Tasmania Housing Choices is deeply engaged with residents through its advisory committees and its range of wonderful events that bring residents, staff and community together. This is a vital part of our commitment to strengthening the neighbourhoods in which our residents live.
Your Future Scholarships Your Future Scholarships are part of Housing Choices’ Community Fund Grants Program in Tasmania, which supports educational opportunities for residents and their children. The scholarships have been operating for two years and are open to residents’ children who will be completing Year 11 and Year 12 studies. The program was originally dedicated to the BHF suburbs in the North West region but has been expanded to include all Housing Choices residents. In February, a panel assesses the applications against the selection criteria. Scholarships can cover a variety of expenses, including: • Out-of-pocket expenses for educational materials, books and information technology items that are associated with using school technology • Tutoring costs either for tutors provided by the school or by private business • Costs of excursions within Australia or overseas that will benefit the student’s learning and career aspirations • Tools and equipment that are needed to complete the student’s field of studies, and • Costs related to an opportunity to attend extra learning activities, such as a conference. We have been thrilled to provide support to students who, due to difficult circumstances, may otherwise have had to curtail their education. One of our recent recipients is Oneck Francis, who received a laptop computer to allow him to fully participate in his Police Studies at the University of Tasmania. Oneck has aspirations to become a forensic detective and was attempting to do his on-line study using his phone.
Costa Georgiadis Visit The East Devonport community was excited to welcome Costa Georgiardis, host of ABC TV’s Gardening Australia , when he visited the Community Vegetable Gardens and Food Sustainability Projects, which are supported by Housing Choices. The Garden Project is located at the East Devonport Primary School and the Food Sustainability Project is at the East Devonport Community House. Both projects were the result of much hard work by a group of dedicated volunteers, who received financial assistance in the form of two $10,000 Housing Choices grants from our Resident Community Fund. Residents, volunteers, school children and staff from all the organisations involved were delighted to have the opportunity to gain gardening tips from Costa and show him their work. Over morning tea they talked informally about their gardening passion and experience, which was really inspiring for everyone involved. The new garden, called We Grow Well Together Community Garden , was officially opened in early 2017. Harmony Days Housing Choices played an integral role in two Harmony Day events in March. One event was held at the Queens Walk unit complex in New Town, Hobart, and the other at the Burnie Child and Family Centre in Acton in the state’s north-west. The Acton Harmony Day event was hosted by the Mariposa Filipino Cultural Dance Group and sponsored by Housing Choices, through its Community Fund Grants Program . The event was a great success with a feast of Filipino food (17 main courses and 9 desserts), colourful Filipino costumes and great music and dancing. Around 200 people attended and enjoyed the festivities.
International Women’s Day In Tasmania’s north-west, Housing Choices residents Dorothy, Diana, Yvonne and Tracey took the lead in organising a health and wellbeing event in Latrobe to celebrate International Women’s Day. The event was a huge success with more than 150 people attending. Housing Choices and the Latrobe Council supported an array of exhibits, including health and wellbeing stalls, inspirational cooking demonstrations and craft activities. We had wonderful support from EACH, East Devonport Community House, East Devonport Child and Family Centre, The Smith Family, LINC, Anglicare, Carers Tasmania, Advocacy Tasmania and Volunteering Australia. This event will become an annual activity in the community calendar and the wonderful proactive residents in Latrobe are already planning for next year. Somerset Arts Festival Housing Choices was pleased to provide financial support to the Somerset Arts Festival in February, enabling the event to be free entry for the community, with activities for everyone to enjoy. We were also excited to sponsor two of the festival’s art prizes and hope that in doing so we have contributed to the development of some budding artists. The event was attended by a number of VIP guests including: • The Hon. Joan Rylah, State Member of Parliament for Braddon • Mary Duniam, Deputy Mayor of Waratah/Wynyard Council • Ken Dorsey, Alderman, Burnie City Council • The Somerset Arts Festival Committee, and • Mr Hiller, Art Judge.
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