CHL
Connect National Tenant Magazine December 2021
READ HOW GINDA BARRI SUPPORTS YOUNG MOTHERS IN PURSUIT OF EDUCATION - PAGE 6.
OUR SA TENANTS MAKE THE CHARTS AWARDS FINALS
APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR OUR IMPACT GRANTS PROGRAM!
EQUIP YOURSELF WITH DIGITAL KNOW-HOW
CHL
Connect
EDITOR’S MESSAGE
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Dear Tenants,
Inside this issue 03 Editor’s message
10 SA news
18 Have your say
22 Ask Izzy
04 CHL updates
12 TAS news
06 NSW news
14 QLD news
19 Repairs and maintenance
22 Prioritise your Mental Health
08 VIC news
16 ACHL news
20 Household tips
23 Food corner
Welcome to the latest edition of CHL Connect, I hope you enjoy reading some inspiring stories from our tenants and our teams.
Editor: Cathy Beadnell Head of Corporate Communications
Assistance:
Freya Toloa Communications Coordinator
Copyright:
No part of CHL Connect Magazine may be reproduced without prior consent from Community Housing Ltd. If you wish to use the information, write to chlconnect@chl.org.au.
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Data Protection:
There has also been exciting new growth for Aboriginal Community Housing Limited (ACHL), with 88 properties transferred to ACHL management in September.
Over 10,000 readership, including tenants and staff, together with a wide range of people who have contact with Community Housing Ltd.
Creative Concept:
Ana Maria Otalora Bonilla
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CHL has continued to advocate for increased social and affordable housing in 2021, at all levels of government and in partnership with other community organisations and our business partners. We are pleased to report some significant investment in social and affordable from state governments. In this edition of CHL Connect you can read about our housing developments in Victoria and the opening of a new Youth Foyer on the Gold Coast in Queensland. We have a number of other projects in development across Australia and we will continue to bring you news of those in 2022.
We try to make the information provided in this magazine as relevant, correct and accurate as possible at the time of going to press, but readers should seek independent advice in relation to any general content published. CHL and its subsidiaries cannot be held responsible for any changes as some of the information is reproduced from credible sources.
Circulation:
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It has been a busy year, despite the inconvenience and restrictions caused by COVID-19. As you will see our tenants have participated in a wide range of activities including art competitions, gardening projects, and taking on the challenges of further education – to name a few.
Disclaimer:
We take the privacy of our tenants very seriously and seek consents of those tenants featured in this publication prior to printing it. CHL reserves the right to use the information and images entered by the participants in any of the competitions for any promotional purposes. If you do not wish for your submitted images to be publicised then please contact the CHL connect team in writing at chlconnect@chl.org.au.
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On behalf of CHL, I would like to thank you all for your patience and support during another tough year of living with COVID-19. We have some amazing stories to share with you from around the country.
www.amob.com.au
You can also read about our amazing Tika Tirka students, Michael and Jaekiya in the newsletter and find out how they are pursuing their dreams by furthering their education with support from the ACHL team. Thanks again for playing your part in keeping everyone safe and supporting each other in 2021. Enjoy the festive season and take care as we head into 2022. Yours Sincerely, Cathy Beadnell (Pronouns: She/her) Head of Corporate Communications
Graphics created by Freepik
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OUR THANKS TO YOU! Since the arrival of COVID-19 last year, life has been far from ordinary. We have witnessed Governments, our workplaces and our communities change the way in which they operate, CHL included. We have learned to adapt and embrace a new way of doing things from online learning, catching up with colleagues, family and friends via video calls, for those who are able to, work from home and playing our part in keeping the virus at bay by following the guidelines for social distancing and healthy hygiene practices. Since last year we have seen various countries, including regions of Australia, going in and out of extended periods of lockdowns. Even though there have been periods of low or no coronavirus cases, the safety of our customers and staff has remained our primary concern. While restrictions put in place during this COVID-19 crisis are periodically relaxed at the federal, state and local level, CHL is regularly reviewing its approach to ensure services are still effectively delivered. We are already providing many of our services over the phone. To support social distancing, we have been providing face-to-face customer service by appointment only, where appropriate. High-risk facilities such as rooming houses, shared supported accommodations, have all been assessed with plans in place to minimise risks and protect staff and customers. The impact of COVID-19 is felt everywhere especially for those most vulnerable in our community. On the ground we are working with our support partners in mobilising any local relief efforts in the communities where we operate. Since the coronavirus outbreak began, we have implemented staff safety and check-in systems, additional cleaning and sanitisation routines at our offices and facilities. We are constantly monitoring the evolving situation and adapting our efforts and responses. This pandemic has highlighted that now more than ever, having a home is vitally important to our health and safety. For this, CHL continues to advocate for greater investment in social housing to protect people who are facing hardship with securing and maintaining access to affordable housing for a number of reasons. Lastly, we wish to say thanks to all our customers for taking care of yourself, your household and your community. We have been fortunate that at CHL, all of you are safe and where possible, are either on the way to being or already are fully vaccinated. Thank you for playing your part in keeping our communities safe too.
