the area.

To find out more about the Community Cohesion team’s activities, please contact Richard at 0491 691 977 or Ben at 0491 694 960.

at the tables An angel

Jessica is a woman who has seen much in her young life. At 34 she possesses a worldliness and compassion that belies her age. A youth lost to spiralling drug addiction took her from a life as a successful real estate agent to living homeless on the streets of liverpool in sydney’s southwest.

“I was young, arrogant, and thought I knew it all, but I didn’t know myself. In fact, I probably hated myself quite a lot and that helped me take a massive wrong turn. Luckily, like a good surfer, I managed to come out the back of that scary wave and now I can be of help,” she said.

Today, Jessica’s life is on a new path – helping others who struggle with the issues she once did. Her turning point was securing a stable home when she was introduced to Hume Community Housing and learnt about their affordable housing and support programs.

Jessica has been a Hume customer for four years and since that day found “a safe place” that began her journey to recovery.

“It’s not only about having a home, but also about having solid support around you to keep going and focussed on the future. Hume’s people on the ground continue to be amazing and I also have wonderful neighbours,” she said.

“Some support services think you are too far gone and beyond help whereas Hume could see I deserved a future.

“Having a safe place to go to is the most important thing in life and that’s something you never have when you sleep rough and living with addiction. I’s a wicked cycle and for me having a home helped break that pattern,” Jessica said.

Ongoing rehab was also important to Jessica: “When I relapsed and started using again, I kept going back. I just didn’t give up and it paid off. That’s why I am passionate about helping others to keep going too.”

Today Jessica works nights in a busy pub as a manager. She loves her job and it is here she does some of her good work through talking with locals and recognising any signs in others that too may need help.

“I just sit down and have a chat to see where they’re at and what they need, listening to them and giving them the confidence to start repairing their lives. I provide information, like suggesting who to talk with to start the ball rolling,” said Jessica.

“I never knew about affordable housing or programs that can help you create a safe base to start getting well. Having a secure home changed my life and if I can provide someone else with good information, that means the world to me,” she said.

“Funnily enough, I never knew about rehab, and ironically it was a drug dealer who told me – not people

sOMe suPPOrT serviCes THinK

yOu Are TOO FAr GOne And BeyOnd HelP WHereAs HuMe COuld see i deserved A FuTure.

working for services designed to support addicts. In fact, many addicts are often overlooked,” Jessica said.

Another major problem for people seeking help is paperwork.

“When it comes to getting support it usually involves forms, a multitude of them!” Jessica said.

“For those who have trouble reading, and writing or speak another language, forms are a nightmare, so they end up doing nothing. I help people with paperwork and point them in the right direction,” she said.

When not working at night, in the day you’ll find Jessica at a place called ‘the tables’ in Liverpool where young people hang out.

“It can be an intimidating place, especially for some of the youth workers, but I have my ace card named Maxx,” explained Jessica.

“He’s my fur baby chihuahua who saves my life daily because he gives me purpose. Maxx helps break the ice with the street kids. They love him. I’m known as ‘the girl with the chihuahua’!” she laughed.

Jessica is an angel to many, both in person and online. She reaches out to those who need help through her Facebook and Instagram page: addiction doesn’t discriminate, which she set up a year ago.

Jessica’s future is bright and busy, filled with many ambitious plans. One is to work with local services to open a Safe Haven in the Liverpool area. She has people “ready to go” and is seeking funding for the project. Another is a school education program.

Jessica also plans to join Hume’s Tenants Voice initiative, bringing customers together to tap into her knowledge and experience and to work with other services to fill gaps within local communities.

From having experienced the very worst and the very best in life, Jessica has grown into a powerful advocate for those facing addictions and homelessness. She is proof that with a home, support and the love of her community, there is always hope.

COMMUNITY nOTiCeBOArd

WOOdBerry

HeAlTHy PeT dAy

Hume is teaming up with RSPCA and Maitland City Council to provide free vaccinations and microchippings for dogs and cats.

Please note that any pets with serious health issues will be encouraged to visit the local vet. You can book in a 10 minute session by sending an email to mmeyers@rspcansw.org.au or sending a text to 0466 939 707.

HAve yOu HAd yOur enerGy suPPly disCOnneCTed?

Sometimes bills are forgotten, mail stays in the letterbox or you just can’t afford to pay your electricity or gas bill. You may face disconnection of your energy supply, or worse, have already been disconnected.

