FINDING MENTAL WELLNESS THROUGH ART

Artist, Donna with artwork.

Born out of the many talented and artistic CHL customers, CHL NSW partnered with Way Ahead to put on an art exhibition that showcased its customers art inspiring and uplifting those who have lived experience with mental health. CHL Community Development Manager Steve Neale said, “Art exhibitions like this are an opportunity to not only recognise but genuinely celebrate the lives, creativity, and experiences of people who have faced mental health challenges. “Through collaborative partnerships with the likes of Way Ahead, we can further support and empower our customers to be the best versions of themselves. “It is wonderful to see our customers so engaged in the community and participating in activities like the art exhibition,” Steve said.

Artist, Donna has kindly shared her artwork that is proudly displayed at CHL’s Port Macquarie office for all who visit to see.

Another artist, 13-year-old Sheyleace said, “I like art and being creative as it helps me relax. I enjoy Aboriginal art such as dot paintings and healing stones who I am.”

Watch the media coverage received on the CHL on News Channels page: chl.org.au/news/news-media/ chl-on-news-channels

CHL Cadet, Damian graduating alongside his cohort from the CHIA NSW 2021 cadetship program.

CHL NSW officially welcomed its first successful cadet, Damian to the housing team thanks to a Cadetship program made possible by the NSW Government in conjunction with housing peak body, Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) NSW. The peak body collaborates with community housing providers like CHL to encourage people to work in the sector.

The Cadetship program provides an opportunity for cadets to commence studying the CHC42221 Certificate IV in Housing and undertake paid employment for 12-months in all aspects of social housing management including application management, asset services, cultural awareness, homelessness and tenancy services. Damian learned the ins and outs of the social housing sector while based out of the Port Macquarie office and in September graduated along with several other successful cadets from the State.

Currently we have another cadet from the 2022 intake who is based out of the Kempsey office and is well on their way towards completing their studies in early 2023. If you would like to work with us, we encourage you to visit the CHIA NSW Cadetship page (https://bit. ly/3gzedVM) for more information. We welcome and look forward to working with the new cadets as the program continues into 2023.

CHL and ACHL had the honour of attending this year’s Nyiirun Djiirun Wakulda Women’s Festival held at the Birpai Local Aboriginal Lands Council in mid-October.

This is the 6th year for the festival, and it did not disappoint with over 600 women in attendance. The festival fosters connections by providing a culturally safe space for open and honest conversations and provides opportunities to share stories, cultural customs, and knowledge. For us that is to share information about CHL and ACHL’s roles in the community, the services that are on offer and to forge pathways to ensure community are know when, where and how to engage CHL and ACHL if needed.

On the day, the CHL and ACHL team had a great time meeting you all. We hope you found the information provided valuable and the hand massages relaxing. See you at the next one!

The local community at the official opening of CHL and Melba Support Service’s new Specialist Disability Accommodation.

The new 15-unit development offers more independence and choice to people living with a disability in the area with the latest mod cons and additional assistive technology including a communications system that connects residents to on-site SIL providers 24/7. In 2018, a study found there are more than 28,000 Australians with a disability who were identified as living in inappropriate accommodation. It is estimated over 6,000 younger Australians live in aged care facilities due to the lack of housing options. The Lilydale development will provide people living with a disability with more housing options and choice. With the nearest amenities only a few minutes’ walk away, the area is well connected to community services ensuring people have the opportunity to thrive and live independently. The new development has been built to specific design standards. It also has 24/7 on-site support provided by Melba Support Services while CHL is responsible for the tenancy and property management. Watch our video on the Lilydale development on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Pxyv_BPTSY8.

CHL is proud to be a part of the Building Communities Consortium partnering with Homes Victoria to deliver over 1,000 new homes through a Ground Lease Model (GLM1). The first stage of this model will see new developments in Brighton, Flemington and Prahran. The sites will deliver social, affordable, specialist disability and market rental homes that are welcoming and secure and which meet modern design and accessibility standards. Our specialist disability accommodation at these sites will be two bedroom, two bathroom apartments in the High Physical Support design category. If you’re seeking specialist disability accommodation around these areas, please contact Hannah.

Members from CHL, Icon construction and Homes Victoria hosting the WA Housing Minister the Hon. John Carey and the then VIC Housing Minister, the Hon. Richard Wynne at the Flemington site.