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CHL UPDATES IMPACT GRANTS PROGRAM: APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN! CHL and ACHL are thrilled to finally share with you that applications are now open for our Impact Grants Program. At CHL/ACHL, we want to help as many people as we can to achieve their dreams and goals. Now you can be one step closer with our Impact Grants Program and the best news is that this opportunity is available to all our customers across the country! Whether it is a TAFE course, a gym membership, art classes, driving lessons or a community event, there is an opportunity for you and your community. There are three categories: Education and Employment – provides up to $1,500 to encourage a wide range of educational and employment opportunities. Social Connection – provides up to $300 funding towards health and wellbeing pursuits, such as sporting and fitness activities, arts and craft or music. It also includes anything that may enable inclusion, such as a car licence. Community – provides grants up to $2,000 to community organisations, support agencies or collective groups of CHL tenants for community projects.
Applications open Round 1 Applications close 28 January 2022 Round 2 Applications close 29 July 2022 Apply Now via our ‘Apply for Grants’ page on the CHL and ACHL websites. For more information, you can do any of the following: • Phone our contact centre on 1300 CHL HOUSING (1300 245 468) • Email us at impactgrants@chl.org.au • Contact your local Housing Officer or Community Development Officer
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New pump track finds home in West Kempsey A new pump track finds home in West Kempsey thanks to a collaborative partnership lead by Kempsey Neighbourhood Centre and several organisations including CHL. It started two years ago when CHL initiated a meeting with the West Kempsey community that the idea to build a pump track in West Kempsey was raised.
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Since then, the Kempsey Shire Council has jumped onboard to lead the project while CHL has helped raise funds and become a silver sponsor.
NSW
Together we have been working with the community to better understand people’s needs and get their thoughts on how to get the project moving.
L-R: The Minister for Water, Property and Housing, Melinda Pavey with our Ginda Barri residents, Shakira and Nareka and Principal of Macleay Vocational College, Mark Morrison.
Ginda Barri: Supporting young mothers in pursuit of education A $5.5 million NSW Government investment in social housing has given vulnerable young mothers, including those at risk of homelessness, a secure home and greater support to pursue their education. The NSW Government’s Land and Housing Corporation purchased the complex of 22 new two-bedroom units in South Kempsey. The units are managed by CHL, with at least six units dedicated to the ‘Mums and Bubs Hub’ for young mothers attending the Nhuka Dhalayikurr Ginda Barri Centre at Macleay Vocational College. The Ginda Barri Centre specialises in helping young mothers who have fallen out of mainstream education for a variety of reasons. Principal of 06
Over the past 18 months, we have worked with several community partners to complete the pump track giving children and young people a safe offroad track for recreational riding and establish programs during the school holiday. This includes bike safety education and a recycling program to give every child access to a bike. The pump track is now open to the community to enjoy. CHL would like to acknowledge and thank our project partners Kempsey Shire Council, West Kempsey Community, NSW Policy Aboriginal Liaison Officer, Macleay Valley Mountain Bikers, Ditz Tracks, Kempsey Neighbourhood Centre and Transport NSW.
Macleay Vocational College, Mark Morrison, Order of Australian Medal, said being involved in education brings a sense of purpose in community for these young mothers - they share and learn positive parenting skills in a supportive environment and develop a sense of belonging, pride and cultural awareness.
