3 minute read

A PLEASURE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Customer Contact

Consultant Jane looks after transport services on the Sunshine Coast. This means coordinating staff and volunteers to ensure customers get to their doctors' appointments, are able to go shopping and manage their everyday tasks. Having been with Suncare for over five years, Jane really enjoys chatting to customers and liaising with the Volunteers in the Transport and Meals on Wheels services. “Every day feels like a workday with my family.” Since 1970, Suncare has specialised in the delivery of in-home services for older Australians throughout central and southeast Queensland. The dedication of ‘Suncarers’ ensures that getting older doesn’t have to mean moving into residential aged care. Committed to helping customers achieve health and wellbeing goals, Suncarers actively participate in the continuous improvement processes that support customers to live independently.

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Hervey Bay Support Worker

Trevor loves visiting his regular customers. “I love my work, this is my opportunity to give back and it is so fulfilling for me. I never forget the impact that we can have on others – and every time I remember that, it brings back the joy in what I do”.

Norm is the Activities Team leader, and nothing makes him happier than to see his customers enjoying the outings and events on offer. “Social interaction and a good laugh or chat can make someone’s day. This opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life is what makes working at Suncare so enjoyable.”

If you are looking for work that offers flexibility, can make the most of your take-home pay through salary packaging and above all, is rewarding, a career in community services could be for you. Being innovative, enthusiastic and customer focused are all important attributes for positions at Suncare, whether you work as a staff member or a volunteer. Suncare is always looking for caring, motivated and genuine people to join the team.

Making people’s lives better is what we do best - so call us if you want to make a difference! For more information on Suncare careers and vacancies, contact them on 1800 786 227 or visit the website at Positions - Suncare Community Services

Right across Queensland and around Australia, I know people are struggling to keep a roof over their heads.

The reasons are complex. We have more people moving to Queensland from interstate, we’ve lost houses due to flooding and since COVID more Queenslanders are living in smaller households, increasing demand for homes. Rent, house prices, cost of living and interest rates are going up – and I know how tough this is on locals.

There are no simple solutions – frankly, anyone who says there are, is lying to you. We’re facing higher costs for land and materials, shortages of materials and supply chain issues.

Housing is complex and requires lots of different actions.

Here are some of the 50 urgent measures our Palaszczuk Government is taking right now on housing:

We’re building more social housing in our area!

Just last year, we finished Stage II of the Coolamon Apartments on Bribie Island. These accessible apartments are now home to 170 older locals.

When I visit Coolamon Apartments, I see the enormous pride and comfort the residents take in their beautiful homes and the supportive community they have built together.

We’re building more homes right across our region.

Recently, the new Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon, Member for Morayfield Mark Ryan and I visited a new accessible social housing complex in Caboolture.

These apartments look amazing and are located close to schools, shops and public transport.

The apartments join over 5,000 social and affordable homes commenced since we came to Government.

Our Government is working to build more houses.

Our Queensland Housing Summit and the Housing Roundtable came up with solutions to meet growing demands and build more houses faster!

► New Build-to-Rent Programs so there are more homes available for renting.

► New Q-Build facility manufacturing pre-fabricated houses to speed up building homes for regional frontline workers and social housing.

► We’ve made it easier to rent out Granny flats and house sharing (rooming accommodation). This means more options to rent, and support for homeowners with rising interest rates.

► We are also consulting with council to have more land released to increase housing supply and many more actions to build and secure houses.

Doubling the Housing Investment Fund to $2 billion and expanding Quickstart QLD to get more homes finished sooner. Helping Renters

Keeping renters with a roof over their head is essential, so we’ve limited rent increases to once per year. There’s lots of support for renters including Bond Grants and Rental Grants. You can call the Caboolture Housing Service Centre to discuss or find out more here: https://www.aliking.org/what-ali-sworking-on/housing/

Recently, I heard from hundreds of residents on how we can make renting and owning Manufactured Homes fairer. Thank you to everyone who had their say.

I know households are doing it tougher right now. There’s help if you are struggling.

Are you struggling with housing? Get in contact with the Housing Service Centre at Caboolture on: Phone: 5432 0700

Email: moretonbayhsc@hpw.qld.gov.au

Are you at risk of becoming homeless? Call the Homeless Hotline on 1800 474 753

Are you worried about cost of living? Find cost of living support you’re eligible for on the Queensland Savers website: https://www. queenslandsavers.qld.gov.au/

You can also reach out to my office by phone 07 3474 2100, by email pumicestone@parliament.qld.gov.au and we can connect you with a relevant service.

I hope this information was helpful. Kindly

Ali King MP