Middle managers network

The Middle Management Network (MMN) is peer based and aims to meet the needs of the middle tier of managers in housing associations. The network is a way for middle managers across the State, to get together with others to discuss issues, problem solve and support each other. It also aims to encourage members to identify their own training needs and for members to provide input into sector issues. For further information, please contact Maja Frölich at the Federation on (02) 9281 7144 ext 201.

Residential Tenancies Act Seminar – Emerging issues for Social Housing
Venue: Mitchell Theatre, Sydney Mechanics School of Arts
280 Pitt Street Sydney

The Federation will be holding a seminar for members to explore the impact of the RTA changes and how the legislation is being applied when matters are taken to the CTTT.
There will be panel discussion with the following speakers – Virginia McKay from Fair Trading NSW, Lynden Esdaile from HAC and Grant Arbuthnot from the Tenants Union. They will be looking at such issues as dealing with family violence and the legislation, water charges for community housing providers, no cause evictions and good decision making. There will be plenty of time for questions.
Dr Clive Morgan from the Community Housing Division will be detailing the new Water charges ministerial guidelines and directions about no cause evictions.
A tribunal member from the CTTT (TBC) will discuss issues of evidence, particularly in relation to anti social behaviour and family violence. It will be a chance to hear how a member makes decisions. With time for Q&A.
Cost: $95

To register, please complete a registration form found here

For further information about this seminar, please contact Lam Huynh on
9281 7144 ext 203 or lamh@communityhousing.org.au

Media and Communications Training Seminar

The training is a full day and is available free of charge thanks to support from the Community Housing Division of Housing NSW.
For more information or to register - please email Glenn Roach at GlennR@communityhousing.org.au or tel. (02) 9281 7603 ext. 219

‘What’s the rent?’ seminar
Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts, Sydney

If your agency assists low-income tenants or you are a tenant, the ‘What’s the rent?’ seminar from Shelter NSW and the Tenants Union of NSW is for you. This seminar will investigate current arrangements for delivering affordable rents, and explore directions for reform.
The aim of rent subsidies for social housing tenants and Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA) is to deliver affordable rents … but these forms of assistance face a number of pressures:
· Financial sustainability of social housing — how can social housing providers balance financial viability with the current rent-setting models?
· Workforce participation — are work disincentives inevitable where social housing tenants pay income-based rents, and most CRA recipients’ eligibility is tied to another Centrelink benefit?
· Equity — can the division in outcomes between social housing (affordable rents, relative security) and CRA-assisted private rental (rents often still unaffordable, little security) be addressed?
Speakers include:
· Associate Professor Kath Hulse, Senior Researcher, Swinburne Institute for Social Research
· Deborah Brill, Director, Housing Strategy, Housing NSW
· Michelle Craig, Chairperson, NSW Aboriginal Housing Office
· Maree O’Halloran, AM, Director, Welfare Rights Centre
· Professor Hal Pawson, City Futures Research Centre, University of New South Wales
· Adrian Pisarski, Chairperson, National Shelter.
The registration fees are $45.00 (waged) and $20.00 (unwaged). All fees include GST. Morning tea will be provided. Bookings are essential, and registrations close on 8th February 2012.
More information:
For registration queries, please contact our office administrator on (02) 9267 5733 ext. 13 or email: admin@shelternsw.org.au
For a registration form, go to: www.shelternsw.org.au and www.tenants.org.au

‘Housing economics for non-economists’ lecture series
Sydney Trades Hall, Sydney

How do housing and economics intersect? What are the key economic issues shaping our housing?
Due to popular demand, we will again be presenting our series of 4 lectures on housing economics for non-economists. The lectures will be presented by prominent academics, including:
· Professor Peter Phibbs, Urban Research Centre, University of Western Sydney, on property economics and planning
· Professor Richard Krever, Taxation Law and Policy Research, Monash University, on housing and the taxation system
· Honorary Associate Professor Judy Yates, Economics, University of Sydney, on housing affordability and supply
· Dr Ben Spies-Butcher, Macquarie University, on the political economy of housing.
Each session will consist of a one-hour lecture, followed by questions and discussion.
The lecture series is essential for policymakers and advocates in the non-profit housing sector — both government and non-government — and anyone wanting to understand how housing markets work.
The registration fee for the lecture series is $150.00 per person. A number of full and part scholarships will be available. All fees include GST. To apply for a scholarship, please contact Paula Rix on (02) 9267 5733 ext. 12 or email: paula@shelternsw.org.au. Registrations for individual lectures are not available. Refreshments and handouts are included.
Bookings are essential, and registrations are due by 24 February 2012.
More information:
For registration queries, please contact our office administrator on (02) 9267 5733 ext. 13 or email: admin@shelternsw.org.au
For a registration form, go to: www.shelternsw.org.au