MID NORTH COAST NSW Housing News SPRING 2020

Jonathan moving into Taree apartment Meeting with Be Connected Opening of apartments in Taree Supportive transitional housing opens in Taree

Mission Australia Our chaplain, Robyn Housing Officer, Kim Minett Housing who can provide Housing opened a Richardson reminded us showed a unit to a potential our most vulnerable complex of seven that, ‘A house becomes a tenant immediately citizens with access to newly renovated units home when there’s love and following the opening who affordable transitional in Taree earlier this how blessed we are to have gratefully accepted. Kim accommodation.’ year for people in this opportunity to support said, ‘It’s very exciting to be And, our very need of transitional people to start new lives working in partnership with first resident, with love.’ Samaritans Homelessness support. The partnership Jonathan said, Glenn Hutchinson from our Services. We’ll have all the ‘I’m very happy with Samaritans Homeless units tenanted by next week.’ Services in Taree Assets and Maintenance to be here. offers transitional case Team discussed the journey Jo, case worker, Transitional I love the location, it’s management support of transforming these once Accommodation said, ‘The very comfortable, and I’m to some of our most hotel units into self-contained Samaritans team in Taree is very grateful.’ (pictured vulnerable people moving homes, ‘It’s been nothing pleased to be in partnership above left) out of crisis situations. short than a labour of love.’ with Mission Australia Gain new skills through TAFE NSW fee-free short courses – a new partnership between Mission Australia Housing and TAFE NSW TAFE NSW is proud to partner Learn new skills to last For further with Mission Australia Housing a lifetime! information, please If you’re interested in participating in to offer a number of fee-free contact your one or more of these courses please short courses exclusively for Community Top the class! complete the online survey from this Development MAH tenants. link tafensw.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/ Officer, Jesse on 1800 269 672. There’s a diverse range of courses form/SV_3rg7L8VDfDf847z or scan available including; Using Word and the QR code. The cut-off date for *Final classes subject to interest Excel, Computers for Beginners, Basic registering your interest is Friday, by location Horticulture Skills, Growing Food in 9 October 2020. Mature age scholarship Small Spaces, Responsible Service of TAFE NSW are also kicking off a new Alcohol and Responsible Conduct of initiative for unemployed and recently Gambling, Intro to Welding, Chainsaw made redundant NSW residents aged Trim and Cut, Digital Marketing, Scan this over 35 years. It’s called the mature Espresso Coffee Making and Intro QR code age scholarship. to Aged Care.* Eligible participants can enrol into a Cert II, III or IV qualification and for CONTACT US free. You can find out more from the TAFE NSW website tafensw.edu.au/ Mission Australia Housing hotline: 1800 269 672 mature-age-workers 1/39 Gordon Street, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450 missionaustralia.com.au/housing Facebook/MissionAustraliaHousingMNCNSW From our Executive Stepping out new processes that allow for physical distancing, like reduced staff of winter and numbers on site, trialling and testing new technologies including phone into spring! inspections and connecting with you on Facebook. I thank you for your patience Tenants have been working and perseverance as we work harder to together to see Coffs Harbour’s get these right. At the same time, I hope newest community garden we can all embrace these challenges and flourish with Mission Australia Spring has sprung! changes as a positive new way forward. Housing’s support to improve a Spring is a time of growth and there Despite these challenges, I really enjoyed shared recreational space. certainly has been a lot of planning for celebrating our one year Anniversary Federal Member for Cowper, this with all the exciting garden projects of the Coffs Harbour office opening Pat Conaghan joined 20 other across our housing communities. With with staff, although from Sydney and guests at one of our garden roof top gardens at Common Ground over Skype. We also announced the openings a few months ago, in Sydney, garden competitions from exciting new development under way on ‘It was touching to see not Blacktown to the Blue Mountains, and Duke Street, Coffs Harbour that will only how the garden had been community gardens popping up across see 40 new single studio apartments improved through care, but the Mid North Coast of NSW. and services for the local community. how it had brought the local What a great way to start a new season Down the road in Taree we celebrated residents together and had in our own backyards after what has opening seven new apartments that given them a shared purpose,’ been a very challenging past 6 months people like Jonathan (pictured on the he said. ‘I congratulate for all of us! front page) can now call home. Mission Australia Housing Spring is usually the time we come out of Thank you to all who participated in the and the NSW Government for hibernation and look forward to outdoor Impact Measurement Survey we held in funding the project and all the events and activities. With COVID-19 May and now the Annual Tenant Survey local residents who worked becoming a major part of our daily lives, through CHIA. These surveys are very together to make it happen.’ thinking and planning, we need to make important in telling us how we can better The renovated garden sure we are all taking the right actions so improve our services to you, in your features raised garden beds to that you, your communities and our staff home and around your community. I am encourage people to garden, remain safe and healthy at all times. This pleased that we can share some of the a seating area for garden means some of our activities need to Impact Measurement Survey results be postponed with you in this newsletter. meetings and reflection, improved garden beds, a or delivered It is with great excitement that we say wheelchair accessible path, differently in goodbye to winter and hello to a new tool sheds, fruit trees and line with NSW season which I hope brings health and bush medicine. Interested in Government happiness to you all. expectations. gardening? Contact Jesse on 1800 269 672, ext 3 for MNC, This may feel frustrating at then ext 1 for Community Community Chris Bratchford times as we Development. gardens across Executive, Mission Australia Housing the MNC implement