Meet CHL’s new State Manager
This new accommodation will make all the difference to the students at Maclaey Vocational College, with many being the first in their family to gain an HSC and achieve outcomes towards further study and joining the workforce within their chosen vocation.
Now Megan has re-joined CHL as the NSW State Manager. Whilst based in beautiful Port Macquarie, Megan is spreading her time across the State and looks forward to meeting you, our tenants and working closely with partner organisations, Government, and other stakeholders to maintain and grow the social and affordable outcomes in NSW.
At the opening of the Ginda Barri Housing program the Minister for Water, Property and Housing, Melinda Pavey had an opportunity to meet with young mothers and their children.
Megan (She/her) has spent 20 years working in the community housing sector across Australia. Of which, the first 10 years was with CHL based in Victoria.
Just for fun, Megan loves kayaking and cycling the world. Once the borders reopen from COVID-19, she has her eyes set on Tanzania for her next cycling trip. 07
update VIC
A return to normal
New social housing projects for Victoria The State Government of Victoria has made significant progress with delivering the Big Housing Build. In total 12,000 new social and affordable housing units will be delivered over four years with $5.3 billion of State Government funding. Of the total funding, $1.38 billion has been allocated to the community housing sector to deliver 4,200 new properties. CHVL has been successful with a proposal to purchase 390 units in the first round of funding. Plans are underway to add to social housing with a focus on regional Victoria in round two. Any future rounds of funding will provide opportunities to work in partnership with the Aboriginal community to deliver much needed housing.
The Big Housing Build will also focus on housing people living with a mental illness, working through a process of co-design with community agencies and residents to tailor housing design and services. This round will implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s mental health system with a target of 2,000 new dwellings.
After being unable to visit our renters again during 2021 due to lockdowns, CHVL is returning to our “new” business as usual. Once Victoria reaches 90 per cent double vaccination rates our offices will reopen, home visits are back and more. This will be done with some practical changes that align with COVID-19 and safety precautions to protect both yourself, your household, and our staff. These changes include things like a phone call from our friendly staff with set of health focused pre-screening questions before your appointment or home visit. Where CHVL attends your home, the attending Housing Officer will have hand
CHVL Victorian State Manager, Grant McNeill said, ‘this is a welcome boost for much needed social housing across metropolitan and regional Victoria. Overall, the State Government will add 10 per cent to social housing supply in four years”.
Tenant Satisfaction Survey Winner
The recently announced CHVL housing projects will be concentrated in eastern Melbourne with additional projects in Ballarat, Sunbury, Melton and Morwell.
Congratulations to CHL customer, Teresa who has won the grand prize of our Tenant Satisfaction Survey, a HP 14 inch laptop.
sanitiser, gloves and a mask that they may use at the inspection should you wish and social distancing during the inspection. If you have shown any symptoms, we will need to reschedule your appointment to ensure the health and wellbeing of all and ask that you not attend the office until you are feeling better. Offices have been fitted with QR codes for you to scan and check in, temperature check machines in large offices and staff will always wear masks while safely social distancing.
As an animal lover, she volunteers a lot of her time at the RSPCA shelter and was so excited to win. Thank you to all who took the time to submit their survey. We really appreciate it and will be using this time to review our next steps.
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Our CHL office in Box Hill, Melbourne.
Tenant survey winner, Teresa receiving her prize with CHL Housing Officer, Annika (right). 09
HOME SAFE C radled, in Comfort O ver Joyed Gratitude M e, in My Own M agnificent For Ever Home U p lift ing Nature Flutters. Winged Garden Haven. Birdsong, blue tongues, ladybirds, red backs floral rainbows, herbed bushes, towering trees fragrant, fragile resilience N ight time, babes to elderly safely snuggled community free breathing soft gentled dream sleep together as one I am Queen. My own Tiny House Planet in our Street Universe T omorrow will not find me Home Less Y outh, violence-troubled childhood, over
safe now sweetest forever home embraces my golden years
Annie 30th September 2021
Annie’s poem titled “Home Safe” (left) and Robert’s work titled “Swift” (right).
