Housing Amendment (Community Housing Providers) Bill 2009 (NSW) (11 March 2010)
The Housing Amendment (Community Housing Providers) Bill 2009 was passed by both house of Parliament on the 9th March 2010. The Bill. The object to this bill is to amend the Housing Act 2001:
(a) to enable the Governor to vest land owned by the New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation (the Corporation) in a registered community housing provider that is also a company registered under the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth, and
(b) to provide for the registration by the Corporation of an interest in certain land such as land that has been so vested or the purchase of which was funded by the Corporation, and
(c) to prevent certain dealings with land in which the Corporation has an interest without the consent of the Corporation, and—
(d) to provide other measures for the protection of the Corporation's interest in certain land.
You may find the full transcript of the debate here: (see link)
Housing pathways training (formerly known as Common Access System Training (CAS)) (11 march 2010)
The Go Live date for the implementation of Housing pathways is the end of April. Housing Pathways is underpinned by the ‘No Wrong Door’ protocol that requires collaboration between public and community housing providers in order to provide integrated responses for presenting clients. The protocol will enable clients to receive a consistent standard of housing advice and streamlined access to social housing and other housing assistance.
Housing Pathways TRIM training update
TRIM training will be provided by Housing NSW to you through e-learning (on line) and face to face. In addition operational training is being provided by the Federation as described below. The use of TRIM is a key tool in implementing and supporting records management for Housing Pathways, For training schedule and registration go to our events page.
Housing Pathways Operational Training
HNSW has contracted NSWFHA to develop training for community housing providers to support the implementation of Housing Pathways.
NSWFHA has scheduled one day training sessions to provide an overview of Housing Pathways policies and processes for handling a housing assistance enquiry and/or housing application. More info
Sector Advocacy
For any policy issues questions or comments about the impact and implementation of Housing Pathways please contact Rachel Louttit on rachel@communityhousing.org.au
Keep Them Safe - Amendments to the Child Protection Amendment (Wood Enquiry Recommendations) Act 2009 (5 Feb 2010)
Providers are encouraged to access online resources about the changes and how they impact on Community Housing Providers at the Keep Them Safe webpage: www.keepthemsafe.nsw.gov.au
You can also subscribe to the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet Keep them Safe newsletter.
Federation bulletins on Keep Them Safe are posted online in the Publications page
CTTT - Social Housing Division Review 2009 (22 Dec 2009)
Provide feedback on the first year of the Social Housing Division. The Social Housing Division of the CTTT commenced operations on 1 October 2008. The CTTT is undertaking a review of the Division’s first year of operation. They are seeking widespread feedback. It is important that as many housing associations as possible provide feedback on the Division. Please complete the questionnaire and return to lisette.rudge@cttt.nsw.gov.au by 22 January, 2010
Tenders for title transfer called (4 Dec 2009)
The tenders to allocate ownership of up to 5,500 Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan properties and 500 of the portfolio currently managed by community housing provieders have been announced. The communique outlining the process was released on the 3rd of December. Tender documents can be accessed on https://tenders.nsw.gov.au/housing. 857 of the properties in stage one of the Stimulus Plan will be directly allocated. There will be an open tender for stage two, and a select tender for the 500 properties currently managed by housing associations. Tenders close in February 2010.
The Registrar of Community Housing - Strategic and Governance Framework (1 Dec 2009)
The Registrar has published its Strategic and Governance Framewok, which guides its administration of the community housing regulatory system. This document outlines the Registrar’s purpose, values, regulatory principles, strategic priorities and governance arrangements.The Framework can be viewed on the Registrar's website: www.rch.nsw.gov.au
NSW Social Housing Common Access System presentation (24 Nov 2009)
Housing NSW, in partnership with the community housing sector, is developing a detailed strategy for creating a social housing common access system in NSW. A presentation on the common access system was given at 20 November 2009 Housing Associations Meeting by Mark Nutting, CAS Project Manager, Housing NSW. Download presentation
Draft Tenancy Law reforms released for consultation (5 Nov 2009)
The Minister for Fair Trading has released the draft Residential Tenancies Bill (2009) for public consultation. It is not yet law and is anticipated to be introduced to Parliament early 2010. The Federation will be establishing a focus group to examine the draft bill in detail prior to making a submission. Housing providers are able to give feedback and make their own submissions to the Office of Fair Trading. The draft bill is available on the OFT website www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au. Or download pdf of draft bill here.
ONLINE LEARNING PILOT LAUNCHED WEDNESDAY 6th October 8, 2009 (8 Oct 09)
Community housing managers from 14 locations across NSW participated in the first online session for the accredited unit “Reflect and Improve on own Professional Practice”. Students will meet online 4 times over the next two months to share experience as peers on management issues. Course content is available on the NSWFHA Moodle Learning Management System which students are able to work through at their own pace.
NSWFHA has received funding from the Australian Flexible Learning Framework to implement a national project to integrate e -learning into community housing. Online units will be available for other states to use from 2010. Click here for more information - link to elearning page
NATIONAL RENTAL AFFORDABILITY SCHEME (NRAS) - CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: ROUND 3 (28 Aug 09)
On 12 August 2009, the Minister for Housing, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, announced that Round Three of the National Rental Affordability Scheme would open from 1 September 2009. Applications can be received from 1 September and the Call will remain open for up to 12 months. The extended opening period acknowledges the feedback which has been received from housing providers and developers about the way in which project planning and the securing of finance needs to be undertaken, particularly in the current economic environment. Round Three
The Third Round will be initially conducted with two separate components: 1. Applications which link to proposals under the Social Housing Initiative, a component of the Nation Building and Economic Stimulus Plan. 2. Applications which seek to have the private sector develop state-owned land that has been released for residential development – the NRAS component can be all or part of the development The targeted approach aims to simplify and encourage mixed developments on public land and to support linkages with the Social Housing Initiative, which is part of the National Building Economic Stimulus Plan. More detailed information on the two components and how to apply will be available from 1 September 2009.
