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HOMELESSNESS E-LETTER
March 2015
Welcome to the March edition of the NT Shelter Homelessness E-letter.
Stay informed on relevant events and news. A PDF version of this e-letter can be downloaded from NT
Shelter’s website. For more info and to submit news items to NT Shelter’s Homelessness or Housing Eletters please contact NT Shelter on:
Homelessness E-letter – Homelessness Policy Officer, Morgan Sabbith hpo@ntshelter.org.au
Housing E-letter – Executive Officer, Toni Vine Bromley eo@ntshelter.org.au
Our next Quarterly Newsletter E-mag is due out during first week of April 2015. Please contact Toni
at eo@ntshelter.org.au to submit an article - deadline is Monday 13 April 2015.
NT SHELTER NEWS AND EVENTS
ACCOMMODATION ACTION GROUP (AAG) MEETINGS
Katherine AAG Next meeting: 10am - 1pm, Tuesday 7 April, at DCF Training Room, 2/3 First Street,
Katherine. For more information contact Morgan at hpo@ntshelter.org.au
Darwin Region AAG Planning Session Next meeting: 1pm – 3pm, Wednesday 1 April, at The
Salvation Army Meeting Room, Darwin Corps & Community Centre, Cnr Lee Point Road & Yanyula
Drive, Anula. For more information contact Morgan at hpo@ntshelter.org.au
Alice Springs AAG Next meeting: 12:30pm - 2:30pm, Wednesday 8 April, at Andy McNeill Room,
Alice Springs Town Council. For more information contact David at ca@ntshelter.org.au
Barkly Region Accommodation Group Next meeting: 10am – 12pm, Wednesday 27 May, at
Government Building Conference Room (1st floor, above Territory Housing), Peko Rd, Tennant
Creek. For more information contact David at ca@ntshelter.org.au
CEOS CALL FOR CERTAINTY ON NHAP
In an unprecedented move, CEOs of 60 homelessness agencies and social welfare bodies united to
warn the Federal Government that thousands of vulnerable people could be thrown into homelessness
if national homelessness funding is allowed to expire. A jointly signed open letter to Federal Minister for
Social Services, Scott Morrison from the CEOs of 60 services including Homelessness Australia,
National Shelter, NT Shelter, The Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul Society, Mission Australia,
ACOSS and YWCA of Darwin appealed to the Federal Government to end the uncertainty surrounding
the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH), which expires on 30 June 2015. The
letter can be viewed here.
As a result, of this open letter, more than ten members of Parliament have requested meetings with
Homelessness Australia. Additionally, Homelessness Australia is systematically contacting every
backbencher to outline homelessness in their electorate and the importance of ongoing funding for the
sector. They are also contacting all members of the Economic Review Committee who will be making
budget decisions.
AHI WORKSHOPS IN DARWIN
NT Shelter is assisting AHI to gain the numbers required to run the following workshop in Darwin in
2015. See the links below for detailed info on the workshops:
These workshops are aimed at professionals whose work involves direct contact with clients.
Traditionally AHI workshops are designed for people working in housing related areas, but
professionals from other sectors such as homelessness, social workers and client service staff of other
organisations will benefit from attending our workshops.
Working with Complex and Demanding Clients. Housing, community and health personnel work with
clients who may experience serious mental health problems, substance abuse dependency,
relationship conflict, family dysfunction and/or disordered personality. This one-day workshop aims to
assist people in delivering quality client services to those whose situations are complex and whose
behaviour is, at times, demanding and challenging.
Working with clients who have drug and/or alcohol dependency. At times, housing and support staff
work with clients who are experiencing substance abuse dependency. During this one-day
workshop participants will explore the issues of working more effectively with clients who are
experiencing substance abuse dependency. The aim is to share and then try out different approaches
and ideas that may be of help.
The workshops will be held April-June 2015 and are full day - 9am-4:30pm and include all catering and
workbooks.
Workshops fees are: AHI Member $320, Non-Member:$425. Book 5 or more places and receive a 20%
discount.