Movers and Shakers We have had two new staff members join the housing team. Introducing Paul (top-middle) and Lyn (top-right), Paul is our Customer Service Officer who you may have already met in our office reception area and Lyn is our Housing Officer who manages properties mainly in the Oakden area. Yasmine (top-left), as many of you may already know, is our part-time Housing Officer who now manages some properties in Enfield.
update SA
CHL tenants make the CHARTS Awards finals Congratulations to our tenants Robert (Enfield) and Annie (Oakden), who were both finalists in the 2021 Community Housing Art Awards (CHARTS). CHARTS was developed to celebrate and showcase the diversity, depth and talents of South Australian social housing tenants by way of a visual arts competition. This sector-wide initiative was supported by the Community Housing Council of South Australia and sponsored by Harvey Norman Commercial Division and Electrolux. All finalists were invited to a special evening event at the Adelaide Town Hall on 11 November where all the finalists’ works were exhibited to family/ friends, community housing sector colleagues and dignitaries. It was a wonderful night of celebration and CHL congratulates all the finalists and winners.
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Our Internal Maintenance Service team welcomes Jadyn (pictured bottom) to the team. Jadyn has started with us as an apprentice electrician. He will be an important part of the team assisting you with all things electrical including the ongoing program of installing split systems into our homes in SA. Paul, Lyn, Yasmine and Jadyn are looking forward to working with the CHL team and meeting you.
2021 Garden Competition Winners CHL SA were overwhelmed with entries for the 2021 garden competition. It is clear that we have some very talented and passionate green thumbs in SA. Judging took place in October with Paul George from Horticulture Contractor Urbans helping to assess each entry on the following criteria: Overall design, creativity and originality, and maintenance. He was impressed with the commitment of every gardener who entered, but there can be only one winner as they say. We are excited to announce the winners of the 2021 Garden Competition are:
Want to be an apprentice? CHL SA and the South Australian Housing Authority have many opportunities throughout the year for a range of apprenticeships available to our tenants. If you or a family member is interested in one of these apprenticeship opportunities, please register your interest at infosa@chl.org.au or call (08) 8210 0200.
Best Veggie - Nathan (Murray Bridge), Jennifer (Windsor Gardens) and Ingrid (Northfield) Best New - David (Oakden), Janet (Enfield) and Daniel (Enfield) Best Front - Graham (Oakden), Belinda (Enfield)/ Cosimo (Oakden) and Lindy (Goodwood) L-R: CHL Community Development Manager Chandler, CHL resident and Awards Finalist Annie and SA State Manager, Wayne standing with Robert’s Art.
Best Rear – Grace (Sefton Park), Dorothy (Sefton Park) and Johnny (Clearview) All prize winners received a Bunnings Gift Voucher and a certificate.
90%
of all maintenance works completed within timeframe over the past 12 months – well done AMD! 11
Supporting Council to understand our air quality Being in a confined valley, Launceston has experienced some of the poorest air quality in Australia. As a result, Launceston City Council took action to reduce the number of wood heaters being used and educate the community on how to burn wood more efficiently back in 2001. Recently, Launceston City Council and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) reached out to CHL for help with their air quality survey and the team was happy to help. The council and EPA required a location for a small air monitoring station. Housing Officers spoke with tenants about the study and a tenant was identified and agreed to having a small air monitoring station placed in their backyard.
update TAS
Billy and Temuera from our IMS team cleaning up around the Ravenswood sign and surrounds.
Thanks to their contribution, the council and EPA now have more data about air quality in our city showing that Ravenswood in Launceston is experiencing higher levels of smoke than the South Launceston air station. Plus, useful data on where to focus their new research to continue improving our air quality and health in Launceston. Read the City of Launceston’s Outdoor smoke and your health factsheet here.
Beautifying our neighbourhoods In late 2018, nine Ravenswood community organisations along with local community members were supported by Launceston city council with the installation of the Ravenswood sign. The sign is an artistic representation of local organisations and residents to promote strength and belonging in Ravenswood. As Ravenswood is an important part of CHL Tasmania’s community, our Internal Maintenance Services team (IMS) are constantly working within the suburb. The IMS team noticed the grass around 12
the Ravenswood sign was becoming overgrown. So, the next time they were in the area they decided to get to work on it. Three years on, IMS are still proudly maintaining the grass for our residents. You may’ve already noticed that we are working away on replacing the fences for some of our properties. One of our tenants who has been the recipient of a new fence said she “is over the moon” and “feels safe and secure in my home now that no one can see through or over her fence anymore”. Already we have installed over over 2500 metres of fencing over the past six months throughout the northern suburbs of Launceston.