Welcome Kate, CHL’s new Community Development Manager for Victoria. Kate has been hitting the ground running visiting the sites, engaging and co-designing with you on the many projects happening across the State. Kate comes with a wealth of knowledge and expertise in community development having previously worked on community development projects from working with vulnerable communities and influencing policy. Kate worked with people experiencing homelessness in North East London. The organisation Kate worked for ran a shelter including a music venue and trained people in hospitality to run the café and bar for the venue. The funds raised from these activities supported the homeless shelter.

Kate is excited to be back in Melbourne and is working on the community engagement plan for the new builds in Brighton, Flemington and Prahran. “It’s great to be back home on my old stomping ground connecting with people and services and creating new housing and community spaces. I’m looking forward to meeting many of you, if you have any questions feel free contact me. (Refer to CHL’s contact details on the back cover). “As a wise person once said, “We may have arrived on different ships but we’re all in the same boat now”. I wish you smooth sailing to happy adventures”.

Our newest development in Lynbrook is well underway and we’ll soon be unlocking the doors on 20 apartments. This development will provide 13 new social housing apartments, six apartments for specialist disability accommodation and an apartment for an on-site disability support provider to serve renters on site.

If you’re looking for specialist disability accommodation in the Lynbrook area, please contact Hannah our SDA engagement coordinator, Hannah.trood@chl.org.au.

CHL Community Development Manager Leonie Fuchs, SA CHL tenant Phillip Grange and 369 Labs CEO Domenico Gelonese.

According to the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), wholesale gas and electricity have tripled this quarter compared to 2021 which has seen bill increases between 5 to 20 per cent. Since commencing in late June, solar panel installation has been completed at two blocks of units totalling 45 units across Enfield and Oakden, with their power bills forecasted to reduce by well over 25 per cent. CHL Managing Director Steve Bevington said, “The energy crisis is impacting all corners of Australia, particularly the aged generation that spend more time at home and consume more energy. “CHL customers have seen great benefits through solar projects in NSW, TAS and VIC and we wanted to bring this to our SA customers with the view to roll out solar more broadly across the State.” CHL and 369 Labs have hosted on site workshops to SA customers to discuss energy usage, offer advice and support to make the most out of their solar generated energy and live as comfortably as possible. “We have equipped CHL tenants with a Pulse® device that communicates how they are using energy using colours red and green. Red tells them that they are using energy from the grid and they should shift their energy behaviour during this time, while green tells them that they are using solar energy,” said Nick Demourtzidis 369 Labs Co-Founder.

The project has seen strong success in its early stages with most customers forecasted to save an average of $382 a year.

The judges were spoilt for choice this year with over 20 customers entering the SA competition. We were able to secure special guest judge, Sophie Thomson from Gardening Australia to visit some of these beautiful gardens along with CHL management. It was wonderful to see the creativity and care our customers have in their homes and gardens. Thank you to all our customers for sharing their pride and joy with us.

ABC Gardening Australia show’s Sophie Thomson was one of the judges. The other Judges are Nikki Holbrook Housing Services Coordinator and me Leonie Fuchs Community Development Manager.

Most Inspiring Gardener Lencia

Best Rear Garden 1st Lisa 2nd Elizabeth 3rd Maureen

Best Front Garden 1st Bella 2nd Kirk 3rd Daryl Best before and after 1st David 2nd Patricia 3rd Corina

Best Fruit and Vegetable 1st Anivatt 2nd Zsofi and Steve

CHL SA held a community working bee to beautify a beautiful yet overgrown community garden in October. Thanks to everyone who answered our call out and offered their time and muscle, we were able to clear the space and rejuvenate it for the warmer months ahead. If you enjoy working in the outdoors and would like to get involved in beautifying the neighbourhood with us? We would like to hear from you. Please contact us either by phone 8210-0200 or email infosa@chl.org.au.

The CHTL team.

CHTL is governed by its own board of directors and will allow us to continue to provide more housing to Tasmanians in need. CHTL Internal Maintenance Service team member Billy has offered the opportunity to take on a contractual secondment as a Housing Officer. Billy has been an employee of CHTL for the past six years and was hired on as an apprentice and upon completion of his certificate, he then secured a permanent position as the Internal Maintenance Assistant Supervisor. Billy is now working in our Mowbray office learning the ropes as Housing Officer please feel free to come and say hello.

Fancy yourself a green thumb guru? Well now is your time to bloom and be in the chance to win Bunnings vouchers with our 2023 Garden Competition. Open to all CHL customers no matter what level you are, there is a category for you.