Greening gardens across the MNC Across the MNC, we’re excited to have in Coffs Harbour, he’s keen to visit us the opportunity to learn new gardening frequently from Forster to Coffs once tips and advice from Brenden. the pandemic restrictions lift. ‘For tenants, gathering at the garden He’s even suggested some small and nurturing their own gardening online group classes or meeting at skills is an inclusive way of fostering a local regional garden. connection so that everyone can grow If you’re interested and want more together. You don’t even need a lot info, call Jesse, your Community of space or direct sun, small gardens Development Officer on 1800 work well too with a variety of plants,’ 269 672, ext 3 for MNC then 1 for Brenden from the Royal Botanical said Brenden. Community Development. Garden of Sydney’s Community While Brenden had the opportunity to rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/learn/ Greening Program with Bev visit a few gardens in MAH complexes community-greening Thinking about Join us on Facebook/MissionAustralia quitting smoking? HousingMNCNSW for all your local community announcements, events The MNC Local Health Department promotion and activities. We will still provide this team offers weekly, online community support groups on quitting smoking. Online groups information via letters and posters in your cover how to use Nicotine Replacement Therapy and community notice board. managing cravings. Email Melinda Ricketts to find out more at [email protected] New housing and community services for Coffs Harbour

Mission Australia has a long-term purchased and construction of commitment to the people of 40 single studio apartments will the Mid North Coast. This year, commence soon! will see the start of an exciting Mission Australia Housing was project with new housing and visited by The Governor General, services to support the local His Excellency, David Hurley and Her community. Land on Duke Street Excellency, Mrs Linda Hurley to discuss in Coffs Harbour has already been the plan in March. They shared their enthusiasm for Mission Australia’s efforts to reduce homelessness across the Mid North Coast.

MAH Regional Manager, Charoah Evans said, “Mission Australia Housing Duke St apartments artist impression is not just about delivering more housing properties. It’s about creating needed social and affordable housing homes for people and a thriving in Coffs Harbour, and will also support self-supportive community. The a community with opportunities construction of 40 one-bedroom units for people to connect with services, will contribute to the stock of much activities and each other, which is Left to right: His Excellency, The Governor an important part of the journey to General David Hurley, Jesse Taylor, Community Development Officer, Mid North Coast NSW, long-term independence for many Her Excellency, Mrs Linda Hurley residents.”

