To:                                               Inform eweekly news from Homelessness Australia

Subject:                                     INFORM Friday 1 July 2011.

 

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Aileen Solowiej

Communications, Media and Membership
HOMELESSNESS AUSTRALIA

 

 

 

HOMELESSNESS

AUSTRALIA

Creating a framework for ending homelessness

 

 

01 July 2011

INFORM                                     

Weekly e-bulletin of advocacy, research and policy in homelessness.

Homelessness Australia - the peak national body for the homelessness support sector.


NEWS  of the WEEK                                                        WEB     E    TW     FB    LINK

 

AWARDS

Nominations for the 2011 Human Rights Award categories are open now.

 

BOOK

Beside One’s Self: Homelessness Felt and Lived

A powerful journey through the experiences of homelessness that sets a new scholarly standard for its synthesis of insight and empathy.  The book documents and defines new ways of understanding homelessness that are sensitive to the many ways it is embodied. 

 

USA Homelessness Advocacy Manual

 

CAMPAIGN

 

You Me Unity

You Me Unity is the national conversation about updating our constitution to reflect a modern Australia by recognising our first peoples & culture for the benefit of all Australians. Website.

 

Problem Gambling (AUS)

 

MindOUT - the first national LGBTI mental health and suicide prevention project in Australia! Website for promotional tools.

 

End Youth Homelessness

Virgin Unite also has a national petition running on their website http://endyouthhomelessness.com.au/ and we are encouraging as many people as possible to join.

 

GRANTS

NSW Grantseeker Manual

 

GREAT IDEAS

Many people experiencing homelessness keep their resumes and important documents on USB thumb drives. Something as simple as a flash drive can be a huge help.

http://thumbsupforhomelesspeople.com/

 

With one phone call I can call up to 9 people for help, and Triple Zero if needed.

http://www.redbutton.com.au/

 

LISTEN

Closing the equity gap in remote area education

The Co-operative Research Center (CRC) for Remote Economic Participation at the School of Education at Flinders University is working to identify how education can better suit the needs of those living in remote regions. Bush Telegraph, 29 June.

 

Dialogue with the Dalai Lama - Part 1 - happiness, sadness and everything in between

Is sadness important for happiness? How does compassion become a mental habit? From the Happiness and Its Causes Conference, His Holiness the Dalai Lama joins Natasha Mitchell with a panel of top scientific minds. All In The Mind, 25 June.

 

Ted Noffs and the Family of Humanity

Methodist minister, renegade theologian and accused heretic - Ted Noffs was also a pioneering humanitarian. His championing of the disadvantaged continues today, in the work of his no-less-extraordinary children and grandchildren. Encounter, 26 June.

 

Pay-day loans

It's easy to get fast cash if you are in a tight financial spot -- in fact a little too easy, argues the Consumer Action Law Centre. Life Matters, 29 June.

 

Mark Butler, minister for Mental Health and Ageing

Primary school aged children with mental health problems are the target of KidsMatter, a program being rolled out to schools by the federal government. Life Matters, 28 June.

 

Online all the time

Children and teenagers can cheerfully spend hours and hours on social networking sites or playing video games. But when does a passion for computers become an unhealthy addiction? Life Matters, 27 June.

 

Canine dementia (incl. video)

Dementia in old age isn't just a human problem. Canine cognitive dysfunction is an under-diagnosed condition that might help us gain a better understanding of Alzheimer's disease. The Health Report, 27 June.

 

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. Work in a fully accredited mobile practice, be supported by a nurse in a 1:1 ratio and also have the back-up of a mental health nurse. If you are interested in the homeless, chronic disease, Aboriginal medicine, mental health, youth health and patients with addiction, Mobile GP would love to have you on their team. For further information, please call Stephanie Dunstan on 0457 925 357 or email steph.dunstan@mobilegp.org.au

 

SOCIAL MEDIA

BLOGS

The Mayibuye Weekly (AUS)

We are a grass roots organisation that uses performing arts to connect with young people who are vulnerable to negative peer pressures and at risk behavior.