Please inform Morgan at NT Shelter on hpo@ntshelter.org.au or 08 8981 5003 if you are planning to
send staff to these workshops. Once we can confirm a minimum of 15 attendees to each workshop AHI
will arrange to deliver the training in Darwin and provide us with a date before July 2015.
NT SOCIAL HOUSING AND SUPPORTED ACCOMMODATION STOCK MAPPING PROJECT
NT Shelter is mapping social housing stock in the NT to assist to build a housing and homelessness
evidence base and increase our shared understanding of stock throughout the NT. The project will
develop a database of NT social housing stock information and be able to produce various maps to
highlight stock use as well as service gaps. Currently NT Shelter is surveying agencies in Greater
Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs. The first pictorial maps are expected to be
released in April. For more information contact either David ca@ntshelter.org..au or Morgan
hpo@ntshelter.org.au.
NT Shelter manages the online services directory ShelterMe, which provides information to those
seeking accommodation and support services. Please ensure that your homelessness relevant
services are listed within the directory and that they are up-to-date. For more information visit the
website at www.shelterme.org.au
EVENTS
INCIDENTAL COUNSELLING FOR TRAUMA SURVIVORS IN DARWIN
This half-day introductory workshop is designed for ‘frontline’ workers who do not normally interact with
clients in a therapeutic manner. Sometimes situations arise almost by accident. For example,
challenging issues can emerge in the course of normal duties, unexpected information can be
disclosed or a staff member can receive a request for help. That is, staff and/or volunteers who are not
employed as counsellors but who may interact with people from traumatic backgrounds in the course of
their duties. This course will provide some of the basic skills necessary to respond to difficult and
distressing situations.
When: 18th March 2015, 9am -12:15 (registration from 8:45am)
Where: Melaleuca Refugee Centre, Darwin
See our website for more information or to register http://melaleuca.org.au
WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOUR DARWIN
WORKSHOP
SAFE in Oz are presenting ‘An Introduction To Working With Individuals Who Have SelfDestructive Behaviour’ a 2 day workshop in partnership with Carers NT in Darwin – 20th & 21st July
2015.
SAFE in Oz aim to give workshop participants an insight into the headspace of a person who
participates in self-destructive behaviour/s in order to better understand their ‘real’ world and life
experiences.
Day 1 – What is it all about? What is self-destructive behaviour? How do we know it is a selfdestructive behaviour? Why do individuals do it? How does it start? What are the triggers for selfdestructive behaviour and why does it continue to happen?
Day 2 – Our response to Self-Destructive behaviour/s Meeting the needs of someone who with selfdestructive behaviour/s. Hospitalisation and associated problems. Treatment environments and points
of intervention. Boundaries, support plans and essentials for behavioural change. Meeting the needs
and supporting the worker. There are limited places for the workshops. For more information follow this
Link to Darwin Training Workshop Flyer ...
NATIONAL HOUSING CONFERENCE 2015 in Perth on 28 – 30 October 2015
The 2015 National Housing Conference is convened by the Australian Housing and Urban Research
Institute (AHURI) in partnership with the WA Department of Housing. The Biennial National Housing
Conference is convened by AHURI and is the single largest cross-sectorial event in Australasia for the
social and affordable housing sectors. It aims to provide a platform for sharing, debating, celebrating
and promoting ideas in affordable housing research, policy and practice and is a must attend event for
anyone interested in innovative solutions and partnerships to guide Australia's future approach to
affordable housing delivery.
For more info visit: http://www.nhc.edu.au
COMMUNITY SECTOR WORKFORCE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT CALENDAR
Don’t miss training opportunities - go to the Community Sector Workforce Training and Development
Calendar On-line Community Sector Training and Professional Development Calendar. Find training
delivered in the NT/Post your own training/professional development events on the website.
http://www.ntcoss.org.au/workforce-training-and-development-calendar
NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES
SENATE INQUIRY INTO DSS FUNDING PROCESS
In response to the announcements regarding cuts to funding rounds on 23 December, including the
defunding of national peak bodies, the Senate has referred for inquiry and report, the impact on service
quality, efficiency and sustainability of recent Commonwealth community service tendering processes
by the Department of Social Services (DSS). The terms of reference are extensive. The inquiry will
look specifically at the DSS tendering process, with attention to consultation, the impact of short
timelines for submitting proposals on service collaboration, clarity of tender information, and the extent
that innovative design and delivery was reflected in successful tenders.