It is important to our community’s health and Stop the spread wellbeing to let your Housing Officer know if you take a 1800 650 890 eheadspace 1800 737 732 COVID-19 test. provides free online and telephone (1800RESPECT) National sexual support and counselling to young assault, domestic and family violence There’s a lot of mixed messaging in people aged 12–25 and their families counselling and information referral the media and social media, so we and friends. service, available 24 hours a day, recommend monitoring the NSW every day of the year. Government’s recommendations, 13 11 14 Lifeline provides free, nsw.gov.au 24-hour telephone crisis support 1300 78 99 78 MensLine service. Volunteer crisis supporters We know how challenging this pandemic telephone and online support, provide suicide prevention services, can be and we want you to know that information, and referral service, mental health support and emotional we’re thinking of you, wishing you helping men to deal with relationship assistance. well, and looking forward to better problems in a practical and times together. We’ve gathered a few 1800 007 007 National effective way. resources that may help you, loved ones, Debt Hotline offers free financial 1800 151 151 Mental Health friends or neighbours to get through counselling. free call. these difficult times. Peer Support Line, 1300 224 636 Beyond Blue Are you feeling distressed, alone, 1800 020 080 National provides 24/7 support or information isolated and want to speak with Coronavirus Helpline for on depression and anxiety, for someone? Open 7 days per week information and advice about yourself, a friend or family member. 10am – 4pm and 6pm – 10pm. COVID-19. Meet Kerrie We were lucky to catch the living in Sydney housing Words of wisdom always on-the-go, Kerrie for 37 years in the same for our readers from the Coffs Harbour property, Tracey requested at home? office to ask her a few a transfer for medical We all need to questions. reasons to be close to Coffs take time out Harbour Hospital and her What do you enjoy about to appreciate elderly mother. Tracey was in working at Mission what we have tears of joy viewing her new Australia Housing? and be grateful. modern home. Always be kind I love the variety of my role Tell us a little about to everyone, but the most rewarding part yourself? treat people being in the Allocations with respect, Kerrie spreading joy every day (on right) Team, is offering a home I’m a born and bred city girl acknowledge to people in need and them from Melbourne – came to people’s accepting it, some truly Coffs Harbour for a holiday individualities no matter how wonderful moments I have 12 years ago, within three know this could brighten hard this can be sometimes. shared with people. For months I packed up with my someone’s day and most It doesn’t cost a cent to be example (see picture on two gorgeous children, left a of all, laugh lots, and enjoy friendly, give a smile and right), here I am handing new good job in the city and took every day! say hello as you just never home keys to Tracey. After the plunge for a sea change.

Left to right: Be Connected My granddaughter Photo frenzy Issabelle by Ros and – Coffs Harbour prizewinner Karen holding her prize Lachlan of Fibre Network competition Choices, a Be Connected Network We have two winners; Seagulls Partner and your Community at Woolgoolga Headland by Development Officer, Jesse are Karen and My Granddaughter working through the details of Issabelle by Ros, both from delivering technology education to our tenants aged 55+ years. Toormina. Congratulations Issabelle ladies, you’ve each won a $50 Join our local MNC Facebook page Woolworths Gift Card! Karen and get all the news as it comes out Facebook/Mission AustraliaHousingMNCNSW Spring cleaning?

Spring is the perfect time to give the home Winners are grinners a good cleaning after being cooped up inside Congratulations to the winners of the for months. As the weather starts to get a bit iPad and the Woolworth’s Gift Cards and warmer, open windows and doors and let in the fresh air. thank you to everyone up and down the MNC who took our Impact Measurement Windows Window frames need wiping over regularly, especially Survey in May. We greatly appreciate your if you have a condensation problem in winter. In the time and insight. Five people, like Colin in warmer weather give them a good wipe over with a clean damp cloth with a little bit of multi-purpose Taree and Karen in Toormina won a $50 cleaner spray to remove grime and dirt build up or Woolworth’s Gift Cards and one lucky make your own multi-purpose cleaner by mixing one winner one an iPad! Congratulations to part vinegar, one part water and one part lemon rind or lemon juice, combine in a spray bottle, shake and all the winners! then let infuse for a week before using. Got a cleaning tip? We’d love to hear them, send them to [email protected] or just call Jesse. © Mission Australia Housing Limited ABN: 13 003 683 261