Subject: INFORM 17
February, 2012, Homelessness Australia
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Weekly digest from the homelessness and allied
sectors in Australia and abroad 17 February, 2012 |
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CAMPAIGNS ACOSS: $35 a day is not enough! Lift paltry allowances and help people into paid work Could you live on $35 a day? That’s how much people unfortunate enough
to find themselves out of work have to depend on - to put a roof over their
heads, feed and clothe themselves, and get around as they try and find paid
work – just $243 per week. Join our Campaign to raise
unemployment allowances such as Newstart and demand better targeted jobs
assistance Twitter @ACOSS on hashtag #ImNoBludger. Australians for Affordable Housing Nearly one in ten Australian households are in housing stress. A
startling 460,000 households spend more than half of their income on housing
costs. It’s time to make some noise about housing affordability. Website. Facebook: www.facebook.com/housingstressed
Latest media: - Queensland’s Housing Stress: Top 5 housing stressed
regions revealed - 450,000 renters deserve better Activism 101: 16 Striking
Campaigns for the Cause to End Violence Against Women End Youth Homelessness With Virgin Unite, sign the Petition.
See the Partners.
Watch the Media.
Twitter: @EYHAustralia, Facebook. EVENTS 2012 ASU Training on Negotiating Domestic Violence
Clauses February Safe in Oz Addressing specialist mental health issues
through training workshops and consultancy services, website. Parental alienation, contact problems and the Family
Justice System Seminar, Melbourne, 20 February, website. Pathways through the maze National Hoarding and Squalor Conference,
Sydney, 21 - 22 February, website. Women and Homelessness in Ireland Dublin, 23 February, website. 2nd World Conference of Women’s Shelters Scholarship applications are now open.
Washington DC, 27 February - 1 March, website. CSW 56 NGOs that are accredited to and in good
standing with the United Nations Economic and Social
Council, may designate representatives to attend the annual
sessions of the Commission on the Status of Women. New York, 27 February
to 9 March, website. March Identifying the Hidden Disaster: The First Australian
Conference on Natural Disasters and Family Violence Melbourne, 9 March, website. Concentrations of social disadvantage in Australia's
cities: key questions and hypotheses Canberra, 14 March, website. Housing and social wellbeing: new AHURI research 15 March, Melbourne, website. Seeking asylum in Australia - mental health and human
rights of children and families Seminar, Melbourne, 15 March, website. Housing First Partners' Conference 2012 New Orleans, 21 - 23 March, website. ACOSS Media Forum Sydney, 28 March, website. New approaches to Indigenous housing This AHURI Housing
Research Seminar will present the
findings from two new AHURI research projects. ACOSS National Conference The ACOSS Annual Conference is a premier
national event for policy-makers, researchers and those engaged in social
services or advocacy in Sydney, 29 - 30 March, website. April The Big Issue Street Football Festival The festival with corporate, government,
junior events & National Championships of The Big Issue’s Community
Street Soccer Program. Cockle Bay, Sydney, April 11-22, website. The inaugural Third Sector Expo Free-to-attend two day professional
development conference and exhibition, Melbourne, 16 - 17 April, website. Homelessness Research Conference From AHURI and RMIT University, Melbourne,
19 - 20 April, website. May The Connecting Up Conference Sydney, 1 - 3 May, website. The Australian Regional Women Leaders Convention 2012 A national event for regional and rural
women, Sydney, 3 - 4 May, website. CLCNSW State Conference 2012 Sydney, 8 - 10 May, website. ACTU Congress Sydney, 15 – 17 May, website. National Rural and Regional Law and Justice
Conference Coffs Harbour, 18 - 20 May, website. Specialist Homelessness Services Conference Leading the Road Home, Perth, 28 - 29 May, website. June Shelter
NSW Conference: Explorations in nonprofit housing: models
vicissitudes resurgence Sydney, 14 June, website. Australian Suicide Prevention Conference Cairns, 13 - 15 June, website. International Women's Conference: Cairns, 14 - June, website. July Australasian Conference of Child Trauma Gold Coast, 4 - 6 July, website. Missing People: Issues and Implications Conference Brisbane, 5 - 6 July, website. 12th Australian Institute of Family
Studies Conference Melbourne, 25 – 27 July, website. 3rd National Affordable Housing Exchange Australia Technology Park, Sydney, 26 - 27 July, website. August 8th World Congress on Active Ageing Abstract deadline is 31 Jan. Glasgow,
Scotland, 13 - 17 August, website. September 7th National Homelessness Conference: “Making It Home” the real issues in homelessness Homelessness Australia’s 7th conference, Melbourne
Convention and Exhibition Centre, 5 - 7 September 2012, website. October The 21st Century Approach to Mental Health Perth, 17 - 19 October, website. November The National Housing Conference Brisbane, 30 October – 2 November 2012, website. 3rd International Conference on Survivors of Rape Galway, West Ireland, 9 - 10 November, website. No To Violence (NTV) Conference Melbourne, 14 - 16 November, website. WEEKS & DAYS 2012 Sector related awareness days and weeks see webpage. Youth week is 13 - 22 April Youth Homelessness Matters Day (YHMD)
