Summer 2023
Keeping safe: smoke alarms P3 Out and about P4 Keeping on TRAC P6 Simple Savers: Back to School P7
HChoicesTAS
From the General Manager
Hello and welcome to the Summer edition of
TRAC meetings, special interest groups and competitions. To see the winner of the Spring Gardening Competition and Good Neighbour Award, turn to page 6 . As a key community housing provider, we also worked with Homes Tasmania to give our input into the new Tasmanian Housing Strategy, which was released in November 2023. To round out 2023, we held five Christmas celebrations across the state. It was great to see so many residents, I always love seeing the community come together and celebrate the year that was. For photos and a wrap up of events, please turn to page 4 . Don’t forget to check our Facebook page to keep up to date with events in your area.
This year, we expect to complete another 98 properties, including the development of two additional towers in Queens Walk in Hobart. We’ll also be looking at the results of our 2023 Resident Survey to see what’s working well, and what we can improve. Keep an eye out on the next edition of Home Stories for more details. I look forward to another year with you all, Kind regards,
Home Storie s, our first for 2024! I hope you enjoyed a wonderful festive season, and found some time to recharge. Looking back, 2023 was one of our busiest years yet. Housing Choices Tasmania delivered 59 new properties
in 2023, including our first Specialist Disability
Accommodation properties. Our Property and Housing teams were kept busy providing our day-to-day and preventative maintenance services, as well as working with residents to build and maintain sustainable tenancies. Our Community Development team held key community events across Tasmania,
Kim Bomford General Manager Housing Choices Tasmania
Acknowledgement of Country In the spirit of reconciliation Housing Choices Tasmania acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout lutruwita (Tasmania) and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Front cover: Chantelle gets into the Christmas spirit with facepainting at our Hobart Christmas event.
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Keeping safe: smoke alarms
A small fire can grow to take over an entire room in two to three minutes. A working smoke alarm provides early warning and time to escape. The Residential Tenancy Act 1997 (Tas) requires all property owners to install and maintain smoke alarms in rented residential properties. Your property is equipped with hardwired smoke alarm. It’s important that you play your part to make sure your smoke alarm is working properly to keep you and your family safe.
Always contact your Housing Officer or call 1300 312 447 straight away to report any issues with your smoke alarm. Test that your smoke alarm is working every six months. You can do this by pressing the test button on the smoke alarm with a broom handle. The alarm should make a beeping sound. Clear any dust and debris from the smoke alarm every six months. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust, and a damp cloth to remove grease residue and insect droppings.
Never remove the battery in your smoke alarm. Your smoke alarm has been fitted with a long life battery. We will contact you to arrange a time to change the battery when it is nearing its end of life. Never remove or interfere with the operation of your smoke alarm. Removing or interfering with your smoke alarm is dangerous and could result in tenant charges.
Reminder: Emergency Maintenance An emergency repair is any damage or fault that makes your property unsafe, like a burst water main or major electrical fault. To report a maintenance emergency outside of business hours, call 1300 512 583 . For less urgent matters like leaking taps or cracked windows, please call 1300 312 447 and leave a message for our team to action as soon as they’re back in the office.
Remember, it’s dangerous to remove or interfere with your smoke alarm and it could also be expensive. As the resident, you can be held responsible for damage to your smoke alarms from removing or interfering with your smoke alarm. If this happens, you could be charged for repairs or replacement. If you have any questions or need to report an issue with your smoke alarm, please contact your Housing Officer or call 1300 312 447 .
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Out and about
We loved seeing so many of you at our Christmas celebrations!
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4 1. Rebekah and Jorden get ready for their lunch. 2. Shakia and baby Brynn at the East Devonport Community Lunch. 3. Doreen and Robyn take in the celebrations at East Devonport. 4. Kay and Shauna enjoying the company at East Devonport. 5. Cristel, Shenae and Fran at the East Devonport Community Lunch. 6. Kim, Rebecca and Shianna enjoy a meal at East Devonport. 7. Jo and Patricia at our Hobart event. 8. Family fun for Amber, Richard, Rose and Kelcie at our Hobart event. 9. Diane and Dexter the greyhound at our Hobart and Southern Tasmania barbeque. 10. Winners are grinners! Kaye with her lucky door prize hamper at our Hobart event. 11. Jayne, Suellen and Juliette had a great time at our Hobart event. 12. Jennifer and Joular show off their their balloon art at our Hobart event.
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5 13. Dorothy, Dorothy and Housing Officer Samantha share a joke at our Latrobe Community Lunch. 14. All smiles from Wendy and Tone in Latrobe. 15. Alyssia and Jacki from West North West Working joined us at our Somerset Community Lunch. 16. Merry Maureen at our Somerset Community Lunch. 17. Helen and Anne having a jolly time at Somerset. 18. Isabel and Joanne at our Somerset Community Lunch. 19. Peter and Maria had a great time at our Ulverstone Community Lunch, where they enjoyed a two-course meal. 20. Carol and Cheryl at our Ulverstone Community lunch. 21. Samantha, Gladys and Vicky at our Ulverstone lunch. 22. Nigel and Mark take a minute to relax after dessert at Ulverstone.
After a record field of entrants and some tough deliberations, our TRAC decided to crown two winners this year! Our gardeners from Moonah and East Devonport have each been presented with their prize of a $100 Bunnings voucher each. Congratulations to you both!
Spring Garden Competition
Left: Blooming lillies stole the show in our winning Moonah garden.