Weed ‘n’ Seed North Possibility’s Employment and Skill Development services have been going from strength to strength, supporting people living with a disability to find and maintain great jobs. These jobs are in the community and pay a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work, at award level. The Weeds ‘n’ Seeds team have been collaborating alongside CHL TAS. The team maintain the lawns and gardens, trim the trees and hedges and tidy any rubbish for a total of 13 sites around Launceston.
The IMS team working with the Weed ‘n’ Seeds program.
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Breaking ground on Eugaree Street In late September, CHQL announced a new social housing project in Southport on Queensland’s Gold Coast. The development, one of many in the CHQL pipeline, will provide seven new homes and create an estimated 240 local jobs during the course of the project. Funded in partnership with the Queensland Government’s Partnering for Growth Strategy, the build on Eugaree Street in Southport is on CHQL land.
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QLD L–R: Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Youth Affairs, Meaghan Scanlon, Gold Coast Youth Service CEO, Maria Leebeek, CHQL State Operations Manager, Christine Nichols and Minister for Communities and Housing, Minister for Digital Economy and Minister for the Arts, Leeanne Enoch.
Gold Coast Youth Foyer officially open The $12.3 million Gold Coast Youth Foyer was officially opened on 20th October. Located in Southport, the Youth Foyer consists of 40 self-contained apartments, communal spaces, training rooms and offices and will give young people a safe, secure and supportive environment in which to live. The Foyer offers 24-hour on-site supervision for tenants aged between 16 and 25 years. Beyond providing each young person with a stable, safe and secure home, the Foyer will enable each young person to find pathways to independence by enabling them to engage in education, training and employment. 14
The $2.16m project replaces a duplex accommodating two households with five twobedroom and two one-bedroom units of social and affordable housing along with eight car parks. The apartments will be designed to a high standard that supports mobility as people age with one unit designed to a Platinum standard that will be fully accessible and suitable for people in wheelchairs. CHQL are working with Troy Smyth from Ryall Smyth Architects and Cornerstone builders to deliver the project, scheduled for completion in mid-2022.
At the sod turning of our Eugaree Street project. Steve Bevington, Managing Director of CHL Group stated, “CHQL are delighted to be partnering with the Queensland Government in this project which will be the first in a range of new community housing projects that we are now developing to assist Queenslanders in need. These new homes will provide a safe and secure home for single people, couples, or families in need of quality affordable accommodation that is well located to services and employment opportunities in Southport.”
Digital inclusion
Meet Belinda – CHQL’s State Operations Coordinator
Gold Coast Youth Service Inc will provide support and guidance to the young people living at the Foyer while Community Housing Qld Limited (CHQL) staff will provide tenancy, property management and community engagement initiatives at the site.
Belinda (she/her) embarks with CHL as the State Operations Coordinator with over 20 years’ experience in the housing sector under her belt.
The Gold Coast Foyer is just the second one of its kind in Queensland and has been 10 years in the planning. It’s based on the highly successful Logan Youth Foyer, for which CHQL also provides tenancy and maintenance services.
Hailing from the Gold Coast Housing Service Centre where Belinda was the Area Manager and delivered quality housing and homelessness services to vulnerable Queenslanders across the Gold Coast Region. Belinda has a Bachelor of Social Science from Southern Cross University and a Graduate Certificate in Housing Management and Policy from Swinburne University of Technology.