day is 18 April Monday 6 August – Sunday 12 August POSITIONS VACANT Housing & Homelessness
Services jobs in Australia Part-time GPs required (ongoing) Mobile GP is a non-government agency providing health services to the
homeless and marginalised. For further information, please call Stephanie
Dunstan on 0457 925 357 or email steph.dunstan@mobilegp.org.au SURVEY Risk Factors in Homelessness Programs and
Interventions NSW LGBTIQ relationships survey
2012 The S.W.A.S.H (Sydney Women and Sexual Health) Survey
2012 Between Sunday 12 - Sunday 26
February 2012, website. Help shape the Victorian
Whole-of-Government Alcohol and Drug Strategy forum and survey. This survey is seeking information
about the circumstances of low-income households as they pay rising electricity and gas
bills, the amounts of income needed to pay energy bills, and the
relationship between energy use and housing conditions GRANTS/SCHOLARSHIPS Australian Scholarships Foundation Queensland Alliance for Mental
Health Resilient Places Project:
Micro-grants, round 1. THANKS to... The journalists and media who write and report on the
homelessness, housing and support sector. The National Tenant Support Network (National TSN) is an independent, unincorporated not-for-profit
initiative delivering a range of services to social and affordable rental
housing stakeholders throughout Australia and New Zealand. Email to
subscribe: TSN@thenexus.org.au -Australian Domestic
and Family Violence Clearinghouse -Australian Institute of Family Studies
-Twitter and Facebook just
for existing! |
NATIONAL NEWS Helping the most vulnerable avoid a jobs abyss Reform of Australia's training system is
vital as young Australians again bear the brunt of an uncertain labour
market. The Brisbane Times,17 February. Aged-care costs set to soar The government is facing a $1.9 billion
blowout in its aged-care budget as the amount it is paying to cover daily
living help for the elderly and their healthcare climbed in an unexpected
way. The Australia, 16 February. A third of asylum seekers to live outside detention A third of asylum seekers arriving by boat
will be living in the community on bridging visas next year under a policy
shift, the Immigration Department has revealed to a Senate hearing. SMH,14 February. Families 'doing it tough' drown out pleas of real
battlers You'd need to be blindfolded, have a crayon
jammed in each ear, and be stranded down a remote canyon to be unaware of the
pressures on Australian families these days. The Drum,14 February. Disability plan stalls over cost demands Progress towards a no-fault national
disability insurance scheme has stalled amid a standoff between the Gillard
government and two state Coalition governments over whether start-up funding
will be allocated in the May federal budget. The Australian,13 February. Casual workers facing rent battle Casual workers and freelancers are even more
likely to struggle with their rents than the unemployed. SMH,13 February. Backlash against big four Fed up with rising interest rates, a growing
number of home owners are escaping the stranglehold of the big four banks by
signing mortgages with smaller financial institutions. The Age, 12 February. There's no such thing as a good divorce: the kids
always suffer Even a ''good'' divorce may not protect
children from the fall-out of a marriage breakdown. SMH, 11 February. Retirement is a work in progress Don't use the ''R'' word around baby
boomers. ''Retirement'' has become a dirty word. It is not a term the '60s
generation, now in their 60s, embraces, not as their fathers did. The Age,11 February. Girls at greater risk of suicide since intervention The rate of suicide among Aboriginal girls
is believed to have greatly increased since the Northern Territory emergency
intervention was introduced five years ago to combat systemic child abuse and
neglect. SMH,11 February. Govt to take tougher tack on alcohol abuse ABC The World Today,10 February. Minister for Housing and Homelessness The Honourable Robert McClelland
MP, media releases. Minister for Families, Community Services and
Indigenous Affairs and the Minister for Disability Reform The Honourable Jenny Macklin MP,
media releases. Minister for Community Services, Minister for
Indigenous Employment and Economic Development and Minister for the Status of
Women The Hon Julie Collins MP, media
releases. Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers Senator the Hon Jan McLucas, media
releases. ACT Grass is greener for house prices The Canberra Times, 15 February. NSW Not enough new homes Parkes Mayor Ken Keith is concerned at the
low number of homes being built in Parkes – despite millions of dollars in
overall development. Champion Post,15 February. Drunk, drugged children rounded up in Sydney A 14-year-old boy found drunk and drug-affected at Sydney's central
station was one of 13 children detained by police in the inner city
overnight. SMH,12 February. Care Connect (Ongoing) Service to help At Risk of Homelessness in Inner West Sydney. Care Connect’s Community
Options Program (Housing Support) provides short-term to medium-term support
services to people who are at risk of being homeless or being marginally
housed. The Program has vacancies now. Please contact Lisa Clarke, Intake
Case Manager on (02) 9830 8903 or lallen@careconnect.org.au.