Contact your provider straight away and ask:

1. For an extension, or to set up a payment plan. Be realistic and only agree to a payment plan you can afford.

2. To be transferred to an affordability program for longer term support, if you are experiencing ongoing difficulties

3. If fees for disconnection and/or reconnection can be waived considering your circumstances.

If you cannot come to an agreement with your provider, call the Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON). EWON is a free independent complaints-handling service for all electricity and gas customers in NSW, and some water customers.

Electricity must be reconnected within two business days of your request for reconnection, and gas within five business days. However, if disconnection has occurred due to a safety issue on the property, this will need to be repaired prior to reconnection.

How to get in touch with eWOn

Freecall: 1800 246 545 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)

TTY/Voice: 133 677

Interpreter: 131 450

Online: ewon.com.au

Freepost: Reply Paid 86550 Sydney South NSW 1234

COMMUNITY nOTiCeBOArd

PlAysTATiOn sessiOns AT THe liBrAry

Did you know that there’s a Playstation at Whitlam and Fairfield Libraries?

All you need to do is visit the Customer Service desk at either library during opening hours and ask to borrow a controller.

Games include Dragon Ball Z Xenoverse, Need for Speed, FIFA21, Ace Combat, and more!

Whitlam library

165 Railway Parade, Cabramatta NSW 2166

Monday to Thursday: 9:30am – 8pm

Friday and Saturday: 9:30am – 5pm

Sunday: 10am – 3pm

Fairfield library

1-3 Hamilton Road, Fairfield NSW 2165

Monday and Wednesday: 9:30am – 6pm

Tuesday and Thursday: 9:30am – 8pm

Friday and Saturday: 9:30am – 5pm

Sunday: 10am – 3pm

nesT MATCH-uPs

A Nest Match-up is a free event where people with disability who are looking for a home and their carers and/or support coordinators can meet face-to-face with local disability housing providers on Nest who have current vacancies.

You can find a Nest Match-up near you and meet our SDA team! For further information on Nest Match-up events, go to gonest.com.au/ content/events/matchup-events

If you have any questions about the events, please contact the Nest Team on 1300 547 905

COMMUNITY nOTiCeBOArd

Free ArT sundAy AT MAiTlAnd reGiOnAl ArT GAllery

Free Art activities are designed for kids of all ages, and as a family you can all join in and get creative. There are two Sunday sessions: one at 10:30am–11:15am and one at 11:45am–12:30pm.

Each activity takes around half an hour to complete. Free Art Sunday is staffed by art tutors and all materials are provided.

Bookings are essential – call 4934 9859 for more information.

nsW GOvernMenT reBATes And COnCessiOns

If you need help with the cost of living, there are rebates and concessions from the NSW Government you may be able to receive.

These range from disaster payments, energy and gas rebates, toll relief, transport concessions, discounted health costs, and more. Visit service.nsw.gov.au/services to find more information.

COMMUNITY nOTiCeBOArd

nAidOC WeeK 2022 even Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! for NAIDOC celebrations in 2022. NAIDOC Week (3 – 10 July) is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories.

Burramatta nAidOC

A family-friendly celebration for the whole community featuring children’s workshops, market stalls, delicious food, and great performances.

Pavilion Flat, Parramatta Park

Date: Sunday 10 July, 10:30am-5pm | Free entry

national indigenous Art Fair

Fifty art, craft, bushfood and design stalls, First Nations dance and singing performances, choirs, children’s activities, bush food cooking demonstrations and a massive communal weaving project all form part of the two-day event.

Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks | Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 July, 10am-5pm | Gold coin entry

Barkuma’s nAidOC Family Fun day

A celebration of culture and community on country with interactive activities, service provider information and entertainment.

1075 Old Maitland Road, Sawyers Gully | Tuesday 5 July, 10am-2pm Free entry

nAidOC Family Fun day

A day of children’s activities, stallholders, BBQ, performers, arts and crafts, and information displays in celebration of NAIDOC Week.

Fairfield Showground, Prairiewood | Tuesday 5 July, 11am-3pm Free entry

Tharawal nAidOC Family Fun day

Enjoy cultural performances and activities, musical performances, wonderful food, and amazing amusement rides.

