NEWSLETTER January 2017 Annual General Meeting 2016 pages 10-11 CONTENTS From the CEO 3 Working for the Sector Network and Groups at Common Equity 4 Board Business 5 Profiling our Co-operatives Meet The Hindu Co-operative 6 Property Management 2017: A Busy Year For The Property Team 8 People Power at Common Equity Meet our Newest Recruits 9 2016 Annual General Meeting 10 Mellisa's Story 12 Climbing Mount Koscioscko 13 Tenant Satisfaction Survey Results 14 Working With Members We want YOUR input 15 Company Co-operative Agreement (CCA) Timetable 15 Janalli Development Update 16 Money Saving Recipes Super Cheap & Easy! Basil Pesto 17 Something Fun 80's Pop Quiz 18 Useful Links & Contacts 20 *Cover photo - Claire Knight from CHOISES Co-op 02 FROM THE CEO Welcome To The First Newsletter of 2017! his year is shaping supporting our business operations. This is important to allow for administrative up to be one of the efficiencies as we grow and also to biggest for Common provide an online platform so we can Equity with many offer services to tenants as good or better than other leading organisations. Tinitiatives already underway There is about to be a dramatic shift in or planned and a host of new the market with the State Government opportunities starting to planning to make available the emerge. management rights of up to 18,000 properties that is expected to be put The Board holds its first meeting in out to competitive tender around February and will welcome in several new April / May. This opportunity is being Directors who I am sure will inject some packaged into 9 separate geographic fresh thinking and new energy. More locations and presents the single ever details about their profile is revealed later biggest opportunity for Common in this Newsletter. Equity to grow the Co-operative sector. Discussions are progressing with a variety Works have commenced on the of organisations to explore partnership construction of the 10 new Units at arrangements that would improve our Janalli with completion scheduled by chances of success in some part of this June. Construction of the 20 new Units new opportunity. in Guildford is expected to start around March and be completed by the end As always, growing and supporting the of the year. Common Equity’s growth Co-operative sector remains our highest agenda is in full swing and these projects priority. I encourage your continued demonstrate our commitment in getting support of our endeavours and also to results for the sector and this will provide constructive feedback along the continue into the future. Importantly, way to inform what we do. Our success a pipeline of future projects has been supports your success. mapped out to ensure an ongoing and sustainable path of growth and this will I look forward to working with you and lead to future benefits to all. your Co-operatives over the coming year. The organisation continues to look for ways to improve services to the sector. To support this, we are making an investment in upgrading the technology 03 Working for the Sector Networks and Groups at Common Equity The focus of the seniors group is to establish more social connections and opportunities for activities that create social inclusion, help improve their IT skills and other identified requirements. ommon Equity has each discussion for members. Tenants all domestic facilities. To some degree, and members think actively about the these shared accommodation Co-ops recently established information and seek out opportunities to operate like shared households. There are two social networks; make a difference and to improve a stale separate tenancy agreements for each a Seniors group and situation by increasing pathways that bedroom as well as shared bathrooms create better outcomes. and cooking facilities in some cases. Ca shared accommodation Co- The Senior Group The shared accommodation network had operative network. its first meeting in November 2016 and Both groups are new and provide a The Seniors group invites everyone that was attended by six member/tenants pathway to building social linkages for co- maybe interested to discuss areas that representing four shared accommodation operative members and directly managed people face as we get older including Co-operatives. The discussions have been tenants who share similar personal their changing housing needs and other interesting stimulating and passionate. and Co-operative / housing interests, relevant social requirements. Currently, Committee members were sharing activities, and connections. we are in a lucky position to have secured ideas about how to best develop shared a new site at Guildford through a tender Co-operatives. All members stated their Members provide information and with Housing NSW. The site is earmarked shared housing was a choice, allowing resources by sharing their experiences. as a Senior’s Co-operative and the for security of tenure and opportunities The discussions in the groups are discussions at the seniors group would to co-create shared spaces through insightful and the