Thanks to funding from Be Connected, a Federal Government initiative to ensure CHQL tenants were invited to a range of initiatives during Get Online Week. A mix of recorded presentations, live webinars and face-to-face assistance was available on scams, staying safe online and on navigating myGov and My Aged Care. Senior tenant, Graham said of the opportunity, “I enjoyed being involved. It was very informative. I felt validated with what I know and learned some new stuff”. Community Development Manager Connie Crookshanks said, “We are grateful to have received funding from Be Connected for Get Online Week and look forward to welcoming tenants whatever their digital abilities to access the free classes that we will be offering over the months ahead.” Interested tenants should contact Connie on 1300 245 468 for further details. To watch the recorded presentations, head to the ‘Digital Learning Tools’ page on the CHL website. 15
Tika Tirka: Finding a home away from home Growing up in a remote community has its perks but when it comes to education and career opportunities, geography can be a major obstacle forcing its residents and especially young people to relocate to the city for study and career advancement. West Kempsey
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth, finding an accommodation that is affordable, secure, and culturally respectful can be a challenge especially when your connection to land, family and community plays an intrinsic part to who you are. Fortunately for Jaekiya and Michael, the move was worth it having found their “home away from home” at Tika Tirka. Jaekiya, a young Adnyamathanha woman who grew up in Iga Warta relocated to Adelaide and studies Early Childhood and Education at Enable College. Ngarrindjeri man, Michael also relocated and studies Bachelor of Psychological Science at the University of Adelaide. Both live at Tika Tirka, an innovative student accommodation that provides young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from remote and outer regional communities with a safe and culturally appropriate place to call home while pursuing studies.
ACHL expanding on the mid north coast In September, ACHL was the successful recipient of 88 properties received under the Property Management Transfer program by the Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO). The program is under the AHO’s Stronger Families, Stronger communities’ initiatives that seeks to deliver support and improve through housing, the well-being of Aboriginal families and communities. The properties will now be managed by ACHL and are located in mainly in West Kempsey, with some properties in Wauchope and Port Macquarie.
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The NSW team worked extremely hard to ensure all preparation for the transfer was completed and contact was made with tenants to ensure a seamless transfer process occurred. On behalf of all ACHL, we would like to welcome our new tenants and look forward to meeting and speaking with you in the coming months. If there is anything, we can do to make your transition smoother or help you, please feel free to get in touch with us by dropping into the local office or give us a call. Welcome to the ACHL family!
“Tika Tirka understands the laws of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. They give you the full support you need to not only help you with your studies, but also for what comes after that,” said Jaekiya. “It feels like a family. We get along very well.”
Located on Gilbert Street, Tika Tirka is set up to house up to 20 young people and is run by South Australian Housing Authority with Aboriginal Community Housing Limited (ACHL) overseeing the tenancy and property management and resident support. “Just having like-minded people living around me has helped me stay on the path and stay in my studies, especially the staff,” said Michael. “We [Students] are on different journeys because of our different studies. Tika Tirka being a culturally safe place, we are all on the same page when it comes to wanting to make better pathways for those after us,” said Jaekiya. “With the connection I have at Tika Tirka and work, I am always surrounded by family.” Jaekiya and Michael are working towards their career goals with onsite staff who provide culturally appropriate support for each student. Jaekiya has completed her work placement. Michael is working as a research assistant and positive behaviour support practitioner. He has also won a Dr Tracy Westerman scholarship. Both look forward to working in their chosen professions paving the way for future generations to follow and give back to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. If you would like to know more about Tika Tirka or apply to live here, you can do any of the following: head to the ACHL website, email tika.tirka@achl.org.au or phone (08) 8210 0200. 17
Have Your Say CHL aims to provide a high standard of service in all areas of our operations. We recognise however that there are times when tenants affected by our operations may wish to comment on or complain about an aspect of our service. CHL values and appreciates all the customer feedback you have kindly shared with us. Your compliments, insights and feedback are invaluable. Your information helps guide improvements in not only how we deliver our services to you, but also in ensuring that our policies and procedures are fair and transparent.
Repairs and maintenance Any feedback that you choose to provide, CHL appreciates and aims to resolve any issues in a timely manner. If you are unsure of where you can send this information, you can lodge your feedback in writing, over the telephone, on our website or in person and have it treated as formal feedback. Remember you have the right to register a formal complaint when dissatisfied with issues about our service.