220 West Parade, Couridjah | Friday 8 July, 10am-2pm | Free entry

vegepod Competition Winners

Mali from Rutherford

Terri from Tenambit

Comfort A from Edensor Park

Faris AF from St Johns Park

Omer A from Liverpool

Fran C from Maitland

Kate D from Girraween

Vera F from Girraween

Donna G from Metford

Meg H from Raymond Terrace

Teri H from Maitland

Marie M from Smithfield

Robyn O’H from Metford

Prem P from Harris Park

Sam P from Raymond Terrace

Peter R from Fairfield

Raquel R from Harris Park

Nafisa S from Telopea

Tracey S from Metford

Pam W from Raymond Terrace

nine more vegepods generously donated by the Community Greening Team from the royal Botanic Gardens will be set up at Hume complexes across both metropolitan and regional areas.

COMMUNITY nOTiCeBOArd

Senior Activity Finder

Whether it’s sports, games, chats, book clubs, social groups, or anything else, the NSW Seniors Activities Guide can help you find the contacts for local activities. There are hundreds of free or cheap activities listed in an easy-to-find format.

Go to cpsa.org.au/atlas and use the search filters to look for activities that may interest you.

enerGy MAde eAsy

Energy Made Easy is a free Australian Government energy price comparison service that can be used to find and compare electricity and gas plans.

The website will ask you some questions about your household and your energy usage to find the best option for you. If you don’t provide your energy usage information from your bills, the website uses benchmarks based on typical usage where you live.

Visit energymadeeasy.gov.au for more information.

COMMUNITY nOTiCeBOArd

OPen dAy AT THe BiCyCle eduCATiOn CenTre

Have some family fun at one of the Bicycle Education Centre’s free Open Days. The centre is designed with fun road paths and traffic lights to teach children about bicycle safety.

Bring along your own bicycle or scooter and don’t forget your helmet. Pack a picnic lunch or use one of the centre’s powered BBQ facilities.

Bicycle education Centre

End of King Street, Campbelltown NSW 2560

Open Days: Held every Sunday from 10am – 3pm

HeAd sTArT HOMes

Saving for a deposit is a major barrier to home ownership.

Head Start Homes is an organisation that helps single mothers, First Nations Peoples, and other families living in community housing buy their own home without a bank deposit.

Please visit headstarthomes.org.au/apply to find out if you are eligible.

Mould tips

We are fast approaching the winter season. Here are some tips on how to keep your home dry and free of mould.

• Cleaning and management of mould is your responsibility. If mould is treated quickly, this will help eliminate future issues.

• When weather is fine, open windows in rooms and the bathroom to allow for adequate ventilation.

• If you notice mould, clean it as soon as possible as it can spread quickly if not treated.

• There are many solutions for cleaning mould, but we suggest a natural combination of water, clove oil, and vinegar. If used regularly, it can prevent the mould from coming back.

• Mould can develop from a water leak. If you think there is a water leak in your home, please contact our Repairs team on repairs@humehousing.com.au or 1800 004 300.

• Use an exhaust fan during and after showering. If you use a clothes dryer, use the laundry fan, or open a door to help When cooking, circulate the home by opening a window or door and turning on the exhaust fans.

• If you have a balcony, check the spitter pipes which allow water to drain away from your home.

do you have a repair emergency and Hume’s offices are closed?

no need to worry, Hume’s after-hours service is available to help.

If you call Hume’s 1800 004 300 number on the weekend or after business hours, our call service will organise for your urgent repair to be completed within 4 hours, including:

• Catastrophic incidents that could cause long term property damage

• Safety and security related emergencies

• Gas leakage and major water pipe failures

• Major sewer overflow

• The failure or breakdown of any essential services or appliances that have been provided by Hume for hot water, water, cooking, or heating

If you call after business hours and your repair is NOT urgent, our call service will pass on your information onto the Hume team to arrange during Hume office hours.

If you have issues with other services or utilities at your home, you could try some of the following numbers:

• Sydney Water: 132 090

• Energy Australia: 132 604 or 131 388

• Telstra: 132 200

• Optus: 1800 501 064

• AGL Gas: 131 245 (connections) or 131 909 (leaks)

A day Out with Tribal Warriors

On Friday May 6, Hume set sail with over 90 customers and their friends and carers on a Tribal Warrior cruise around sydney Harbour to learn about the culture and history of Aboriginal and Torres strait islander people.

We took the opportunity to chat about Reconciliation Week, along with Hume’s Reconciliation Action Plan. Guests were treated to beautifully curated Aboriginal cultural performances, and this together with spectacular views and delicious food catered by Tribal Warrior made it a really memorable day.

The activity was funded by the Australian Government as a part of the National Australia Day celebrations. A hugely successful event with the participants rating their experience as either “satisfied (10%) “ or “very satisfied (90%)!