 

One man's account of facing homelessness from day one (USA)

 

YFoundations (Youth homelessness AUS)

 

The homelessness-advocate Daily (INT)

 

The Indigenous and Remote Daily (Aus)

 

An International Effort to End Homelessness

National Alliance to End Homelessness

 

FACEBOOK

Facebook advice part 5 from Hootville

 

INTERNET

Where Do I Start? Female Seniors and the Internet

Research by Council of the Ageing (WA) has found that very few senior women are going online due to a lack of skills, anxiety about technology, cybercrime fears and problems with service providers.  ACCAN for reports.

 

LINKED IN

Making LinkedIn Work for You

 

TWITTER

Is your media release Twitter ready?

 

Twitter in Plain English

From  http://commoncraft.com  a quick and plain English intro the micro-blogging service Twitter on You Tube.

 

SURVEY

Have your say: NSW Mental Health Commission

In the past few months, both the NSW and Federal Government have announced their intention to establish Mental Health Commissions. In NSW, Government has convened a Mental Health Taskforce to plan and establish a Mental Health Commission. More information.

 

Homeless War Veterans, for Council to Homeless Persons’ Australia, click here

 

Rural Young People Mental Health Helping Survey

 

Stronger policies and programs for women's health

 

Women and Housing Affordability Survey Swinburne University of Technology

 

VIDEO/FILM

Human Rights 2011 Forum highlights

 

Alzheimer’s Australia on Dementia

 

WEBSITES

22 Nonprofit Mobile Websites

 

Tune In Not Out

 

You me Unity

 

NATIONAL

Painting a clearer picture of homelessness in Australia

A new collection to assist in measuring homelessness in Australia has been launched today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Media release. More information. Sen the Hon Mark Arbib media release.

 

Australians must work harder: Treasury head

Treasury Secretary Martin Parkinson is warning Australians face declining living standards if they do not work harder. ABC News, 1 July.

 

Buck up and start saving, the good times are coming to an end, Treasury warns

Federal Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten has insisted Australians aren't lazy after Treasury secretary Martin Parkinson said the nation needed to improve its productivity. News, 1 July.

 

New Work Bonus

On 1 July 2011 a new, more generous Work Bonus for pensioners over Age Pension age was introduced, including a new Work Bonus income bank. More from FaHCSIA.

 

Department of Human Services

Today marks the integration of Centrelink, Medicare, the Child Support Agency and CRS Australia to form the Department of Human Services.

 

Labor holds to Rudd-era vow on homelessness

One of Kevin Rudd's first acts as prime minister, back in what now seems like Labor's brief glory days, was to focus attention on homeless people. The Australian, 25 june.

 

Senator the Hon Mark Arbib

Latest media releases

 

The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP

Latest media releases

 

The Hon Kate Ellis MP

Latest media releases

 

DEEWR media releases

 

ACT

ACT agency 'fails' city's vulnerable

Public housing officials almost let a single mother with three children go homeless because, while they knew she was desperate, she hadn't asked for the correct form. The Canberra Times, 27 June. Click here for ACT Ombudsman, report: Housing ACT Assessment of an Application for priority Housing.

 

NSW

Sydney council votes for 'invasion'

The City of Sydney Council has voted to continue referring to the European settlement of Australia as an "invasion". ABC News, 28 June.

 

Supported accommodation hits new high

State-of-the art supported accommodation for people with disabilities has opened in the Eurobodalla, on the New South Wales far south coast. ABC News, 27 June.

 

NT

Remote communities sign leases to join housing push

Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin says two central Australian communities will qualify for new housing after signing 40-year township leases. ABC News, 30 June.

 

Intervention meeting takes to outback roads

The first consultation meeting to help develop policies after the Federal Government intervention in the Northern Territory is being held in Tennant Creek this afternoon. ABC News, 28 June.

