Regional Housing Taskforce

In June 2021 the NSW Government established a Regional Housing Taskforce (the taskforce) in response to increasing pressures on the supply and affordability of housing in Regional NSW.

A combination of factors is putting more pressure on housing supply in regional NSW.

A strong economy means more people are choosing to stay in the regions and work in jobs close to where they live. COVID-19 has transformed the way people live and work with more people choosing to move out of our cities.

The taskforce is charged with investigating regional housing issues and wants to hear from you, about the barriers you are experiencing in buying, renting and building a place to live in the regions.

Have your say by making a submission using the link below by 11.59pm Friday 27 August 2021.

Book your seat at a roundtable

Throughout August 2021 the taskforce is conducting a major listening exercise with a series of face-to-face and virtual roundtable events to hear from councils and representatives from community groups, the housing, not-for-profit and development sectors, Local Aboriginal Land Councils, business groups and members of the public to identify barriers in the planning system to housing supply and affordability.

The face-to-face roundtables will be held in Ballina, Orange and Queanbeyan, covering the north, west and south of the state.

At each location three separate roundtable meetings will be held covering the same content to give the best opportunity for people to attend a session.

All face-to-face meetings will observe strict COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

The taskforce will use the evidence and insights to make recommendations to the Government on ways to address barriers to the delivery of regional housing.

Please see below for details about when and where these events are being held and how you can register your place at one of the events that’s most appropriate to you.

Additional events may be scheduled if there is enough interest.

Taskforce Chair

The taskforce is led by Newcastle-based independent planning expert Garry Fielding as Chair.

Mr Fielding is a qualified town planner with more than 40 years’ experience in State and local government and the private sector. He has worked at senior executive levels with the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and also as head planner with Newcastle, Woollahra and Maitland Councils.

Mr Fielding is a Life Fellow and former NSW President of the Planning Institute of Australia and is the State-appointed Chair of the Western Regional Planning Panel.

The taskforce also comprises senior experts from the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and Department of Regional NSW.

For any further enquiries to the Regional Housing taskforce email regions.coordination@planning.nsw.gov.au

Solve-TAD is delighted to announce they have just launched their annual event Ready, Set, Move for 2021. Ready, Set, Move is a challenge completed over 30 days in November aimed at helping kids and adults living with a disability to experience freedom of movement through cycling.

1. Choose to walk, run, wheel, cycle, skate, swim, golf, or complete push ups or squats.
2. Set your own challenge suited to your fitness levels.
3. Fundraise and join in on the fun!

The great thing is no matter what your fitness levels or wherever you are, you can take part! You can decide to take part as an individual or team. Will you join us in changing lives?

You can register for Ready, Set, Move here.

Open for applications — Redress Support Services

The Australian Government is inviting organisations through an open competitive process to apply for Redress Support Services.

The Redress Support Services program aims to provide timely access to trauma‑informed and culturally appropriate community-based services to support people’s engagement with the National Redress Scheme.

Applications close at 9:00 pm AEST on 13 September 2021.

Information about applying for this round can be found on the Community Grants Hub website and GrantConnect.

Hunter Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service (HTAAS) is recruiting for a part-time tenant advocate. The position is for 28 hours per week over 4 days.

Hunter TAAS provides advice and advocacy to tenants in the Hunter Region and is funded under the Tenants Advice and Advocacy Program administered by Fair Trading NSW. Employment will be under SCHADS award Level 6, pro rata, pay point dependent on experience.

Applications close Friday 20th August Interviews will be scheduled the week beginning 30th August.

You can view the full position description here and more information about the role here.

Belgravia Leisure is currently going through an exciting period of growth in the Access & Inclusion space. They are looking for two Inclusion Officers to join the team across their Port Stephens sites. One role will be based at Lakeside Leisure Centre and the other at Tomaree Aquatic Centre. Both roles will also support Tilligerry Aquatic Centre.

The roles are five hours per week (each) and would suit individuals living within the above communities, working in the communities and have some great established networks.

If you have a particular interest in supporting the needs of the community through access and inclusion, supporting our diverse communities, employment pathways, recreation services, aquatics and health and fitness, get in touch today.

Contact Carly Williams on cwilliams2@belgravialeisure.com.au advising why you believe you would be suitable for the role. Additionally if you have any questions please get in touch.

2021 AICD National Not-for-Profit Scholarship Program

The Australian Scholarships Foundation (ASF), in partnership with The Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), are pleased to make 200 full scholarships available to the Australian not-for-profit sector in 2021/2022. The scholarships will be offered in all states and territories across Australia and will enable directors, executives and emerging directors of NFP organisations with a turnover of less than $2m to attend the AICD’s Governance Foundations for Not-for-Profit Directors program.

The scholarships will provide directors, executives and emerging directors of not-for-profit organisations (with a turnover of less than $2m) an understanding of fundamental compliance and performance related roles and responsibilities of directors, specifically in the areas of governance, risk, financial performance and strategy.

200 full scholarships are available in all states and territories across Australia to enable directors, executives, and emerging directors of not-for-profit organisations with a turnover of less than $2 million to attend the AICD’s Governance Foundations for Not-for-Profit Directors program.

Key dates:
Open: 26 July 2021
Close: 20 August 2021 5pm AEST
Notifications: October 2021
Course dates: October 2021 to June 2022

Read full dates for courses across Australia on the application page You can also find out more about this program here.

The Australian Government announced in the 2021-22 Budget, that funding of up to $50 million ($12.5 million per year) will be made available under the National Priority Fund over four years from 2021-2025. The fund will complement the expansion and extension of the successful Local Jobs Program and help support Australia's economic and social recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

National Priority Fund - Department of Education, Skills and Employment, Australian Government (dese.gov.au)

Funding will be available for innovative initiatives that complement job creation and/or address structural and other barriers to the attraction, recruitment and retention of Australian job seekers and workers.

The Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) was released on Friday 16 July 2021 through AusTender and invites interested parties to submit a proposal.

Submissions will close 16 August 2021.

The NSW Government has collated the individual, business and industry support options available to those impacted by COVID-19. You can view the options available below or as a PDF in our library here.

Join psychologist and mental health and wellbeing specialist, Melissa Harries, for this specially developed program, designed to provide anyone and everyone with the psychological skills you need to understand and manage your own mental health and well-being during this challenging time.

More information is available here.

WALK AWAY WITH

• Strategies for regulating panic reactions, and maximising positive feelings
• Practical guidance for supporting anxious colleagues, friends or family
• Communication techniques for building rapport and empathetic understanding

Psychological strategies to manage unhelpful thoughts, and practice emotion regulation skills.

You can view the schedule here.

The NSW Stolen Generations Reparations Scheme (SGRS) provides ex-gratia payments to living Stolen Generation survivors who meet the scheme criteria.

The scheme was set up on 1 July 2017 and runs for 5 years to 30 June 2022.

Since starting Legal Aid NSW Civil Law Services for Aboriginal Communities has helped many Stolen Generation survivors to successfully submit claims. But time is running out. We need your help to reach out to everyone who is eligible so they don't miss out.

This webinar will discuss the SGRS guidelines and the help available to members of the Stolen Generation when submitting an application, appealing decisions and after getting a payment.

Legal Aid NSW can help call 1800 793 017