Here are a few comments from customers:

“I have a new appreciation for Aboriginal traditions, smoking ceremonies and dances, and the opportunity to learn words relevant to their language.”

“Thanks to those who organised the cruise, everything was very good. Enjoyed the dances, the food and the people who welcomed us on the boat.”

“I’m very satisfied, a very good idea to take us around the Harbour. Well organised, we all enjoyed the Aboriginal cultural show. Thanks heaps.”

Pop up repairs day – a

first for Hunter seniors community

Maintaining a home and tackling all those little jobs takes time and resources. Hume held a unique event at the end of March called the ‘Pop up repairs day’ to challenge how maintenance services can be delivered to a housing community in a day. This day not only provided home improvements, but also social connection and support.

Traditionally, housing providers deliver maintenance services on a householdby-household basis and when little things happen sending contractors to fix them as they occur can be resource heavy and expensive.

For the residents of a 51-unit seniors’ complex in Rutherford, the day was a little like a reality TV home improvement program as a team of local contractors from Programmed, the recently appointed maintenance management provider, and Hume descended on the complex and worked with customers to get jobs done.

The day also included a community BBQ so customers, Hume, and contractors could socialise, build relationships and get a chance to learn more about how everyone can support one another.

Part of Hume’s objective was also to understand how we could provide a value-for-money service that delivers great customer service, fast results whilst fostering a sense of community.

In all, 88% of Hume customers in the complex registered for the day and received assistance with making those small repairs that will have a positive effect on their lives once fixed. The most popular call for repairs included doors and locks, replacing flyscreens, checking power sockets, and leaking taps.

The day helped build closer relationships between customers and Hume’s Housing and Community teams to better understand and assess senior customers’ safety needs both today and as they age.

It also provided a great opportunity to discuss with residents Hume’s community programs and support available through myagedcare and other government agencies.

Hume’s Community Cohesion Officer Richard Hershman said: “This was an important pilot project that made a big difference to our customers. This is a wonderful community who recently established a community garden, so it’s great that Hume is able to work together with our customers to make this repairs day happen. It’s helping us to pull resources together and plan for similar events in the future.”

Chief Executive Officer of Facility Management at Programmed Graeme Hurn said: “Our ongoing purpose is to build strong customers and great communities, and this initiative is something that we have implemented across our many housing portfolios with great success. The ability to tap into our local supply chain network and provide both the tenants with much needed maintenance assistance and contractors with work is a win for all involved.”

THis is A WOnderFul COMMuniTy WHO reCenTly esTABlisHed A COMMuniTy GArden, sO iT’s GreAT THAT HuMe is ABle TO WOrK TOGeTHer WiTH Our CusTOMers And PrOGrAMMed TO MAKe THis rePAirs dAy HAPPen.

rental Properties now available

To be eligible for Hume’s affordable housing, you must:

• be an Australian Citizenship or permanent resident

• be able to provide ID

• live in NSW

See more on humehousing.com.au

Wentworthville

$402PW | 2 bedrooms

Only 200 metres to the nearest train station and a short drive to Parramatta and Westmead Hospital, this light and airy 2-bedroom apartment offers all the modern conveniences.

See more on gonest.com.au

Pendle Hill

Contact us for pricing

This beautiful modern five-bedroom two-bathroom home is located in a quiet street, close to public transport, major shopping precinct, cafes, and a 10-minute drive to Westmead Hospital.

• have a household income within set limits

• not own property that could help you with your housing needs

Merrylands

$320PW | 1 bedroom

This spacious unit is located within walking distance to Merrylands train station and shopping centre and is equipped with air-conditioning, laundry, built in wardrobes, and a balcony.

Griffith

Contact us for pricing

This warm spacious five-bedroom two-bathroom home has an open plan layout for residents to enjoy and has an accessible covered outdoor area and barbecue space.

Want to look at our specialist disability Accommodation?

Find out more about SDA on our website and whether you are eligible. Then you can call (02) 9722 4300 and press option 4 to speak to our friendly Housing Options team!

sdA

AFFOrdABle

sdA

AFFOrdABle

Are you eligible for affordable rentals?

Are you a low to medium income earner?

Are you an Australian citizen or a permanent resident?

do you live in nsW?

do you not own property or pets?

Can you provide id?

If you answered yes to these questions, you may be eligible to apply for one of seven amazing new apartments in Westmead.