A due date for submissions has not been set but the reporting date is 26 March 2015.
Read more about the Inquiry in this article in ProBono News.
Please advise Catherine with Homelessness Australia if you applied for funding under the DSS
Housing and Homelessness grant round via media@homelessnessautralia.org.au. Currently this is the
only way Homelessness Australia can access information on the valuable sector capacity building
projects that have been forgone.
REGISTER YOUR YOUTH HOMELESSNESS MATTERS DAY EVENT!
Youth Homelessness Matters Day (YHMD) is an annual nation-wide campaign aimed at bringing the
issue of youth homelessness to the public arena while also providing a mechanism that allows the
general public to get involved. In 2015, the campaign will culminate in a national awareness day for
youth homelessness in the middle of National Youth Week on 15 April, 2015.
3 things to remember about #YHMD2015
1. A national campaign to raise awareness and support for young people
who experience or are at risk of homelessness;
2. A call to everyone, especially those who believe in the power of community, to take action in
publicly stating that youth homelessness matters and should be prevented;
3. On 15 April 2015, this campaign will culminate in Youth Homelessness Matters Day 2015.
Get Involved! By registering your YHMD Event online.
 Already a Yfoundations member? Submit your YHMD 2015 Event
 Not a Yfoundations member? Register your YHMD event
Access our toolkits and resources
If you have any difficulties registering your event please contact Jessie Halligan on 02 8306 7900 or
jessie@yfoundations.org.au.
DCLS: TENANTS ADVICE SERVICE
Darwin Community Legal Service (DCLS) offers a Tenants Advice Service that
assists anyone who pays rent to live in a home in the NT. This includes private
residential tenants, boarders and lodgers, caravan park residents, supported
accommodation tenants and people who reside in Territory Housing. The
Tenants Advice Service is a territory wide service.
DCLS has recently published a suite of plain language legal factsheets on
tenancy issues. The factsheets cover topics such as repairs and maintenance,
termination of tenancy, Department of Housing, utilities and condition reports,
and are available for viewing and download on the DCLS website –
www.dcls.org.au/fact-sheets.html.
The factsheets are a guide to the law only, and individuals with a legal issue are encouraged to seek
legal advice from a solicitor. For further information on your rights and responsibilities as a tenant,
please contact DCLS on (08) 8982 1111 or 1800 812 953.
CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE MARCH & APRIL EDITIONS OF PARITY MAGAZINE
Parity magazine is produced by the Council to Homeless Persons (CHP).
The upcoming April 2015 ‘Responding to Young People at Risk of Homelessness’ edition of Parity,
the national publication of the Council to Homeless Persons is now open for contributions.
The March 2015 ‘Responding to Regional and Rural Homelessness’ edition of Parity is also open
for contributions. Homelessness in Australia is sometimes mistakenly understood as an essentially
“urban” or “city” problem. Given that the vast majority of Australia’s population is concentrated in its
capital cities and their growing metropolitan centres, this view could perhaps be forgiven. To counter or
perhaps balance this erroneous perception, the March edition of Parity will be devoted to the many
large and small regional cities and towns and their rural hinterlands that also experience significant
levels of homelessness. This edition will also be devoted to the examination and discussion of the
response to regional and rural homelessness with the view to identifying what is distinctive, if not
necessarily unique, about this response to homelessness.
Deadline for each of these issues: Contributions need to be submitted by Friday March 13th 2015.