NT NT intervention hearings hit the road Aboriginal community groups are expected to
voice their opposition to the federal government's planned second phase of
the Northern Territory intervention, during parliamentary hearings next week.
SMH, 16 February. Qld Town being torn apart by suicide 'epidemic' The remote Indigenous community of Doomadgee
in north-west Queensland is in crisis after a spate of suicides. ABC News,17 February.
AM Extras. Rent stress soars A tight housing market combined with low
income has hit Bundaberg tenants hard, with about 44% in the region
experiencing rental stress. News Mail, 16 February. Coast in top 5 for home stress The Sunshine Coast is one of the five top
housing stressed council in Queensland, according to new figures released
this week. Sunshine Coast Daily,15 February. SA Advocates warn of water torture The South Australian Council of Social
Service has warned of a repeat of the increased disconnections caused by the
privatisation of ETSA when SA Water has to compete with companies and
councils. The Advertiser, 17 February. Welfare agencies say cuts are hurting Welfare agencies say they are struggling to
cope because of South Australian Government spending cuts. ABC News,15 February. Tas Tassie tops jobless rate Tasmania’s economic outlook has taken a
fresh blow, with new figures revealing the state's jobless rate is the worst
in the nation. The Mercury, 17 February. Vic Rents price out Wyndham battlers Low-income earners in Wyndham are struggling
to pay rent in the private market, new figures reveal. Wyndham Weekly, 15 February. Struggling family forced to live in tent A brief camping trip might bring a lot of
enjoyment for most children, but sleeping rough in a tent has become the only
option for one homeless family of five. 7News,14 February. Eight-year housing wait for family in tent A Melbourne family of five has been living
in a tent for four months because of a lack of low-cost housing. G-G applauds Melbourne home for teen mums Homeless teenage mothers often escaping
abusive home situations are being helped by an innovative program in
Melbourne.9 News,14 February. HAVE YOUR SAY: Public housing reform fight Melbourne Leader, 14 February. Brunswick rents up as portion of wage Well-off renters are benefiting from
increased rental vacancy rates in the inner city, but the poor are still
feeling the squeeze, Tenants Union of Victoria spokesman Toby Archer has
said. Melbourne Weekly, 14 February. Children suffer the most as dental waiting list pain
starts to bite More than half our six-year-old children are
losing their baby teeth to decay. Herald Sun, 13 February. Life on the great dividing range While vacancy rates have improved at the top
of the market, that doesn't help those at the bottom. Domain, 11 February. La dole cheque vita is not so sweet on $16 a day Your task is simple. Here is $115.50. It
must last one week. You have no savings, no assets, but thankfully you’ve
already paid your rent. That’s about $16 a day to cover food, bills,
transport, entertainment and hygiene products. The Punch, 10 February. WA Low income struggling to rent in tight market The state's peak community housing body says
more needs to be done to address the lack of affordable rental properties in
Western Australia. ABC News,15 February. INTERNATIONAL NEWS Canada CMHC predicts stable Canadian housing market Canada's housing market will remain stable
for at least two more years, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. predicted
Monday, with the expected slow growth in the economy keeping house prices in
check. CTV, 13 February. Working Poverty Increases in Toronto Region New Metcalf Foundation Report: Full-time job
earnings often not enough to escape poverty. Metcalf Foundation, 11 February. Canada #Homeless & Poverty
News Poland UchodŸcy w Polsce bez dachu nad
g³ow¹ UK Nurse advice cuts binge drinking in Cardiff
University project Nurses will be trained to help patients with
alcohol problems across Wales after a pilot project led to about a quarter of
people cutting drinking. BBC News, 11 February. USA Ali Forney Center (NYC) Post
Regarding Homeless LGBTQ Youth Homeless Advocates Divided Over Bill Aimed At Helping
Kids Homeless kids have the right to an education.
