InsideOutside September 2008 Issue 1 DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING Message from the General Manager iona Chamberlain accepts it is a turbulent Fiona says what is time in the Territory with so many changes different is that the Ftaking place in remote housing. Australian Government and the Northern Territory But the General Manager of Territory Housing also Government are now sees this as an era when solid relationships can aligned on what needs be created and cemented to deliver better housing to happen to improve the to Indigenous communities, along with new jobs, lives of Indigenous people healthier kids and better services. in remote communities. Fiona Chamberlain “The Northern Territory Government had already “Both Governments are committed to committed to making quite a substantial “ serious change in change in remote the way they deliver areas through Everyone has to roll services in the bush,” the Closing the Fiona says. “We have Gap policy,” their sleeves up and put identified over the past Fiona says. “ 20 months that we “Every agency need a new, innovative is working on a their skin in the game. approach to the way we financial program deliver public housing.” that relates to a remote community. We are not working on this Continued page 2 alone”. In this issue . Virtual tool kit Message from the General Manager ................................. 1 Virtual tool kit ..................................................................... 1 “virtual tool kit” for staff, a radio Current arrangements with Shire Councils ........................ 2 advertisement and a poster are a few Working in partnership ....................................................... 3 of the projects the Remote Housing Remote housing business systems ................................... 3 A Engagement and Communications team is Nguiu ................................................................................. 4 working on to spread the messages of the new Territory Housing welcomes Mavis Kerinaiua .................... 5 Strong response to construction briefings ......................... 7 remote housing system. Out and about .................................................................... 7 Remote Housing Director of Engagement and Jobs and training for local people ...................................... 8 Communications Tanya Hancock says the Only a phone call away – our 1800 number ...................... 9 team is focused on making sure consistent Recruitment underway..................................................... 10 Julalikari housing ............................................................. 10 messages are provided to remote communities Outstation funding set to continue ................................... 11 on the new remote housing system. Thanks for the memories ................................................. 12 Staff Profile – Donna McMasters ..................................... 13 Community engagement ................................................. 14 Continued page 6 Want to know more? ........................................................ 16 www.nt.gov.au/territoryhousing/remotehousing 1 ) 1800 104 076 InsideOutside Current arrangements Message from the General with Shire Councils Manager - Continued from page 1 s part of the implementation of the Fiona is inspired by the level of commitment she new remote housing system, Shire has seen from staff visiting remote communities Councils were offered a continuation to explain the changes on how houses will be A built, managed and the job opportunities that will of grant arrangements to delivery tenancy management and repairs and maintenance be created. She says staff need to make sure in remote communities. The length of time they tell Indigenous people about the bigger for this transitional arrangement is still under picture of jobs, health and housing. negotiation. In the meantime, Territory “Everyone needs to keep in mind that this is Housing is continuing to work closely with the about providing better housing outcomes and Shire Councils and other interested agencies outcomes in health and job opportunities,” to determine how the new remote housing Fiona says. “To do this we need new leasing system will be implemented and managed. arrangements, strong operations teams and Remote Housing Strategic Planning Director legislative frameworks, which we are working to Benieka Lythgo says the agency arrangements create. currently under negotiation include what “Everyone has to roll their sleeves up and put tenancy management activities the Shire their skin in the game.” Councils will undertake and what role in the Fiona admits it will not be easy. “This is very, future Shire Councils will have in delivering very hard work,” she says. “This is creating repairs and maintenance. change at the coal face in remote communities Territory Housing will continue to visit and there is constant problem solving and risk communities to build awareness about management.” transitional housing management “But with the Australian Government and the arrangements and the long-term vision for Northern Territory Government commitment and all areas of remote housing - construction, the past 20 months of hard work there is a strong tenancy management, repairs and feeling that no one is going to walk away from this,” maintenance and land leasing. she says. “There is a strong sense of hope and dedication that we will persist until we get it right.” Fiona says the new remote housing initiative and Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP) have provided the opportunity to build strong relationships for the future based on trust. “We will build trust together through respect with industry, remote communities and both governments,” she says. “The result will make us a more capable Territory and Indigenous people will be in a better position to get jobs and participate in the Northern Territory economy.” www.nt.gov.au/territoryhousing/remotehousing 2 ) 1800 104 076 www.nt.gov.au/territoryhousing/remotehousing 3 ) 1800 104 076 InsideOutside Working in partnership rogress is being made to formalise the • independent, fair and Partnership Agreement, which comes equitable housing Punder the Memorandum of Understanding allocation policies (MOU) signed by the Australian Government taking into account and the Northern Territory Government on how family structures and $793 million will be spent on remote housing and location needs infrastructure in the Territory until 2011. • priority waiting list for Territory Housing Strategic Planning Director Indigenous community Benieka Lythgo says a Partnership Agreement is residents who are Benieka Lythgo being drafted to underpin the MOU, which was employed signed in September 2007 with a term of three • strategic repairs and maintenance plan for years, and formalise the agreement between the houses as well as regular inspections two governments. • ability for residents to move to home Senior managers in the Australian Government ownership and the Northern Territory Government are • access to the Territory Housing appeals meeting on a monthly basis to work out the mechanism. details of the agreement, which will reflect the MOU. The new Partnership Agreement is expected to Remote housing reflect the joint targets of the MOU including: business systems • the Northern Territory Government taking over the delivery of services to outstations he business systems used by Territory and town camps Housing to manage tenants are being • the Northern Territory Government taking updated to include more than 4 500 over full responsibility for Indigenous Tadditional houses and 14 000 rent payers as housing, municipal and essential services part of the new remote housing system. and infrastructure services Remote Housing Business Systems Manager • Indigenous remote housing transferred to a Paul Bishop is coordinating the job of public housing model updating the two existing business systems • a performance-based alliance contract used by Territory Housing to manage 7 000 system introduced for the provision of new homes in urban areas. housing The Tenancy Management System (TMS) • all new remote Indigenous housing publicly and Asset Information System (AIS) are owned by Territory Housing being reconfigured to add on existing houses • leases established over the properties and in 66 remote communities and 22 outstations. the Northern Territory Residential Act to The system redevelopment will allow the apply to tenancy agreements Remote Housing Unit to create rental profiles for each tenant and a record of repairs and • an affordable rent structure maintenance for each house. Continued page 4 www.nt.gov.au/territoryhousing/remotehousing 2 ) 1800 104 076 www.nt.gov.au/territoryhousing/remotehousing 3 ) 1800 104 076 InsideOutside Nguiu erritory Housing has established its own Leanne Evans, Special Projects Manager office in Nguiu on the Tiwi Islands as they and Director of Leasing says she is excited Tprepare to hand over the first four houses about the progress in Nguiu as it is leading the built under the previous Indigenous Housing way in the new remote housing initiative as a Authority Northern Territory (IHANT) Capital trial of the new housing strategy and tenancy Program. management systems. Over the next month the four houses will be handed over to residents with new tenancy agreements as part of the new remote housing system. A further 25 new houses will be built Pirlangimpi over the next 12 months under the new 99 year Milikapiti lease