Evolve Housing Newsletter June 2023

BBQ Harbour Cruise

A FREE social outing on Wednesday 26th July.

See page 8

IN THIS ISSUE

Community Garden Installation

A community garden at one of our Guildford complexes.

Page 2

Save the Date Events

Women’s Coffee Club and Imaginate events for kids.

Page 4

Win State of Origin Tickets

We have 1 prize to give away.

Page 5

First Aid Course

Register your interest.

Page 5

Safeguard your home from mould

Mould prevention tips.

Page 6

Interview with Fatema

Support team interview.

Page 7

Programs on Offer

FAN Volunteers, Opportunity Pathways, KEY grants, High School help, GO grants.

Page 8

THRIVING COMMUNITIES FOR ALL PEOPLE

Joy

IMAGINATE School

Holiday Events see page 4

for sick kids and their families.

See story on page 3.

the only children’s hospice in NSW and one of only three in Australia, to do all that they can to help raise money

RAG Chat

Your Resident Advisory Group members along with the Maintenance Advisory Group have been actively engaged in some very important discussions and input to Evolve that will benefit all residents. This includes the way maintenance will be done and technology system changes.

They have also had direct discussions with Evolve Housing Board members that have attended the meetings. Board members will continue to attend these meetings throughout the year.

Your RAG have organised a BBQ Harbour Cruise in July 2023 for our residents. Don’t forget to check out the Evolve Housing — What’s On page to find out more. Resident Advisory Group members have also attended the recent CHIA conference in May and Evolve Housing would like to acknowledge their representation at the conference.

VOLUNTEER WEEK 2023

At Evolve Housing, we have over 20 residents who volunteer their time to improve the systems of our organisation, and the experiences of our residents through providing feedback and creating change. To celebrate these valuable contributions of the Resident Advisory group (RAG), Maintenance Advisory Group (MAG) and Friendship Aged Network (FAN) we hosted these volunteers at our Evolve Housing Office for a seated lunch, plenty of Thank You’s and a certificate presentation on behalf of Volunteers Week 2023.

Acknowledgement of Country

Evolve Housing acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land where we deliver our housing services. We acknowledge and pay our respects to all Elders past, present and future. We welcome all First Nations Peoples to our services, as we walk together towards reconciliation.

SORRY DAY 26th May 2023

On Sorry Day, Evolve Housing acknowledges the voices and experiences of all members of the Stolen Generations, removed from family and communities.

We reflect on the sad history of forcible removals of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the ongoing effects on individuals, families and communities. We encourage our communities to first build understanding of the injustices and experiences of the Stolen Generations and focus on reconciliation this National Sorry Day. To read more about Sorry Day visit: www.reconciliation.org.au/publication/lets-talk-sorry-day

Community Garden installation

We established a community garden at one of our Guildford complexes in March 2023. The residents planted seasonal vegetables and herbs to be able to grow and share with one another.

We would like to thank Community Greening and Vegepod for their support in making this happen. If anyone is interested in establishing a community garden at their complex, please get in touch with our Community Engagement Officer — Rob via email at community@evolvehousing.com.au

Evolve Housing’s Volunteer Angels

Working together with Bunnings and Bear Cottage, the only children’s hospice in NSW and one of only three in Australia, the pair do all that they can to help raise money for sick kids and their families.

Joy focuses on creating incredible owl door stoppers (and she has made 4,000 to date!), while Robyn knits tea towels, beanies, scarves as well as making rugs, aprons, soft toys, baby boots with sheep soles, and coat hangers.

The journey began 12 years ago when Evolve Housing resident Joy devastatingly lost her husband Norman. Robyn was already working alongside Bear Cottage and asked her sister to join her volunteering efforts.

“I’ve loved it ever since and being able to work with my sister makes it that much better,” Joy told Evolve Housing.

Spending time together creating these treasured items to make a difference is at the forefront of Joy and Robyn’s goal.