If you are interested in submitting a contribution for publication in the Parity magazine and would like
more information, please direct all enquiries and correspondence to the Parity Editor,
parity@chp.org.au or phone (03) 8415 6200. For more information access the Parity contributions
information flyer at this link: Parity Magazine.
AHI HOUSING AWARDS - NOMINATION CLOSING DATE EXTENSION
Following numerous requests from our colleagues, we have
extended the closing date for the AHI Professional Excellence in
Housing Awards nominations for two weeks. Nominations now
close on Friday, 13th March 2015. Don't miss this exceptional
opportunity to highlight the efforts and dedication of your team
among the best Australian and New Zealand social housing
providers and projects.
The dates for the NT/QLD Receptions are: Brisbane, 21st April6:30pm-8:30pm.
Finalists from each jurisdiction will automatically be entered in the Australasian Awards. The National
Award Winners will then be announced during the National Housing Conference 2015 in Perth on the
28th October 2015 at 7:30 pm.
The full details, rules and the nomination form are available in the Awards Brochure.
Download Nomination Form.
LATEST RESEARCH
Final Report: No. 237 Strategies of Australia’s leading not-for-profit housing providers: a national study
and international comparison Not-for-profit housing organisation's in Australia have grown and become
‘hybrid’ organisations that blend public, community and market goals. Many now seek to crosssubsidise housing for their low-income client base by providing market-priced housing. However,
continued government support is necessary to sustain the sector's development.
Positioning Paper: No. 162 The role of private rental support programs in housing outcomes for
vulnerable Australians This Positioning Paper is the first output from a study that will shed light on the
present role of brokerage programs and their role in the private rental housing market.
AIHW SPECIALIST HOMELESSNESS SERVICES 2013-14 REPORT RELEASED
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has released a new report: Specialist
homelessness services 2013-14. This is the third annual report of the Specialist Homelessness
Services Collection. Over the past three years, agencies have supported more than half a million
Australians who were homeless or at risk of homelessness. In 2013-14, specialist homelessness
services assisted around 254,000 clients, a 4% increase from the previous year. The report describes
the clients that have received specialist homelessness support, the assistance they sought and were
provided, and the outcomes achieved for those clients. For the first time, data about clients with a
disability are included in the report. AIHW catalogue number (HOU 276).
Available to order at the AIHW website for $14.00 - http://www.aihw.gov.au.
View the media release and download the full report for free online.
REPORT ON GOVERNMENT SERVICES 2015 – VOLUME G: HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
Productivity Commission
The Commonwealth Productivity Commission produces this report with the assistance of state and
territory governments. Volume G contains chapter 17 on housing and chapter 18 on homelessness
service provision. Volume G reports in detail on spending and service provision coming out of the
National Affordable Housing Agreement, the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness and
the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing.
Read Volume G: Housing and homelessness here.
HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING STRESS AMONG POLICE DETAINEES
Australian Institute of Criminology
This study found that approximately 23% of people detained by police were experiencing
homelessness or accommodation stress within the 30 days before their arrest. The authors find there is
a range of risk factors and triggers that led to that situation or experience of homelessness or housing
stress amongst this group of people. These included family or relationship problems, financial
problems, eviction, and drug problems. The authors suggest that this diversity of reasons means that
there cannot be a single policy approach used to prevent the homelessness or the associated
interaction with police. Instead, they suggest that responses need to be individualised to each detainee
and their needs. Finally, addressing crime and re-offending needs a planned response that involves
consideration of substance use and housing stress. The study utilises data from the Drug Use
Monitoring in Australia (DUMA) program.
Read the full study here.
THE COST OF YOUTH HOMELESSNESS IN AUSTRALIA STUDY
Swinburne University of Technology
This study is the first of its kind at the national level in Australia. It outlines the personal and societal
costs of young people who experience homelessness or are at very high risk of experiencing
homelessness. Amongst other factors, the study is exploring the impacts of sleeping rough in early life;
being placed in out of home care; mental health; and family violence. The report calls for investment in
early intervention and prevention programs to address homelessness amongst young people.