You can find out more on www.humehousing.com.au

Be fire safe this winter

Accidental house fires in winter are avoidable by taking extra care and knowing the possible dangers. Below are some tips to help keep you and your family fire safe this winter.

dO

• Make sure you turn cooking appliances off when you are finished cooking

• Be careful to not leave rubbish or items on top of the hotplates

• Keep matches and lighters away from children

• Keep clothes and curtains 1 metre away from heaters and candles

• Check that electric plugs are plugged in firmly

• Test your smoke alarm batteries once a month – you can do this by pressing and holding the test button for 5 seconds until you hear a beep.

dOn’T

• Let children near the oven while you are cooking

• Use water to put out oil or fat fires – this can make the fire worse

• Leave the room or go to bed while a candle is burning

• Use outdoor cooking or heating equipment inside your home

• Use damaged leads or extension cords

• Overload your powerboard by plugging in too many appliances.

MAKe yOur OWn Fire esCAPe PlAn!

• If your home is on fire, get out

• Prepare the plan with everyone who lives in your home. Make sure that everyone with a disability can get out

• Make a safe meeting place outside (for example, the letterbox)

• Plan two ways of getting out of every room

• Make sure you can open all windows and screens easily

• Practice your escape plan twice a year, and make sure everyone you live with is involved.

• Important steps to remember include:

– Close the door to each room as you leave This stops the fire and smoke from spreading

– If there is smoke, crawl low to stay under it

– Go to your meeting place

– Once you are out, stay out – never go back inside a burning house.

Keep warm on a

budget

There are many cost-effective ways to reduce your heating bill and save energy during winter. Check out these tips from energy.gov.au

1 dress for the season

Put on some warmer clothes before you crank up the heating. Each additional degree of heating adds between 5% and 10% to your energy use.

2 shut the door on wasted energy

Heating the entire house can waste a lot of money. Shut the door to areas you aren’t using (like bathrooms and the laundry) and only heat the rooms you’re using.

3 Turn it off

Turn off your heaters before going to bed and when you’re leaving the house.

4 let the sun shine in

Open your curtains when the sun is shining to let the heat in and close your curtains when it’s getting dark to keep the heat in.

5 don’t use the shower to warm up

Hot water accounts for about 25% of the average bill. Aim for a shorter shower instead.

6 shop around and switch to save

Look at government price comparison websites to check which energy provider has the best rates. You can also contact your current provider to ask them if there’s a better deal they could put you on. Most people can compare electricity and gas offers on Energy Made Easy.

7 include active transport choices

Swapping short car trips for walking or cycling can save money. It can also keep you fit during the winter months. You’ll save on petrol, maintenance and the upfront cost of buying a car.

8 use a ‘solar’ clothes dryer

Free energy from the sun and the wind to dry your clothes if you can. If you don’t have a clothesline, you can put clothes racks out in the sun and fresh air.

9 Turn off gadgets and appliances

Standby power uses up to 3% of the electricity used in your home. Any appliance with a little light on it is using energy even if you’re not using it. Turn off unused appliances at the wall.

10 Waste not, want not

In Australia we waste up to 30% of the food we buy. Much of this food waste comes from poor planning – use shopping lists and check your pantry and fridge before heading to the shops.

sudoku

each of the nine blocks must contain all the numbers 1-9 within its squares. each number can only appear once in a row, column or box.

Find A WO rd

Gardening

Find and circle all of the words that are hidden in the grid.

F s W H e e l B A r r O W W H G e G r

u P e G s P e T u n i A s s n F n r T

C A G O r T l s O i l O C i n O W A u

H d H r r e l r O W s A T O M A e K l

s e r O O A e s s e B n i e M A e e i

i s W C u W F n s d A T r n e P l B P

A e C n u O e O H l l u O G n O O s s

l l n A i l r G P O T O n M v e u s F

P A B r l n T M n l u A G e A n i l T

i i e e O i i i u i r s G i s T O B s

n n e T C A l C v d G e e H r W O s e

W n T A C r i i y A T G i e e A e e i H e s W O T z H e A T n i r d O M v s

e r G A r d e n B s e e s d H s s O i e e O O B d r l O e C i n A G r O l A

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Budget buster recipes for winter

Creamy potato bake

This creamy potato bake is sure to keep your household happy on cold nights.

serves: 6

ingredients

2 cups thickened cream

2 garlic cloves, crushed

4 large red potatoes, very thinly sliced

2 tsp thyme leaves

2/3 cup grated cheese

1

Preheat oven to 220°C (200°C fan-forced). Grease a baking tray.