 

Kidney report prompts housing

The government has responded to a major study of kidney disease in outback Australia by promising to build houses rather than fund dialysis machines. The Age, 27 June.

 

Qld

Tired of living like prisoners

Abuse, intimidation and death threats have left tenants of a Coast public housing complex feeling like prisoners in their own homes. Sunshine Coast Daily, 27 June.

 

SA

South Australian families to be slugged by $1250 services bill from today

South Australian families struggling with the cost of living will be slugged with a new bill of almost $1250 from today. Adelaide Now, 1 July.

 

Tas

Longer wait for state houses

THE Queensland floods and Tasmania's planning red-tape are among several hitches behind the Government's failure to deliver 2400 affordable housing units by 2013. The Mercury, 1 July.

 

Govt misses target to cut homeless rate

The Tasmanian Opposition has criticised the Government for failing to meet a promise to halve the state's homeless population. ABC News, 1 July.

 

Vic

Australian lesbian housing first in Brunswick

AS an older lesbian, Thelma Tapp was becoming anxious about ageing. She had heard stories of discrimination and homophobia inside nursing homes. But thanks to a new social housing project in Brunswick it is likely she will not have to face it. Moreland Leader, 30 June.

 

More call on a helping hand

An increase in demand has seen a Moonee Ponds outreach program expand its operations to Airport West. Moonee Valley Leader, 28 June.

 

WA

Centre helps seniors' housing decisions

The State Government plans to set up a Seniors’ Housing Centre to provide free information to consumers making important decisions about the best housing options for their retirement. Perth Now, 1 July.

 

Kids forced to live on streets 'for little reason'

More than 20 children have had to abandon school and live on the streets because their families have been evicted from public housing. The West Australian, 28 June.

 

Potential mine workers warned of housing woes

Workers moving into mining communities are being urged to be wary after reports families are being forced to sleep in cars due to high accommodation costs. ABC News, 28 June.

 

INTERNATIONAL

NZ

A rough night ahead

Sleeping rough is not a new experience for artist Mika. The Mt Roskill resident has spent time under the stars in the past when accommodation and jobs didn't quite fall into place. Harbour News, 1 July.

 

Q+A: Political editor Guyon Espiner is with Housing Minister Phil Heatley.
Interview transcript, TV NZ, 26 June.

 

Homelessness in The Huffington Post

 

 

PUBLICATIONS & RESEARCH

ABS

4102.0 - Australian Social Trends, Jun 2011  

 

Social Media as a Tool for Inclusion

From the Homeless Hub in Canada the objectives of the study were to determine the extent, nature and benefits of social media use by five vulnerable populations – Aboriginal peoples, people with disabilities, recent immigrants, the homeless and seniors – and by the institutions that serve them, and to explore the extent to which such media help to overcome social isolation and barriers to inclusion in Canadian society. Report here.

 

AHURI

No. 140: Homelessness prevention for women and children who have experienced domestic and family violence: innovations in policy and practice

 

AIC

Children’s exposure to domestic violence in Australia

Children's 'witnessing' or exposure to domestic violence has been increasingly recognised as a form of child abuse, both in Australia and internationally. Click here for Paper.

 

AIFS

CAFCA Practice Sheet

Collecting data from parents and children for the purpose of evaluation: Issues for child and family services in disadvantaged communities. Practice Sheet.

 

ACSSA Working With series

Working with male victim/survivors of sexual assault (Living Well). Click here to read.

 

APO

Closing the gap in the Northern Territory July-December 2010: monitoring report

Closing the Gap in the Northern Territory - Part 1

Closing the Gap in the Northern Territory - Part 2

 

Department for Families and Communities, SA

Keeping the child in mind

Child protection practice and mental health. Click here for publication.

 

PC

Early Childhood Development Workforce

This draft report was released on 30 June 2011. You are invited to examine this draft and provide written comments to the Productivity Commission. Written comments should reach the Commission by 31 August 2011. More inofromation.

