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The project has employed four casual community workers to assist other residents learn how easy it is to be a good sorter. Much fun was had learning how to sort waste items correctly and how long it takes for some of these items to decompose. L-R: Tanaya and Khloe with their mother, Jessica at the
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Recycling project launches in Kempsey
An exciting educational recycling project is being piloted in targeted parts of south and west Kempsey to make it easier for residents to separate waste and recycling. This has been brought to you in partnership with NSW Health Department’s Aboriginal Environmental Health Unit (AEHU), Kempsey Shire Council and CHL.
‘A Good Sort’ workshop. Community Development Project Officer Rebekah who is co-managing with Kempsey Shire Council attended a workshop said, “We were all horrified to learn that plastic lasts forever.”
Throughout the project there will be opportunities for residents to contribute feedback through focus group workshops.
Households that have been chosen to participate in this pilot project will have their bins tagged with either a smiley face or sad face to indicate how well they are sorting their waste. Smiley face households go in a draw to win a $50 reward voucher.
To find out how to be a good sorter, turn to page 21 for some Good Sort Tips!
DCJ 2021 scholarships are now open!
$1,000 scholarships are available to TAFE and senior high school students living in social housing or out-of-home care to help with education and training costs. There are 1,000 scholarships on offer.
• Apply online at: bit.ly/DCJNSWScholarships • Students only have until 19 February, 2021 to get their application in so get in quick!
Meet CHL tenant, Michelle
Michelle* and her family have lived in private rentals and community housing for several years. She said, while her children were young, the homes were okay, but as her children grew it became more evident, they needed a bigger home. One they could live in longterm and specially designed for her twin daughters born with Retts Syndrome; a severe condition of the nervous system that affects all body movement.
Michelle’s property at the time was leased by the Department of Communities and Justice and the owner gave Michelle notice to vacate so they could redevelop the home.
“We had an open house for three-years straight with people coming to look at the house. “It was hard to find a house for a family of five with two girls with wheelchairs so then CHL come along and took over and they owned the house that we’re in.”
Nearly six months later, the CHL NSW housing team invited Michelle to inspect a home to identify its suitability for her family’s living arrangements. Fortunately, it would.
“CHL gutted it out and the whole house was modified. It’s everything and more than we wanted it to be. The street that we are in is so nice. The neighbours all came and greeted us and introduced themselves. The house we are in is so much better. “All those small things might not mean much to other people but having disabled children or if you are disabled yourself, those things make such a difference in your life. Just having a bathroom and to have a proper shower in there. The hallways are widened so the girls can fit their wheelchairs and they are able to access the whole house whereas before they couldn’t fit in some doorways.
“To have the rent of a house that’s made and modified just for us and knowing we’re here for a long time is unbelievable. Sheer relief to think we don’t have to go through that again.”
Michelle and the family moved into their new home in early June this year. Since moving in, Michelle has gone back to her passion and is currently studying astrophysics and her daughters are able to manoeuvre around the home easily and independently. “I can’t even put into words how happy we are and how much happier our whole family are. “It was all worth the wait.”
*Name changed for privacy reasons