The new Affordable Rental Housing - State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) was launched on Friday, 31 July by Planning NSW. The policy provides a range of planning incentives to encourage the creation of new affordable rental housing. The Affordable Rental Housing SEPP is designed to maximize the benefits of the Commonwealth Government’s recent investments under the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) and the Economic Stimulus Package for new social housing. (31 July 09)
Elearning for community housing (21 July 09)
NSWFHA has received funding to implement a national project to integrate elearning into community housing. Click here for more information - link to elearning page
NEW PUBLICATION: "Playing a role in locally based economic development - A resource for housing associations" (July 09)
Support available for Registration under the new Code (9 July 09)
Registration assessments under the new Code are underway. The Federation, in partnership with Homelessness NSW, is providing free training and a set of support materials for those preparing their registrations. Nada Goodacre is the new project officer coordinating the training and support workshops and materials. To view any of the new resource material please go to the What is Community Housing section and view the “Regulatory” page for the available registration resources. Nada can be contacted on (02) 92871-7144 ext 210 for any further enquiries about registration training support or workshops.
Cabinet agrees to transfer title (25 June 09)
The NSW Cabinet has agreed to the transfer of title to community housing providers for the first time. The initial transfer will include the majority of the new properties to be built as part of the Federal government’s stimulus package plus 500 properties owned by Housing NSW. Title to up to 7,000 properties could be transferred under this initiative. Housing Minister David Borger described this as an historic shift (See press release and the Minister’s speech in Parliament) http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/
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New Community Housing Regulation proclaimed (4 May 09)
The new Regulation encompassing the Regulatory Code came into effect on the 1st May 2009. This code will now apply to all registered community housing providers, and the Registrar now has the power to investigate. Assessments of all community housing providers will commence on July 1 and continue over the next two years. See copy of Regulation. For more information about Registration see www.rch.nsw.gov.au.
Large scale property transfers to housing associations (April 09)
At least 3,000 public housing properties will be transferred to community housing management over the next 12 months. Fifteen associations will take on the management of these tenancies. The transfers are taking place in 17 local areas (across all regions) and a range of locations in Sydney. The associations include some small regional organisations. The transfers will see two associations double in size and seven others will increase by between 20 and 40 per cent.
Federation proposes new affordable housing charitable provisions to Henry Tax review (March 09)
To see the Federation submission:
http://taxreview.treasury.gov.au/content/submissions/post_14_november_2008/ NSW_Federation_of_Housing_Associations_20090501.pdf
For further information on the Henry Tax Review …. http://taxreview.treasury.gov.au/Content/Content.aspx?doc=html/home.htm
Federation gives evidence to Inquiry into homelessness and low-cost rental accommodation
To see submission. (6 April 09)
The Federation’s response to questions on notice can be seen here (http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/
Prod/parlment/committee.nsf/0/47231E9379BBC350CA2575E8001210A1 )
along with evidence from members and experts (http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/PARLMENT/
committee.nsf/0/78360C7CC2AE7EFCCA25751400150094 ) (July 2009)
Special HAM
Watch video of special Housing Associations Meeting held 24th February 2009. (26 Feb 09)
$6.388 billion in funding for social housing announced! (2 Feb 09)
Federal government today announced $6.388 billion to be spent on social housing as part of and economic stimulus package
The $6.388 billion will be spent over the next 4 years to fund the construction of 20,000 new public and community housing dwellings to be completed by 2010.
$260 million of this will be apportioned in 2008-09; $4,072 million in 2009-10; $1744 million in 2010-11; and $312 million in 2011-12. Go to the Treasury website for more information.
Tax Office threat to charitable status averted for now (Nov 2008)
After intensive lobbying by the Federation and CHFA, a temporary change to the Tax Act will protect the charitable tax status of community housing providers who take part in the NRAS. The announcement by the Treasurer protects existing charities for the first phase of NRAS (link to media statement). This means that a proper long term solution will still have to be sought through the Henry Review of the overall Tax Act. Both CHFA and the Federation will continue to lobby to get a long term solution.
National Regulatory Framework made public
After confidential work for the past couple of years, the report and outline of a national framework through which affordable housing providers can be consistently registered across jurisdictions has been made public. States and territories have outlined their implementation plans to move towards the national approach and may soon agree to an MOU to provide more certainty. (http://www.housing.nsw.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/528AF50D-02B0-4AF1-9E7A-632F791DD40E/0/NatRegFrameworkProposalwithinsertforAttachment22.pdf)
Partnerships
More and more housing associations are forming partnerships with the private sector and other agencies. To assist with NRAS proposals the Federal Government has appointed Partnership facilitators. The Community Housing Federation of Australia (CHFA) has been appointed as a national facilitator and the NSW Federation will be CHFA’s agent in NSW. MacroPlan has also been appointed as the NSW partnership facilitator. See the partnerships page and resources.
Checks on tenant well-being
Housing NSW Tenant Connect is a free service where you receive a phone call each day to confirm you are safe and well. The service will be provided in partnership between Red Cross and Housing NSW (including the Office of Community Housing) across NSW. Tenants aged 80 or over and Aboriginal tenants aged 55 or over who live in public, community and Aboriginal housing will be eligible to apply for this service. More info
You can help create a fair go for all Australians... A new initiative Australia Fair provides all Australians with tools to read, discuss and act on fairness – particularly Fair Housing. http://www.australiafair.org.au/public/Default.aspx
See previously posted items: "What's New" - archived |