When they have all their handmade creations ready, Joy and Robyn make their way to Bunnings in either Belrose, Chatswood or Artarmon and rotate for six weeks to give members of the public an opportunity to purchase their items and raise money for Bear Cottage.

The pair also sell raffle tickets to raise more money with prizes ranging from a patchwork quilt, esky and Bunnings voucher and so much more!

“We do that every six weeks, and we have a little break

in between before we come back with more handmade creations,” Robyn said.

Since Joy joined her sister, together they raised a magnificent $139,840 which has gone a long way for children and their families at Bear Cottage.

“Knowing that we’re making a difference and seeing children’s smiling faces makes us incredible happy,” Joy said.

“All the money raised goes into a special account which is then given to the parents or siblings of children at the hospice to treat them for a meal, Luna Park, or even the zoo.”

With Volunteer Week starting from May 15 to May 23, Joy and Robyn said they don’t do anything special but are instead made to feel special when they’re presented with awards from Evolve Housing at their Volunteer Week celebrations.

“Evolve is really good to us and we love being a part of something that makes a difference,” Joy said.

“We hope to keep making a change in people’s lives for many years to come.”

Evolve Housing would like to thank all our volunteers for their valuable contributions to the community and business.

To find out more about Bear Cottage and to help make a difference, click here: bit.ly/bear-cottage-volunteers

To everyone they’re known as Joy and Robyn, but to Evolve Housing they’re known as our angel volunteers.

SAVE THE DATE — EVENTS COMING UP IN 2023

Women’s Coffee Club

Women’s Coffee Club is a space for women to come together and build social connections. We would love for you to join us and welcome our female residents to join us for a coffee, cake and chat on us! Our next catch up will be 10am–12pm on Wednesday 2nd August 2023 at Yagoona Communty Centre, 176D Cooper Rd Yagoona, where we will welcome guest speakers of interest and share lunch. For information please contact Terina on 0412 806 461 or via email: community@evolvehousing.com.au

Imaginate events

Imaginate program provides fun-filled activities for children and young people during the 1st and 2nd week of July 2023 school holidays! Some of our upcoming events include:

CODE RED LASER

Imaginate COOL KIDS FIRST AID  Activity: Learn how to respond to emergencies and treat minor injuries.

Date: Thursday 6th July 2023

Time: 1pm –3:30pm

Location: Yagoona Community Centre 176D Cooper Rd Yagoona

Imaginate CODE RED LASER

Activity: Play 4 x games of laser skirmish in multiple mazes!

Date: Tuesday 11th July 2023

Time: 10am–1:30pm

Location: Code Red Laser

175 James Ruse Drive, Camellia

There will be food provided and prizes to be won! Keep an eye out via the Evolve Housing - What’s On page for more information or to book: bit.ly/eh-whatson

COMPETITION CORNER

Competition Corner is a new segment we will be launching in our newsletters! If football isn’t your thing, not to worry! Our next edition will have some cool prizes up for grabs! Win State of Origin Tickets! To celebrate the State of Origin we will be holding a Find-a-word competition with Game 3 State of Origin tickets as the prize!

THE PRIZE: We have 1 prize to give away. The winner will get a family pass to Game 3 of the State of Origin, admitting a family of four. The tickets are only valid for Wednesday 12th July 2023 (school holidays), so winners must be available on this date.

HOW TO ENTER: Locate the listed words in the grid correctly, then take a photo of the completed find-a-word when you’re done. Send the photo by SMS to Terina on 0412 806 461. Use the subject line “State of Origin”. Please include your full name, address and phone number. All correct entries will go into the running to win, then we will draw 1 winner randomly. Please note you must be an Evolve Housing resident.

ENTRIES CLOSE midday Monday 26th June 2023, and we will contact the winners directly.

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STATE OF ORGIN 2023

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Imaginate Highlights in April

Our April 2023 school holidays welcomed 100+ residents to participate in our Imaginate programs at the One Man Circus in Yagoona and the Ninja Playground in Mount Druitt

Imaginate provide free fun-filled activities or skill-based workshops for children, young people and their families to participate in during the school holiday periods.

