Ebulletin: Monday 30, 2011

Qshelter | Twitter | Facebook | Flickr

_____________________________

Queensland Shelter media release: Housing peak welcomes LNP affordable housing promise

Queensland Shelter welcomes the LNP’s commitment to affordability, and is keen to see the real detail of the policy.

For the full release, click here.

_____________________________

News from the department:Renewal for Tenant Participation

Queensland’s social housing tenants will soon benefit from an enhanced Tenant Participation program which will encourage them to play a greater role in their tenancies and communities.

Following a review of the program in 2010-11, the Department of Communities has released the Tenant Participation Program Review – Summary Report and Recommendations. The report presents the findings of the review and makes recommendations for a renewed Tenant Participation program in Queensland.

The renewed program will be delivered by all social housing providers in Queensland, so that the experiences and opportunities for all tenants will be consistent, regardless of whether their tenancy is managed by the department or a registered housing provider.

The program will provide opportunities for tenants to increase their economic independence and will encourage community engagement and social inclusion. Tenants will also have the opportunity to be involved in matters that affect their tenancies.

To develop recommendations for the renewed program, the department consulted with social housing tenants, community housing providers, housing peak organisations and other stakeholders with an interest in the program.

Thanks to everyone who responded to the consultation paper and provided feedback on the program and future direction of Tenant Participation.

Implementation of the renewed program will commence in early 2012 and continue over a three year period. An implementation reference group of stakeholders will be established to provide input on program planning and implementation.

_____________________________

 In the news: Australian homes still among least affordable ABC 24.01.12

You do not need to tell first home buyers that Australian housing is expensive, but the eighth annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey confirms it.

The report put Australia well behind the United States, Ireland, Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand in its ranking of the most affordable places to own a home.

Keep reading here.

_____________________________

Featured Event

The 7th National Housing Conference will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from 30 October to 2 November 2012.

This year’s conference theme is People, Place and Productivity. The variety of speakers and session streams will be of interest to everyone involved in Australia’s housing and homelessness policy and practice – including governments, non-profit housing and related organisations, tenants, researchers, developers and planners.

Click here for more details

_____________________________

Events

6th Australasian Housing Researchers' Conference: Housing in an era of risk and crisis

Preliminary programs available now

Hosted by the Centre for Housing, Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Adelaide

When: Wednesday 8^th of February- Friday 10^th of February

Where: Adelaide, South Australia

Registrations close: February 7, 2012

What's the rent? Seminar: Shelter NSW and NSW Tenants Union

When: Wednesday 15^th of February 9am-1pm

Where: Mitchell Theatre, Level 1, Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney

For more details and events, please go to http://www.qshelter.asn.au/events