Did you know? You can find information such as our complaints and appeals policies, processes and timeframe guidelines via: • Phoning our staff on 1300 245 468 • Visiting our website on www.chl.org.au • Visiting any one of our office locations (while adhering to that office’s COVID-19 guidelines). 18
Our highly trained agents will help to diagnose your repair query and will assess whether your request is an emergency, urgent or a routine repair. Type of Repair
Description and Timeframe
Urgent Repairs
Consists of those which may cause serious harm towards a person or serious damage to the property e.g. storm, fire damage, gas leak, serious roof leak, a burst water service or sewage blockage and other faults that make the premises unsafe.
Priority Repairs
Consists of those of which may cause serious damage to the property and must be maintained within 24-hours* of filing the request to reduce the risk of it becoming an urgent matter e.g. failure of oven, stove or hot water service.
Normal Repairs
Consists of those which are not threatening to a person or damaging to the property but still need to be repaired within a 21-day timeframe*.
*These timeframes may differ state to state. For leasehold properties, the landlord is responsible for routine repairs. In most cases, CHL will get urgent work fixed within four hours. The response times to each category may vary depending on where you live. For all repairs and maintenance queries, call us on 1300 424 573 during business hours, seven days a week. You can also email us at maintenance@chl.org.au.
Emergency and out-of-hours service For any urgent and emergency repairs, you can call us on 1300 424 573 outside of our normal office hours, evenings and weekends. If you need police, fire or ambulance in an emergency, call triple zero (000). For more information visit our Maintenance page on our website.
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Household tips
To reduce your air conditioning bill this summer It’s not easy surviving the scorching Australian summer without air conditioning. When temperatures push 40 degrees, a reliable air conditioner is one of the best appliances for achieving comfort and scoring a decent sleep. However, heavy air conditioner usage can have a significant impact on energy bills. Canstar Blue estimates that split system air conditioners can accrue running costs of up to $100 a month during periods of heavy use, and ducted air conditioning can cost three times as much. That’s a lot of money just to keep the home feeling comfortable. And that’s why we’ve compiled a collection of 8 sensible yet surprising tips to help reduce your air conditioning bill. You can remain cool and collected without breaking the budget.
1. Clean The Air Conditioner Filters One of the easiest things you can do to reduce air conditioning bills and maintain airflow quality is to clean dirty filters. Air conditioner filters quickly become blocked with dust, dirt and possibly mould. Cleaning air conditioner filters can improve performance and reduce energy consumption saving you money on electricity bills.
For example, if you set the air conditioner to a chilly 18 degrees, it could consume 30 per cent more emery than at 24 degrees. Some sources claim every degree uses up to 10 per cent more! Either way, you’re better off keeping the thermostat at a comfortable 24 degrees.
3. Reduce Usage by Just 1 Hour Reduce your daily air conditioner usage by just one hour, and you can save anywhere between $31 and $93 per year. Of course, this depends on the type of system in use, as split systems and ducted air conditioners vary in energy efficiency. But, there’s bound to be 60 minutes during the day when you can live without climate control. And if you combine this tip with the others, then you’re bound to save money.
4. Use Your Ceiling Fans in Tandem Ceiling fans are useful for circulating air around a room and directing it downwards towards occupants. Using these affordable appliances in
tandem with an air conditioning system can improve the effectiveness of your climate control. Another way to save money involves running the air conditioner quickly, switching it off, and using a fan to circulate the cold air. This reduces the need for air conditioning and so naturally reduces your electricity bill.
5. Reduce Air Draughts Gaps in the floorboards, under doorways and around windows can hinder the performance of your air conditioning unit. While your system is pumping out cool airflow, unpleasant hot air can seep in making your climate control less effective. And so, additional air-con usage is required.
There are simple, affordable fixes to many of these problems and therefore reduce your air conditioning bill. For example, caulking gaps can help seal the home. So can fitting sealing strips to the bottom of doors. A raised timber floor can require a little more work. Grouting between the boards is a good start, and if you have access under the house, foam batt insulation can trap indoor temperatures and stop unwanted heat absorption from entering.
6. Turn off Electrical Appliances TVs, laptops, tablets, lamps, and other appliances generate heat and disrupt the desired temperature, so switch them off if possible. Not only will air conditioners need to work longer and harder, but the appliances also contribute to energy bills, so switch off non-essential’s to reduce cooling costs and save money. The same goes for unused areas of the home. Source: www.stayathomemum.com.au
To clean, simply take them outside and brush off the dust over a bin or run the vacuum over them instead. Then, rinse out the filters and soak in soapy water if really dirty. Let the filters dry before fitting back in the air conditioner. Consult the instruction manual for advice on how to remove the filters from the air conditioner in use.