Thank you to all the families who joined us! It was great to see your smiling faces!

First Aid Course Certificate

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maroons referee

tackle golden league state south

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goldenleaguestate

rugby accor point blues ball

wales kick new try

We are inviting any of our residents (16 years +) interested in completing a First Aid Course Certificate to register interest for future courses! Please fill out our First Aid Expression of Interest form: https://forms.office.com/r/fq7UGK9znV

Safeguard your home from MOULD this WINTER!

Winter has well and truly set in, and with temperatures plummeting, heavy rainfall, cold temperatures and even heaters can sometimes cause condensation that can lead to mould problems. Safeguard your home with some of our mould prevention tips below.

What is mould?

Mould is a kind of fungus that grows through tiny airborne particles called spores. It can grow on almost any surface if these conditions exist:

• Indoor humidity of 80% or more.

• Moisture, often from condensation. While mould can grow without it, moisture makes it grow faster.

• A food source, like ingredients in paint, household dust, or cooking fumes.

The most common mould, called sooty mould, leaves brown or black stains on surfaces like walls and ceilings in bathrooms, bedrooms, and cupboards. If not treated, it can spread throughout the house. Green furry mould grows on organic items, such as shoes or clothes.

Condensation and mould

The winter season brings with it condensation and mould growth problems in houses, units, townhouses and villa homes. Condensation and mould can occur in any type of home construction, including weatherboard, brick veneer, solid brick, and brick veneer.

Condensation and its causes

An atmosphere full of water vapor is considered highly humid. When this humid air touches a cold surface like a wall or ceiling, it cools down and water vapor turns into condensation on that surface. High humidity can make absorbent materials like clothing or bedclothes feel damp. It can also cause rust on metal surfaces, such as spring wire mattresses.

How to prevent condensation

To prevent condensation, it’s important to replace humid air with dry air through better ventilation. Here are some tips for improving home ventilation:

• Open windows and doors to increase airflow.

• Ensure proper ventilation during the day, especially when the house is closed on cold nights.

• Keep room ventilators and exhaust fans clean to avoid blockage from dust or fluff, which can hinder ventilation.

• Use exhaust fans while bathing, showering, cooking, doing laundry, or drying clothes.

Warm moist air

Warm air will not cause condensation on a cold surface, but warm moist air will. Warm moist air can be created by:

• steam from cooking

• washing dishes or clothes

• clothes dryers that are not externally vented

• steam from bathrooms

• drying damp clothes inside

What can I do to reduce mould in the property?

To reduce mould growth, follow these simple tips:

• Allow dry air to circulate by using proper ventilation.

• Open doors and windows, especially in the bathroom during cool weather.

• Keep bathroom surfaces, showers, and curtains dry, and open the door for air circulation.

• Regularly clean your home and wipe away moisture from windows and walls.

• Let sunlight into your home, particularly in the bathroom, laundry, and kitchen.

• Wash and dry damp clothes, and air out damp shoes outside quickly. Store them dry to prevent mould growth, and keep wardrobe doors open if possible.

• Remove fruits and vegetables from plastic wrap, refrigerate within 27 hours, and discard mouldy items. Store fresh food in sealed containers or use cling film.

• Clean evaporation trays in air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and refrigerators often.

EVOLVE HOUSING TEAM UPDATES

more intimate with our clients was part of my decision to work for the Evolve Housing Contact Centre team. I came from working for a team of more than 200 people to a much smaller team of eight. This makes me feel like I’m more involved with the community and our residents as we become familiar with some of them.

I also love the fact that I didn’t leave the housing industry and continue helping those who need it most.

What kind of tasks does your job involve — what is a typical day like for you?

When I come into work, I’m ready with my coffee (it’s actually a chai latte) and I begin the day by managing the contact centre calls general enquiries as well as the request for repairs which is a huge part of what we do.

Interview with Fatema Ebrahimi

#MEETEVOLVE gives you, our resident, a better insight into who we are as your support team! In this edition we interview Fatema Ebrahimi, a member of the Contact Centre team — someone you may have already chatted to over the phone!

