[Cover letter to families – please adapt this letter to suit you particular needs] Name Address Date Dear Community service care provided to [name of client] As you may be aware the [insert name of organisation] provides community care services to your [insert relationship and name]. The [organisation] is continually looking at ways to improve and adapt these services to meet the needs of our clients. We have recently identified that our clients need help and support in adapting to the changing climate and the associated impacts. For example, energy and water service costs are expected to significantly increase in the next 3‐4 years, which will have a significant impact on people on low incomes. To assist our clients meet these coming challenges, we have trained our care workers to perform audits of clients’ homes, addressing how they use their homes and appliances. This will enable the care workers to identify ways in which their clients can live more comfortably and also reduce the amount of water and energy they use, and the amount of waste they produce. In short, we are endeavouring to support clients use less resources and move towards a more sustainable lifestyle. The initial phase of our assistance has been to have care workers trained to conduct a simple home sustainability audit based on a program developed by Environment Victoria (www.environmentvictoria.org.au). Once trained, the care workers then complete an audit with their clients as part of their care services, to help identify ways in which resources can be used in a smarter way and to help reduce the financial impact of increasing energy and water prices. Suggestions are offered for consideration by the client and their family. A recent audit was conduct on your [insert relationship] home. Please find attached a copy of the audit for your information. We would encourage you to look though the audit in order to identify actions that you might be in a position to help your [insert relationship] complete. Please refer to the help information attachment to this letter which explains the actions the [insert name of council/organisation] is able to help with and how that help will be delivered. In addition it also refers you to other resources which may be of interest and of use to you. Finally, we also encourage you to consider conducting a home audit of your own home. You may like to use the same audit form. If you have any questions or would like to know further details please contact [insert contact details]. Yours Sincerely [insert signature]
Help Information Attachment Home Sustainability Introduction The following information is provided to assist you with making homes more sustainable. This includes the services [insert name of council/organisation] can provide, as well as other services available. Further information can be obtained by: • Visiting our website [insert details] • Contacting [insert details]
Assistance currently being offered by [insert name of council/organisation] [Possible examples of assistance – please modify to suit your needs] Type of assistance How assistance delivered Resetting temperature Care workers to do as part of support controls services Providing a thermometer Care workers to do Fixing the following draughts: External doors Around windows Internal doors Arranging installation of roof insulation and grant application Reset hot water service temperature Provision of shower timer Provision of low flow shower head Insulation of external hot water pipes Repair of leaking taps Resetting fridge temperature Arranging grant application and purchase of new fridge Change of light globes to energy efficient globes Establish recycling system in home Provision of compost bin or
Available for Community care clients Community care clients Care workers to arrange maintenance Community care staff to complete clients
Care workers to refer to project officer to arrange completion
Community care clients
Care workers to do
Community care clients Community care clients Community care clients Community care clients Community care clients Community care clients Community care clients Community care clients Community care clients Available free
Council provided and delivered by care workers Care workers to arrange maintenance staff to complete Care workers to arrange maintenance staff to complete Care workers to arrange maintenance staff to complete Care workers to do Care workers to refer to dedicated project officer to arrange completion Care workers to arrange maintenance staff to complete Care workers to do Council provided and delivered by
Type of assistance worm farm
How assistance delivered care workers
Provision of no junk mail stickers Removal of hazardous waste
Council provided and delivered by care workers Yearly collection service
Available for for community care clients and for purchase all homes All homes All homes
Other Assistance Currently Available Grants and schemes [insert details of grants and schemes available‐ see care worker information booklet or www.livinggreener.gov.au] Rebates [insert details of rebates available‐ see carer information booklet or www.livinggreener.gov.au] Local resources [insert details of local sources of information available]
This is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia licence. It is not necessary to include this licensing information in the copy which goes to the family.