2 Place cream and garlic in a microwave-safe jug. Microwave on high for 90 seconds or until warm.

3 Arrange half the potato in layers and slightly overlapping in the baking tray. Sprinkle with half the thyme and cheese and season with salt and pepper.

4 Pour over half the cream mixture. Arrange remaining potato in layers and slightly overlapping on top. Pour over remaining cream mixture. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 30-35 minutes or until potato is just tender.

5

Remove the foil and sprinkle with remaining thyme and cheese, and season with salt and pepper. Bake for a further 15-20 minutes or until golden.

Cereal ice cream sundae

Feeling creative? Get the kids together and set up a make-your-own-sundae bar.

ingredients

Vanilla ice cream

Sweet cereal

Chocolate or caramel sauce

Other toppings (optional)

Whipped cream (optional)

1 Sprinkle some cereal at the bottom of a bowl.

2

Add two scoops of ice cream on top of the cereal.

3 Sprinkle some more cereal on top of the ice cream.

4 Swirl a sweet sauce of your choice and sprinkle any additional toppings.

5 Enjoy – repeat for each family member!

When you are keeping an eye on your budget, it’s good to know you can eat cheaply without sacrificing nutrition and flavour. Our cheap and easy recipes will have you whipping them up in a flash.

Hot Tip!

A mixture of mozzarella and Colby cheese is recommended for this recipe, you can find pre-mixed grated cheese at the supermarket!

Tip!

Get creative with your toppings! You can use sprinkles, nuts, berries, bananas, crushed biscuits, shredded coconut, pretzels, and more!

Make a payment

Hume Community Housing are here to support you to pay your rent and water bills on time and as easily as possible. your rent should be paid 14 days in advance and water bills should be paid within 28 days.

We offer four payment options to our customers. Simply choose which option works best for you:

• Centrepay – set and forget with Centrelink

• BPAY – pay online or setup regular payments with your banking provider

• Debit Card – easy payment over the phone

Centrepay

Centrepay is a free bill paying service and is an automatic “set and forget” option. If you complete and return a Centrepay Deduction Authority form to us, you can use Centrepay to arrange regular deductions from your Centrelink payment.

BPAy

Through BPAY, you can make payments to us online. You can also set up regular payments to us through BPAY. Our BPAY Biller Code is 230565. Look for the BPAY logo on your water bill for your reference number.

Pay your rent and other bills securely online through Hume’s new payment portal HumePAY. HumePAY will provide a simple and easy way to view your outstanding rent, water and bond balances, and to make payments – anytime, anywhere. It’s the easy way to pay!

Call us

If you would like to make a rent payment over the phone, please call our Customer Service Centre on 1800 004 300 and select ‘Option 3’.

If you need assistance with any of the payment methods listed above, please call our Customer Service Centre on 1800 004 300.

Colouring in

This free colouring page was created by the artist Mulganai and is titled ‘spirit of Community’.

Compliments, complaints and appeals

We welcome your feedback, as it helps us to improve our services. you can submit a Compliment, Complaint or Appeal.

Feedback takes different forms:

Complaint

• An expression of dissatisfaction with the standard or type of service we have provided.

Appeal

• A request to have an official decision reviewed as you don’t agree with the outcome

• If you still don’t agree with the outcome of an appeal, you can contact the Housing Appeals Committee on 1800 629 974 and they will conduct an independent review.

COnTACT us

General enquiries: 1800 004 300

General email: hume@humehousing.com.au

sydney repairs: (02) 9727 0688

Hunter repairs: 1800 422 322 repairs email: repairs@humehousing.com.au

Anti-social Behaviour report

• If you are experiencing problems with your neighbours or their visitors, it is not recorded as a complaint

• Your Neighbourhood Officer will manage these reports and keep you updated on a regular basis.

Website: www.humehousing.com.au

Please like our page Hume Community Housing on Facebook to receive latest updates.

ABN: 66 647 041 988

All OFFiCes Are ClOsed unTil FurTHer nOTiCe due TO COvid-19

7 Hamilton Road

Cabrogal Country

Fairfield

NSW 2165 Level 4/79 George Street Dharug Country Parramatta

NSW 2150

2 Glenroy Drive

Tharawal Country

Claymore

NSW 2559

There’s now even more ways to contact us:

464 High Street

Wonnarua Country

Maitland

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Worimi Country

Raymond Terrace

NSW 2324