How long have you been working at Evolve Housing and within the Contact Centre team?

I applied for the job at Evolve Housing in the middle of lockdown and that honestly feels like a lifetime ago, but it’s only been a year and a half since I started and there’s no looking back now. I am so happy in my role and glad to have chosen Evolve Housing to help make a difference.

What did you do before joining Evolve Housing?

I was part of the housing contact centre at the Department of Communities and Justice for about 3 years.

The opportunity to work at Evolve Housing came unexpectedly and I applied for the role and during the interview process it just seemed like the right thing to do and I knew this is where I wanted to be.

What made you want to work in the Evolve Housing Contact Centre team?

The opportunity to work for a smaller team where it’s a bit

My day consists of following up on repairs, speaking to tenants about what they may be struggling with, general enquiries, or even tenants doing it tough with the rent which continues to go up.

You just never know what calls you’re going to get but I’m glad that I am at the forefront of assisting our residents.

What kind of impact do you think the contact centre has on residents?

I hope our residents know that whenever they call the Contact Centre they have someone who is doing their best to help in any given situation. Our residents can rely on us to assist and that is what we continuously want to achieve.

Our residents also just want to chat about problems they’re having or need some guidance and we’re always available to help. Ensuring that our residents’ expectations of Evolve Housing are met is a huge responsibility and I can only hope that this is something myself and the team are doing.

What’s your favourite thing about working for Evolve Housing?

My favourite thing about my job at Evolve Housing is helping people out. That’s the most important thing to me. One of my values is to help people around me and help people who may not be able to help themselves.

Also, it’s a bonus that I love to speak to people so having that opportunity to speak to different people every day makes my job that much better.

PROGRAMS ON OFFER

Become a FAN volunteer

Do you have some time to make some weekly calls to some of our older residents. A simple chat to see how they are going.

Friendship Aged Network is a program aimed at reaching those tenants over 55 years of age and primarily living alone. It’s a chance for them to have a chat with a fellow resident, see how they are going and maybe invite them to events and outings. Come along to an info session with our current FAN volunteer to find out more.

Date: Wed 2nd August 2023

Time: 11:30am – 1pm

Where: Evolve Housing Office, 9 Argyle Street, Parramatta

For more information or to RSVP please contact Rob Costa on 1800 693 865

Financial Assistance grants

Did you know we provide financial grants to our residents?

KEY grants — supports adults with educational expenses who are looking to or are currently completing tertiary education such as TAFE or university.

Highschool Help — supports high school students with educational expenses that attend high school.  GO grants — supports children with expenses related to physical or cultural activities.

For more information please contact our Community Development worker Terina on 0412 806 461, see our website Evolve Housing or email community@evolvehousing.com.au

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. If you are on the waiting list for social housing you are also eligible to apply. Call 1800 PATH2WORK (1800 728 429) or email: pathways@evolvehousing.com.au

BBQ Harbour Cruise

In response to feedback from the RAG, we will be holding a FREE social outing on Wednesday 26th July 2023 from 11.30am – 2.30pm at Circular Quay. Limited spaces are available. For more information or to book please see Evolve Housing — What’s On page for more information. Or to book bit.ly/eh-whatson

How to make a compliment, complaint or appeal

At Evolve Housing, we acknowledge that compliments, complaints and appeals provide valuable feedback.

If you would like to leave us a compliment (thanks!) we would love to hear from you! Please visit:

https://bit.ly/Evolve-Housing-Compliment-Complaints-Appeals To make a complaint, please email ihear@evolvehousing.com au You are also able to reach out by phone on 1800 693 865, or by mailing us at 9–13 Argyle Street, Parramatta 2150 NSW

If you are 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 our Appeals form on our website: http://bit.ly/Appeal-Evolve-Housing or by contacting our office on 1800 693 865

evolvehousing.com.au/whats-on or by calling 1800 myevolve (1800 693 865) @evolvehousing evolvehousing