Best edible garden Best small garden Best native garden Best front yard garden Best under 30s garden To enter please email infotas@chl.org.au with images of your garden along with your full name, address, contact number, the category(ies) you are applying for and a small blurb on what gardening means to you. Bunnings vouchers are available for entries that place first, second and third place for each category.

For enquiries or support, please contact the team on 6325 0700.

Earlier this month, Rocherlea held its first annual Christmas event hosted by the Rocherlea Men’s Shed in conjunction with the Launceston City Council, Northern Suburbs Community Centre, City Mission Snagchat and a number of other community businesses. The free event set up for the community of Rocherlea was filled with fun kids activities, lucky door prizes, Santa show bags, interactive fun and a free BBQ on offer, fun was had by all. Community Housing (Tas) Ltd (CHTL) was proud to support this event with a few CHTL elves present on the night. Thank you so much to the local community who turned up. We hope you had a fun filled evening.

The ModHomes program is set to deliver a minimum of 50 prefabricated modular social housing homes per year over a span of four years on land owned by the Tasmanian government. CHTL is currently managing two new modular homes under this project. These homes will help meet the growing demand of social housing within the Tasmanian community. For more information, please contact the Mowbray office by phoning 1300 245 468.

CHL customers on the Gold Coast enjoyed a visit from Thread Together who provide new, good quality clothing for people in need.

Thread Together offers brand-new, good quality clothing to people in need. The service means that clothing is diverted from landfill to where it’s needed most. The service can be accessed online and directly from a mobile wardrobe. Earlier this year we received our first online order for our Maryborough based Outreach Service and Men’s Shelter. The mobile wardrobe has visited several Gold Coast complexes already with more booked for December and January.

Congratulations to this army of volunteers who delivered the 2022 Gold Coast Homeless Connect Event on the Gold Coast. Community Housing Limited Queensland team members were part of the organising committee and volunteers on the day. CHQL has been part of the Gold Coast Homelessness Network for over 10 years. On the day, customers were able to access donated clothing, medical support and advice, entertainment, free food and most importantly, a sense of support from the wider Gold Coast community in these difficult times. A big turnout for the Homeless Connect event on the Gold Coast.

Our wonderful SASH team arranged a BBQ for customers during Anti-Poverty week in partnership with 12 Baskets who kindly donated their time and provided all of the food for the BBQ. The BBQ was a great way to acknowledge Anti-Poverty week and also promote positive social engagement with tenants, staff and contractors at the complex.

The opening symbolised a celebration towards quality accommodation, emphasising the importance of inclusivity. It is truly life changing not only for the residents but also the surroundings as they are now able to participate more within the community. The five homes are a joint project between Active Foundation, WAI Group and Community Housing Ltd and were built by WA company Celtic builders. These homes include the use of assistive technology, and bespoke floor plans to increase tenants’ independence and accessibility. The property has a large collective outdoor space with direct access from each of the five homes with a BBQ area for all residents to share.

L-R: Michael Heath CEO Activ; Sean Kelly CHL WA State Manager; Don Punch WA Minister for Disability Services; Paul Stanley WAI Group Director, attend the Prosser Street opening.

A small group of customers in our Coldstream over 55s complex recently received $300 from the CHL Social Impact Grants Program. These tenants work together to improve the environment of common areas of the 15-unit complex with their keen love of gardening. The activity has become a positive social activity both planting, watering, and tending to the garden. The costs have been generally shared between this small group and the impact grant has enabled the tenants to purchase much needed potting mix, seeds, and plants to ensure this activity can continue to grow.

Over a year ago, Jakob found himself homeless and at the mercy of the housing crisis currently plaguing the country. He experienced 0-degree weather while finding shelter at a local park. During this time, Jakob noticed the issues affecting him and his fellow camp mates. He recognised that he was still afforded the basic decency that some of the people around him were not receiving. He noticed the lack of safety, food, discrimination, and embarrassment involved with reaching out for help. Jakob decided that he would begin volunteering with a local food van to at least begin to be a bridge for those who were scared or too intimidated to access the food they needed. Jakob worked with a group of camp sites setting up protection for people who were misplaced and disadvantaged in Launceston. After a year of living in a tent, Jakob was contacted by a CHTL Housing Officer for an interview, he was ecstatic. Jakob went through the interview process and was offered a home to make his own. Jakob was grateful and thanked the CHTL team for the opportunity to have a stable, healthy, and safe home once again. Jakob is still dedicated to the local community and is actively involved with food vans around Launceston. He regularly visits the camp sites to encourage those still patiently waiting for a home of their own.

*Name has been changed in this story for privacy reasons.

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