RAG Chat
Some of the RAG members had a great opportunity at the end of 2022 to sit in with our contact centre staff to see how it all works and were able to make helpful suggestions to improve the experience for our residents.
The RAG have reviewed comments received from the 2022 Annual Resident meeting and the RAG are working on activities and programs for tenants based on their feedback. So, keep your eyes out for any new announcements. If you have any suggestions or issues you would like the RAG to discuss, please email: community@evolvehousing.com.au
HAPPY EASTER
Evolve Housing would like to wish all our residents and community members a Happy Easter and a safe day!
Easter is a Christian cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus. Christians fast for a period of 40 days, where they reflect and prepare for the celebrations of Easter.
Tenant Satisfaction Survey
Evolve Housing is conducting an anonymous Tenant Satisfaction Survey to gather feedback about the services we provide to our social housing residents.
We care about your experiences as a tenant and would like to hear your feedback so that we can improve our services and better meet your needs. CHIA (Community Housing Industry Association) NSW is managing the survey process to ensure that your data is confidential. Please know that all your feedback remains anonymous.
You will receive the survey by email or in the mail. Be sure to keep an eye out for the upcoming survey and be in the draw to win one of 50 $50 Westfield gift vouchers!
RAMADAN KAREEM
Evolve Housing would like to wish all our Muslim residents who observe the holy month of Ramadan, a Ramadan Kareem.
Ramadan is the 9th month in the Islamic calendar and fasting begins with the sighting of the moon over Mecca in Saudi Arabia. We would also like to wish our Muslim residents Eid Mubarak after completing a month of fasting!
As part of Evolve Housing’s Resident Engagement Strategy all our staff are required to participate in a Resident Engagement Activity to connect to our residents.
Since launching the strategy, we have had over 120 staff actively engage with our residents through our community programs and events so if you see a new face at our next event be sure to say hello!
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Resident Engagement Strategy
Annual Resident Christmas party
Evolve
Housing celebrated 2022 with our Annual Resident Christmas party at Sydney Zoo on Saturday 3rd December.
We welcomed 280+ residents and 20+ staff volunteers to the Lion Deck to share a buffet style lunch, connect our residents and staff with one another and explore the animals of the zoo. What a great way to end the year! We thank all our residents who joined us and we hope you enjoyed a fun day out with your loved ones!
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Kids Love to Cook Workshop
Evolve Housing welcomed seven children for the Imaginate Kids Love to Cook Workshop!
The children became successful MasterChefs after making delicious Spring Vegetable Pasta and Apple and Cinnamon Muffins! Smiles were seen across the kitchen as the room filled with the mouth-watering smell of food.
Down:
1 Birds lay ______________.
2 These hatch out of real eggs.
3 Easter eggs are mostly made out of ___________________.
6 A baby rabbit.
9 Collect your eggs in this.
11 Fourth month of the year.
12 Another word for a bunny.
Across:
4 Vegetable rabbits like to eat.
5 _____ ______ buns are easily identified by the two lines of white that go across the top.
7 What season is Easter in?
8 To look for easter eggs.
10 You may wear one in the Easter Parade.
Suggestion Box
If you have any suggestions for activities for future Imaginate programs, please call Terina on 0412 806 461 or email community@evolve.housing.com.au
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Crystal’s Journey
Crystal Wright, 38, surprised Evolve Housing when she travelled almost three hours for the first event of 2023, the Imaginate school holiday program at Aquatopia.
Travelling all the way from Newcastle to the City of Fairfield where Aquatopia is located, Crystal said the drive was more of a road trip for herself and her two children, Preston, 14, and Noah, 11.
“The kids had been inside on devices all school holidays and I thought it would be a great opportunity for them to get out and have some fun in the sun at an event where
there’d be other children,” Crystal told Evolve Housing. “The event was free, so I didn’t see it as a long drive from Newcastle, I just saw it as going to have some fun and a road trip with my kids.”
Preston wandered off on his own to enjoy the rides while Crystal and Noah went on the huge water slides and the wave pool, which was his favourite.
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FREE event run exclusively for children & parents of Evolve Housing. 12pm–4pm Monday 16th January 2023 Aquatopia, Prairewood Leisure Centre, Prairevale Road, Prairewood Cabana 6, 7 & 8 (near the toddler pool) Lunch will be provided or bring your own food. Sunscreen provided What to bring: A towel, hat, change of clothes & toiletry items (optional) floaties if needed. JOIN US! Register at evolvehousing.com.au/whatson Limited tickets are available. IT’s FREE Splash, Swim & Sun! AQUATOPIA Book NOW See details on WEB PAGE
Crystal Wright with her children Preston and Noah enjoying the Imaginate’s Aquatopia school holiday program.
Noah described the day as “fun”, while Preston said it was a “really good day”.
Crystal joined in the fun as well and said the rides were “exhilarating and the adrenaline was rushing. It was so much fun. I would do it again.”
And what a way to kick off the year than with an exciting summer holiday event which Crystal commended Evolve Housing for.
“I just want to thank Evolve Housing for putting on a day like that in the school holidays for the kids and giving them the opportunity to be able to go out and have a fun day,” she said.
“We did not have to worry about the food or the cost. Everything was provided and all we had to do was jump in the car and be able to be there. So, thank you to Evolve.”