Good Neighbour Award
Keeping on TRAC
Thank you to everyone who has nominated a Good Neighbour! Our winner Vivian was recognised by his Housing Officer who said: “Vivian is a lovely gentlemen who mows the lawns of other residents in his complex without expecting compensation. Two of his neighbours mentioned how grateful they were for this service when I completed recent inspections there and Viv is certainly not one to mention his good works personally. I know he has also assisted with other matters when required.” Congratulations, Vivian! Do you know someone who: is friendly or helpful? provides assistance to others and contributes to the community? is respectful and mindful of others?
It’s been a busy few months for our Tasmanian Resident Advisory Committee. Their fourth meeting of the year was held on Friday 27 October. The meeting started with an update on recent events and projects, and then moved to planning for 2024. Our General Manager was at the meeting, and presented some new and updated policies to the Committee, before answering their questions and recording their feedback. A record number of entries were received for our Christmas Card Artwork Competition. Eventually, the Committee selected a beautiful painting by Kathleen as the winner. Congratulations, Kathleen! If you’d like to be involved with the TRAC, please contact our Community Development team by calling 1300 312 447 or emailing communitydevelopmenttas@ hcau.org.au .
maintains their property well? volunteers in the community?
Now is your chance to recognise them! Anyone can nominate a Housing Choices Tasmania resident for this award. All nominees go in the yearly draw for our Neighbour of the Year award. To nominate your Good Neighbour, please contact our Community Development Team via email communitydevelopmenttas@hcau.org.au or call 1300 312 447.
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Simple Savers: Back to School
Did you know MoneySmart has a heap of information about managing money, reducing debt and planning for the future? Visit www.MoneySmart.gov.au to find out more. If you have any questions about the programs or initiatives on this page, please contact our Community Development team on 1300 312 447 or communitydevelopmenttas@hcau.org.au. Working Together Working Together offers children free places in a fun, caring and safe Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services in the year before they start kindergarten. If you hold a Health Care Card, you could be eligible. To check your eligibility and apply, please visit: www.decyp.tas.gov.au/learning/early-years/ working-together/working-together-for-families/ Heading back to school for a new year can be an exciting, scary, busy time. It’s also an expensive time for families! We’ve put together some ideas to help you save some money this year. School Student Broadband Initiative The School Student Broadband Initiative provides eligible families with school aged children free broadband internet for up to a year. To check your eligibility and apply: www.anglicarevic.org.au/student-internet 1800 954 610 Student Bus Pass for Free Travel A student bus pass for free travel provides eligible students free or discounted travel between home and school. If you hold a valid concession card and your child is enrolled full time at school you might be eligible. To find out more, visit: www.transport.tas.gov.au/public_transport/student_ travel/student_bus_pass_for_free_travel Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) STAS provides assistance to eligible families by waiving school levies for students. It applies to students enrolled in a school from kindergarten through to year 12. STAS is not a direct payment, but means you won’t have to pay the school levy charge. If you hold a current concession card, you could be eligible. To find out more, visit: www.decyp.tas.gov.au/learning/enrolment/student- assistance-scheme-stas-and-financial-help/
The Next Steps Incentive provides up to $1,000 to help Housing Choices Tasmania residents cover the out-of-pocket costs of education and training. You could be eligible if you are: enrolled in training or studies at TasTAFE, a Support School, College or University a Housing Choices Tasmania resident, or the child of a resident aged between 15 and 25 years or in grade 10 Next Steps Incentive
and continuing your training or education
All eligible applicants can receive help with their application. To find out more, check your eligibility and start your application, please contact our Community Development team:
1300 312 447
community developmenttas @hcau.org.au
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Home Stories Summer puzzle Win a $50 Bunnings voucher!
Keeping up to date
Find all the words in the word search except for one, which is not actually in the grid. Words may be forward, backward, up, down or diagonal.
Join us on Facebook for up-to-date competition and community event information at www.facebook.com/ HChoicesTAS . Or, you can get in touch with our Community Development Team by calling 1300 312 447 or emailing communitydevelopmenttas@ hcau.org.au for more details.
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Birthday Club
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FIND THESE WORDS
Summer Fishing Beach
Sunglasses Vacation Celebration
Jolly Sand Camping
Ocean Sprinkler Rest
We have drawn our recent birthday club winners, who have each received a $20 voucher. If you would like to join our Birthday Club, please contact our Community Development team by calling 1300 312 447 or emailing communitydevelopmenttas@ hcau.org.au
To go into the draw, please contact our Community Development team by email at communitydevelopmenttas@hcau.org.au or by calling 1300 312 447 .
Make sure to include your name, home address, contact number and the missing word! Maximum one entry per household. Entries close Friday 8 March. A lucky Ulverstone resident was the winner of our Spring word search draw. Congratulations!
Hobart Level 7, 39 Murray Street Hobart TAS 7000
Devonport 5 Steele Street Devonport TAS 7310
Shorewell Plaza 11A Wiseman Street Shorewell Park TAS 7320
General Enquiries 1300 312 447
Maintenance
hctinfo@hcau.org.au housingchoices.org.au
1300 512 583
Disclaimer: To the best of Housing Choices Australia’s knowledge (Housing Choices), this information is valid at the time of publication. Housing Choices makes no warranty or representation in relation to the content or accuracy of the material in this publication. Housing Choices expressly disclaims any and all liability (including liability for negligence) in respect of use of information provided. Housing Choices recommends you seek independent professional advice prior to making any decision involving matters outlined in this publication.
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