2. Slightly Increase the temperature If energy costs are your primary concern, then the optimal temperature is 24 degrees. Origin Energy reports that every degree below 24 will increase energy consumption by an additional 5 per cent.
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FOOD CORNER
Ask Izzy From money worries to mental health, we all need a bit of extra help sometimes and finding the right help can be daunting and overwhelming. AskIzzy is one website with thousands of support services such as housing, food and health services that allows you to access the help you need for yourself or someone else. It is used by government agencies and community organisations like ourselves. So don’t let out-of-date information or clunky technology stand in the way of you getting the help you need.
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
Tempeh Tacos with Cashew Lime Cream The pan-fried and spiced tempeh makes for a protein-packed filling in these hearty tacos. Adjust the spices to be as mild or as fiery as you’d like, and load the tacos full of your favourite toppings!
To find out more, visit about.askizzy.org.au
Serving size: 8 Total: 15 min I Prep: 4 min I Cook: 11 min Ingredients: • 1 Tbsp (15 mL) vegetable oil • 2 medium shallots, minced
• fresh lime slices • medium red onion • red hot chili
Method 1. To a large pan on high heat, add the oil. When hot, add the shallots and garlic and sauté for 2 minutes.
Prioritise your mental health
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
It may be Mental Health Month in October but that doesn’t mean you can forget about looking after yourself all the other months. One in five Australians are affected by mental illness every year. The Mental Health Australia website has tips and advice to assist people to cope. It also has a promise wall, where you can make a small promise, it could be to take time for yourself, to call family or a friend, to eat healthy…whatever you like.
• 1 tsp (2 g) paprika powder
For more information, head to: LAYMHA | Make a promise (lookafteryourmentalhealthaustralia.org.au)
• 1⅔ cups (400 g) canned diced tomatoes
If you or someone you care for is in need of immediate assistance, you can contact the below National 24/7 Crisis Counselling Services:
• soy sauce
Lifeline 13 11 14 – 24 hours a day 7 days a week
SANE Australia Help Centre 1800 187 263 www.sane.org
• Cashew cream • ⅓ cup (80 mL) boiling water
Storage
Lifeline Text 0477 13 11 14 – 6pm to midnight (AEDT) 7 nights a week
Kids Helpline 1800 5 1800 www.kidshelpline.com.au
• 1 lime, juiced*
Store the filling in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 www.beyondblue.org.au 22
• 10.5 oz (300 g) tempeh • 2 tsp (5 g) onion powder • 1 tsp (3 g) ground cumin • ½ tsp chili powder • ½ tsp dried oregano • ¼ tsp ground black pepper • 2 Tbsp (30 mL) sodium-reduced • 8 corn tortillas • ½ cup (65 g) raw cashews
Optional toppings • avocado • cherry tomatoes • fresh cilantro
2. Crumble the tempeh with your hands into the pan and cook for 6 - 7 minutes, stirring until lightly golden and crispy. Add splashes of water as needed to deglaze the pan. 3. Meanwhile, make the cashew cream by adding the ingredients to a small food processor, and blend until smooth. Add more water if needed to achieve your desired consistency. 4. To the pan, add the spices and sauté for 20-seconds until fragrant, then add the diced tomato and soy sauce, cooking for 3 - 5 minutes. 5. Meanwhile, heat the tortillas on a skillet and when the tempeh has absorbed the tomatoes to your liking, spoon it onto the warmed tortillas. Add the toppings of your choice, and enjoy!
Do you have a recipe you would like to share? Send your recipe to us at chlconnect@chl.org.au 23
If you have any feedback or suggestions on how to improve this magazine please contact us via any of the following: Email: chlconnect@chl.org.au Post: Community Housing Ltd CHL Connect Team 19-23 Prospect St Box Hill VIC 3128 Phone: 1300 CHL HOUSING (1300 245 468) Website: www.chl.org.au
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