Academics from Swinburne University, University of Western Australia and Charles Sturt University
collaborated with The Salvation Army, Mission Australia and Anglicare (NSW South, NSW West and
ACT) in conducting this study and publishing this report.
Read the full report here.
IN THE MEDIA
McClure welfare review offers second chance for reform, The Australian. 26 February
Welfare review by Patrick McClure lays out plan for simplified payments, tightening eligibility for
disability support, ABC News. 25 February
McClure welfare report receives mixed reviews, ABC PM. 25 February
NFPs React to McClure Welfare Review, ProBono News. 25 February
Welfare reform must be backed by job creation, ABC The Drum. 25 February
Coalition proposal to make under-30s wait six months for dole 'remains on the table', The Guardian. 25
February
Business must show the lead on intergenerational employment, The Conversation. 25 February
Alcohol’s link to domestic violence is in focus – now what? The Conversation. 24 February
Punishment dished out to unemployed is on par with our treatment of refugees, The Guardian. 24
February
Ignorance is holding us back: Rosie Batty on sentencing for domestic violence offenders, SMH. 22
February
Youth unemployment hits a new high as people locked out of workforce, SMH. 21 February
Unemployment rate of 6.4% means it's time to spend money to create jobs, The Guardian. 20 February
Work for the dole needs to be in the private sector: ACCI, SMH. 20 February
Two women are now killed by domestic violence every week. The time for discussion is over. It's time
to act, Women's Agenda. 19 February
Barnett eviction notice targets homeless crusader, The Australian. 18 February
Housing agency Haven Home Safe worried about homeless children rates in central Victoria, ABC
News. 18 February
Our shame: family violence deaths double, Herald Sun. 18 February
Shelters for domestic violence victims are in crisis, Daily Life. 18 February
Sector To Respond to Senate Funding Inquiry, ProBono News. 17 February
Not fair: welfare for the rich, The Australian. 17 February
Homeless study suggests interventions for school-aged young people who cannot go home, ABC
News. 17 February
Costs of Youth Homelessness Revealed - Report, ProBono News. 17 February
The cost of youth homelessness, ABC AM. 17 February
What it's like to be 16 and homeless, ABC Radio. 17 February
Panel: social services cuts, ABC Radio National. 17 February
It is time for urgent action on domestic violence, The Age. 16 February
Here's a real plan to stop intergenerational theft, ABC News. 16 February
Violence in family home triggers youth homelessness, The Age. 16 February
Paid leave for workers experiencing domestic violence, ABC Radio National. 16 February
War in PM Tony Abbott’s cabinet over six month wait for the dole, Daily Telegraph. 15 February
Hungry students queue with the homeless, The Age. 15 February
New Social Services Minister Scott Morrison shows his colours, SMH. 15 February
Scott Morrison plans series of ‘carrots and sticks’ welfare tweaks, The Australian. 14 February
Nigel Scullion flags income control for indigenous welfare, The Australian. 14 February
Closing the Gap campaign results poor, SMH. 14 February
It will take more than money and fine words to close the gap, The Australian. 13 February
New phone app helps women recognise signs of domestic violence, ABC News. 13 February
Australia: Homeless people speak on worsening social crisis, World Socialist Web Site. 12 February
Affordable housing defunding receives flak in senate inquiry, YourMortgage. 12 February
ON THE NT SHELTER WEBSITE www.ntshelter.org.au
Control/Click on these icons: - to take you there:
What's new on the website?
Go to housing news, new posts and articles, as well as events and
dates for regional housing meetings.
If you are looking for housing or other support services? Go to
a directory of services for homeless Territorians.
Want housing and homelessness data?
Go to our updated NT Housing Fact Sheets
NT Shelter is a member of National Shelter – Australia’s peak
housing advocacy organisation dedicated to advocating for a fairer,
more just housing system, particularly for low-income Australian
households. Go directly to the National Shelter website
http://www.shelter.org.au/index.htm
NT Shelter is supported by the NT Government through the Department of Housing