That's the basic rationale behind the McKinney-Vento Act of 1987, a law meant
to ensure that homeless kids receive the same quality of schooling as
everyone else. Huff Post, 12 February. Deadly
Rooming House Fire |
RESOURCES International Housing Affordability Survey 5671.0 Lending Finance, Australia,
Dec 2011 5609.0 - Housing Finance,
Australia, Dec 2011 4430.0 - Disability, Ageing and
Carers, Australia: Summary of Findings, 2009 8731.0 Building Approvals,
Australia, December 2011 (Additional Information) Investments in energy efficiency
will benefit low income households and social services Policy priorities for 2012: jobs
and services, ABC, The Drum Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario Quicker action needed to Close the
Gap Stronger futures requires stronger
consultation National Apology anniversary
reminds us of how far we’ve come The role of ‘assertive outreach’ in addressing
primary homelessness Life around here: Community, work
and family life in three Australian communities Results of the Clearinghouse Consolidation
Survey Protecting children: Evolving
systems Comorbidity of mental disorders
and physical conditions 2007 Juvenile detention population in
Australia 2011 Tell us what you think about
Australia's welfare 2011—complete our two-minute survey! Family Violence and Commonwealth
Laws Report Position Paper on Homelessness of
Asylum Seekers Living in the Community Destitute and Uncertain: the
reality of seeking asylum in Australia Australian Homelessness
Clearinghouse BBC News Magazine Why do some people never get
depressed? Centre for Multicultural Youth CMY’s Sector Development and
Policy team has produced a series of five Good Practice Guides Record Homelessness in the
Spotlight, But With Little Focus on the Root Cause Department for Child Protection (WA) Opening Doors to address
homelessness, Western Australian State Plan A guide to Australian Government
payments Education Tax Refund The Education Tax Refund provides up to 50% back on
a range of children's education expenses Facebook sites Homeless No More
(Aus) Homeless Directions
(Aus) Another European Parliament Call
for an EU Homelessness Strategy: When Will EU Action Come? Introduction to cloud computing A New Ten Year Plan for Mental
Health PDF printable version of A New Ten Year Plan for Mental Health (PDF
17 KB) The Australian Government is seeking public opinion on the draft Ten Year Roadmap for National Mental Health Reform (PDF
2156 KB) (the Roadmap) via an online survey Home Instead (USA) 10 Warning Signs That Seniors Need
Help Flick’s Housing & Homelessness
Blog Psychosis in Indigenous
populations of Cape York and the Torres Strait Mental health of Indigenous
Australians: a review of findings from community surveys Targeted primary care-based mental
health services for young Australians National Alliance to End Homelessness
(USA) The State of Homelessness in
America 2012 The Emergency Solutions Grant,
Recommendations From The Alliance National Coalition for the Homeless (USA) Hate Crimes against the Homeless National Housing Supply Council The National Housing Supply Council's 3rd State of Supply Report was
released in December 2011
Equity and Quality in Education -
Supporting Disadvantaged Students and Schools Create Your Better Life Index, an
interactive website Divided We Stand: Why Inequality
Keeps Rising Homelessness requires focus and
commitment Parliament of Australia Inquiry into the prevention and treatment
of problem gambling Relationships key to creating
sustainable opportunities The Big Issue The
Centre for Independent Studies The Homeless Hub (Can) Homelessness curriculum for teachers and students The Treasury (Aus) Consultation Paper - A Definition
of Charity The eight Millennium Development Goals Progress of the World’s Women,
factsheet Urban Institute (USA) Vulnerability, Risk, and the
Transition to Adulthood University of Calgary (Can) Housing Subsidies and
Homelessness: a simple idea USICH (USA) Sharing the evidence: Preventing
violence against women Victorian Homelessness Action Plan
2011-2015 AUDIO Breakfast -Violence towards women, 13
February. Health Report Exercise may prevent depression,
13 February -Hoarding Talkback, 17 February -Going soft on crime or a long
overdue fix?, 15 February -Men and Retirement,15 February Media Report Claire Wardle on Social Media, 10
February. BLOG The BarrierFreeLiving Daily Blog VIDEO/FILM Inception of the London
Pathway Good
Samaritan Shelter Night Of Awareness Promo Just our Plan
to Help the Homeless in Orlando, St Cloud, Kissimmee and other major cities. WEBSITES
etc @FAREAustralia http://www.londonpathway.org.uk/ . |
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