sharing of ideas take on be relevant to the advancement of this developing rules for living arrangements the form of creating new opportunities site. The focus of the seniors group is to within a community where people for actions. I have heard many times establish more social connections and can feel safe and well. For me it was participants say to one another ‘that’s opportunities for activities that create educational, correcting a myth shared a good idea, I’ll take that to my co- social inclusion, help improve their IT accommodation coops are not a operative and maybe we could try this skills and other identified requirements. sustainable housing choice. Get in touch out also’. Sometimes network members for more information on the networks would ask for feedback, ‘what do you Shared Accommodation or if you would like to join one of the do if this happens in your co-operative?’ Network networks. These discussions are often revisited and are generative in nature like a dynamic All Common Equity Co-operatives Mirjana Kreiselmaier - Community process and not just a snapshot. It seems are unique and some are further Development Officer that the topics create new insights with distinguished by the sharing of some or 04 Board Business Committee & Board Updates elcome to ourW new section of the newsletter where we will bring BOARD DEVELOPMENT & you all the latest news from • Strategic Plan – The GROWTH our Board and Committee Board commenced • Vietnamese Seniors refreshing the strategy Project – The Committee meetings from the past to take account of the continued to progress quarter. changing marketplace options for a property and opportunities and will acquisition in early 2017 finalise early 2017. The new plan will enhance the • Dunroamin Co-op focus on capacity building Development – The GOVERNANCE COMPLIANCE, AUDIT for Co-ops advocating for Committee progressed the sector, growth and consultation with the • Quality Plan – The & RISK sustainability. The plan Co-op to ensure a good Committee updated the • Financial Management – reflects strong feedback quality and functional plan to ensure continuous The Committee continues from the sector and development occurs in improvements are made to monitor the financial available to the sector 2017. to system and processes. performance of Common once finalised. • Winning Tenders (Janalli Equity and remains on • Performance Monitoring • Company Co-operative and Guildford) – The track to achieve budget in – The Committee has Agreement (CCA) – The Committee ensured 2016/17 initiated improvements Board has embarked successful tender bids to monitor performance • IT Systems – The on active engagement to build 30 new Co-op across all parts of the Committee has completed with Co-ops (Including properties. organisation. due diligence for a discussion at the AGM) • Community Development • Board Recruitment – The strategic upgrade of the to seek agreement on Plan – The Committee Committee has ensured underlying technology improvements to the refreshed its plan of the successful recruitment platform at Common current CCA. An improved action to support Co-ops of talented replacements Equity. This invest in new CCA will deliver shared through strategies such as to the retiring Directors on technology will enhance benefits for all and engagement, forming new the Board. service delay, improve accelerate the growth of co-ops, establishing new efficiency and sets up the the sector. networks and growing the organisation for growth. • Land & Housing Annual Forum. • Risk Management – Management Transfers – • Projects – Developed a The Committee has The Board is positioning pipeline of projects to established Common the organisation to sustain long-term growth Equity’s “risk appetite” capitalise on any in the number of Co- to guide future growth opportunities for winning op properties over the and investment decisions a share of the 18,000 coming years. and ensure a focus on properties being made achieving goals. available in 2017. 05 Profiling Our Co-Operatives Meet The Hindu Co-operative Hindu Co-op Members at their new site. Hindu Community Co- stalled due to lack of funding. against agreed outcomes and achieved registration as a community housing operative Formation The Hndu Community Support Services provider. Inc converted to a Co-operative and with The Hindu Community Co-operative support from the Office of Community Despite these early concerns the Co- established in 1997, grew out of Housing (OCH) and the Association operative has functioned effectively for discussions with members of the Hindu to Resource Co-operative Housing the past 15 years. Community in 1994 who wanted to (ARCH), was granted properties in North provide a range of health care and Parramatta. The properties are on a Co-operative Challenges support services as well as affordable sloping site opposite a park and comprise accommodation to members of the Hindu of two 3-bedroom and five 2-bedroom Of particular concern is aging and community, in what they envisaged as villas all with garages and gardens.