 

Spring magazine from FEANTSA

Homeless in Europe

 

Supported Accommodation Innovation Fund

From FaHCSIA, stakeholders are invited to comment on Supported Accommodation Innovation Fund exposure draft by 25 July.  The Supported Accommodation Innovation Fund has been established to build innovative, community-based supported accommodation places for people with disability. This fund is in addition to the Commonwealth’s existing investments in supported accommodation. $60 million has been committed over three years for this fund. Guidelines and Fact Sheet here.

 

Stronger Futures

Prime Minister Julia Gillard promised Aboriginal people will have more of a say in their future, after the intervention expires. She released a discussion paper which will form the basis of the coming community consultations with Aboriginal people.

Discussion paper.

 

TRAINING, SEMINARS, FORUMS

VCOSS Clearinghouse Rural & Regional Training - Coming to a town near you in 2011!

 

EVENTS

JULY

Memorial Service

Homelessness SA would like to invite you to their Annual Memorial Service to remember the people who have died while homeless in SA. Pilgrim Uniting Church at 12 Flinders Street, Adelaide, Wednesday 6 July @ 6.30 pm. Contact: Lyn Bell on 0404 053 442 or 0414 829 689                               

 

United Against Domestic Violence Engaging All Men in Prevention

Mt Gambier, 13 - 15 July, flyer web link.

 

Homeless Link Annual Conference

12 - 13 July, at The University of Warwick, UK. Conference website.

 

2011 National Conference on Ending Homelessness

Washington DC, 13 - 15 July, conference website.

 

AUGUST

HOMELESS PERSONS’ WEEK, 1 - 7 AUGUST, EVENTS

Diversity in Homelessness

Supporting ex-prisoners in the community Practitioner forum, 1 August. Australasian Housing Institute web link.

 

Homeless Hub to address increased homelessness on North Shore

Wednesday 3 August,  A Lower North Shore Homeless Hub event will be held on Wednesday 3 August at the Dougherty Community Centre, Chatswood in response to increasing evidence of homelessness in the area and figures showing close to 60 per cent of people needing help from government-funded homeless shelters are turned away each day due to a shortage of places  For further information on how you or your business can become involved, phone Willoughby City Council on 9777 1000. See article.

 

"walk a mile in my boots" is designed to build awareness of homelessness and Hutt Street Centre.  Go the extra mile by participating in "walk a mile in my boots" and supporting  Hutt Street Centre with their endeavour to ensure everyone is able to get help and a warm friendly place to visit. Event is on Friday 5 August. Website for details.

 

2011 NESA National Conference

Monday 8, August, Brisbane. Draft Program. Conference website.

 

SEPTEMBER

64th Annual United Nations DPI/NGO Conference: “Sustainable Societies; Responsive Citizens” in Bonn, Germany, 3 - 5 September, conference website.

 

NOVEMBER

Youth Health 2011: Its totally important!

Sydney, 9 - 11 November, Congress website.

 

End Youth Homelessness 2011

YFoundations conference, 22 - 24 November, Sydney, conference website

Welfare in a growing economy

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare is proud to launch their flagship report Australia's welfare 2011 at a national conference in Canberra on 24 November 2011. Conference website.

 

Generation Next 2011 events

 

WEEKS & DAYS
NAIDOC Week 3 – 10 July

The National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee origins can be traced to the emergence of Aboriginal groups in the 1920s which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Indigenous Australians. NAIDOC.

 

National Homeless Persons’ Week

MY Address Diversity in homelessness

1 – 7 August 2011 Homelessness engages diverse people, from diverse addresses for diverse reasons. HPW 2011. New HPW WA website!

 

World Homeless Day 10/10/2011

 

Social Inclusion Week 19 - 27 November

“We would love to see every school in AUS hold an event during SIW2011!”

SIW website.

 

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 Families

-Australian Policy Online

-Twitter and facebook just for existing!

 

 

 

 

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HA includes material in INFORM as we find it. If you have been misrepresented we are happy to include the correct report in the next issue of INFORM.
media@homelessnessaustralia.org.au