Crystal’s journey with Evolve
Housing only began just over two years ago when she received a job in aged care in Newcastle, a fair bit away from where she was located in outer western Sydney.
Her children stayed with their grandmother to finish the school year while she travelled to Newcastle and stayed with a friend, started her new job and began looking for a new home for her family.
“Being a single parent, no one was looking at me because of the rental crisis and I applied for this place (current home) because it’s affordable housing,” she revealed. Crystal shockingly revealed that she applied for over 117 houses and was knocked back for each one.
Soon enough she came across her current property on the rental list and was shocked to see that it was so cheap compared to everything else she had seen.
After taking a look, she found that it was listed as affordable housing and there was a criteria to be met to be eligible for the property.
The determined mother cross checked the criteria and found out that she was eligible for the property and applied through Evolve Housing.
“My property manager rang and told me I got the place. I was so happy!” she said.
“Rentals were going up and I simply couldn’t afford the prices, like $700 per week for a house with one income. That’s why I needed Evolve Housing services and thank God, I love it here, it’s so convenient.”
The small family have been living in Newcastle for just over two years now and Crystal says that she loves it so much that she won’t go back to where she came from.
“It was a good change, we like being able to have good opportunities around especially for the boys who have settled in and made friends,” Crystal continued.
“I have also made friends through work at the aged care centre as well as friends who lived here but have since moved.”
When asked about her experience with Evolve Housing, Crystal could not be any happier with the place and the location.
“It’s been great, and I haven’t had any issues. We love the location—we’re five minutes from the beach and 50m from the harbour.”
Crystal continues to take each day as it comes but is hoping to go back and study Community Youth to try and help kids choose a better path.
“I didn’t make all the right choices when I was young, and I really want to help steer kids who might go off the rail to make the right choices.”
She said it was a dream being able to move to Newcastle with her children despite being knocked back for so many properties.
Crystal feared that she would have to give up her new job and became “disheartened” when she kept receiving rejections.
“The fact that they (Evolve Housing) looked at me and looked at my application and said, ‘she’s a single person’ was absolutely amazing at the time.
“I’m just so thankful that I was able to get this place because of Evolve Housing.
“I am so thankful to Evolve Housing.” Crystal offered some words of encouragement to those still struggling: “Don’t give up, there are services out there that can help you.”
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“Being a single parent, no one was looking at me because of the rental crisis and I applied for this place because it’s affordable housing.”
PROGRAMS ON OFFER
Opportunity Pathways
If you’re looking for a job or wanting to improve your current job situation, Evolve Housing has the program just for you! Opportunity Pathways is a voluntary program that provides support to social and public housing clients to access employment, training and work opportunities. By joining Opportunity Pathways, you or your household members can be supported in finding employment and sourcing opportunities to obtain training and qualifications. Opportunity Pathways is open to all residents in Camden, Campbelltown, Fairfield, Bankstown and Liverpool. Call 1800 PATH2WORK (1800 728 429) or email: pathways@evolvehousing.com.au
NILS
Evolve Housing is an accredited No Interest Loan Scheme provider and can facilitate access to fair loans for our residents. The No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) is run by Good Shepherd Microfinance and allows individuals and families on low incomes to access safe, fair and affordable credit to purchase essential items. For more information contact: support.team@evolvehousing.com.au
Money Minded
Evolve offers free Money Management workshops to Evolve Housing residents interested in learning how to manage their money and take control of their finances. This is a practical, fun and easy course to kick start your budgeting. For more information contact: community@ evolvehousing.com.au
Digital Basics
Evolve offers free Digital Basics training workshops to Evolve residents interested in learning how to use their digital devices and gaining confidence online.
In these workshops residents learn how to use their computer, smartphones and tablets while learning the basics associated with online security including banking, Centrelink, scams and social media. For more information contact: community@evolvehousing.com.au
Premier’s Back to School Voucher
If you’re looking for a bit of extra help with your children’s school uniforms, shoes, bags, technology, textbooks, excursions and other eligible expenses, you may be eligible to apply for the Premier’s Back to School Voucher. Parents, guardians, carers or students can apply for 3 x $50 vouchers, totalling $150 for each eligible student. The voucher can be used before 30 June 2023. Apply here: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/ transaction/apply-for-back-to-school-vouchers
evolvehousing.com.au/whats-on or by calling 1800 myevolve (1800 693 865) @evolvehousing evolvehousing
How to make a complaint or appeal
At Evolve Housing, we acknowledge that complaints provide valuable feedback. You can make a complaint by emailing: ihear@evolvehousing.com.au, by calling us on 1800 myevolve (1800 693 865), or by writing to:
9–13 Argyle Street, Parramatta 2150 NSW
Are you unhappy about a decision made about your tenancy? You can lodge an appeal within three months from the date of the original decision.
To lodge an appeal, please fill out the Appeals form, which you can access online at: http://bit.ly/Appeal-Evolve-Housing or by contacting our office on: 1800 myevolve (1800 693 865).
Acknowledgement of Country
Evolve Housing acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land where we deliver our housing and services. We acknowledge and pay our respects to all Elders past, present and future. We welcome all First Nations People to our services, as we walk together towards reconciliation.
