From loss and hardship springs hope Winter fire safety checklist All about water charges
3
From loss and hardship springs hope
Sara went from having a stable home to living on the verge of homelessness. 6 Meet the Board – Jeff Cummings
Elected in 2022, Jeff has been in the property industry for over 31 years as a senior executive and director. 10
Blooming greatness in Cartwright
The beautiful garden has transformed the Cartwright complex into a joyful paradise 12 All about water charges
All Hume customers are charged for water used in their home, find out more here. 14 Community Notice Board
See what events and activities are happening in your area 18
Winter fire safety checklist
Keep yourself and your family fire safe this winter by going through this checklist. 21 Tech Tips
Learn how to use HumePAY, the easy way to view and pay your bills!. 24 SIL partnerships and you
Hume are proud to announce two new Supported Independent Living partnerships.
Welcome to our Winter issue
From Hume’s CEO Brad Braithwaite
Welcome to the Winter edition of Humelife! It’s already feeling cold, and what better way to rug-up during the winter months than with a hot drink and a copy of Humelife?
There’s so much happening at Hume - including our 30th anniversary (page 6), volunteering at Ronald McDonald House to assist sick children (page 8) and building new partnerships for our Housing for People with a Disability customers (page 25).
I know there’s also excitement building for this year’s Hume in Bloom gardening competition…I can’t wait to see what beautiful gardens our creative customers grow this spring! Turn to pages 11-12 to read more about last year’s winners and how you can enter this year. Hume in Bloom is open to ALL
Hume customers, no matter their age or experience.
We’ve made sure that this issue is jam-packed with important information for everyone. Every winter, we see more than 1,100 home fires across NSW, and that’s why we’ve added a handy fire safety checklist on page 19. We want to make sure you know how to keep your home safe while keeping warm. There’s also been an uptick in news headlines telling stories of everyday Australians losing their well-earned money to scammers. It can be tricky to spot a scam these days, so we’ve included some nifty tips to help you spot the warning signs of scams on page 26.
To wrap up, I’m pleased to announce that the NSW Government just promised 30,000 new homes in the latest State Budget – a very
NEW AND IMPROVED CUSTOMER CHARTER
important commitment. The number of Australians sleeping rough has jumped 25% in the past year, with some areas in NSW seeing a nearly 80% increase. High property prices and rental costs are leading to more and more residents struggling to secure stable and affordable housing. These new homes will ease the demand for rental housing for lower income earners in NSW and provide a safe roof over the head of many Australians in need.
Enjoy Humelife and please share any feedback – we want Humelife to be a valuable read for everyone
All the best,
Brad Braithwaite Chief Executive Officer
The Hume Customer Charter has undergone a makeover with a new look and feel! Now named the Customer Experience Charter, this document:
Sets clear expectations around services and response times
Defines benchmarks for measuring performance
Demonstrates our dedication to customer satisfaction
You can read the new Customer Experience Charter at humehousing.com.au
From loss and hardship springs hope
Single mum-of-five Sara has faced many challenges, but even she could have never prepared for a devastating flood that destroyed their private rental home in the Hunter.
Sara and her family went from having a stable home one day to living on the verge of homelessness amidst a severe rental crisis the next.
The weeks following the flood were traumatic. “Despite my best efforts, house application after house application was denied. I have never felt more desperate,” Sara said. The mum was eventually accepted into temporary housing, but that meant there was inadequate accommodation for her large family.
Describing it as one of the hardest decisions she ever had to make, she worked with family and friends to house the older children. “I wanted them to feel safe and remain in familiar surroundings, attend their local schools, and stay close to their friends during the upheaval.”
The family took up residence in short-term temporary accommodation in Jesmond while waiting for something more stable. Within a few weeks, the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) placed the family in a social housing property managed by Hume Community Housing.
Sara was able to reunite her family under one roof.
“It was like having my own castle again,” she recalls, “it gave me the strength to rebuild our lives”. The new home is a new life and Sara is grateful for the stability that has allowed her family to thrive.
Hume has provided social and affordable housing to Hunter residents since 2019, when the community housing provided was awarded management of over 2,200 homes in the region. Many of the homes are older social housing stock in dire need of upgrading. Hume, with government funding assistance, has undertaken a program of capital works to ensure the homes are safe and fit for purpose for families like Sara’s.
The family’s new home was slated for improvements: Hume installed a new kitchen, laid flooring, and lifted the home with a fresh coat of paint. In a few short weeks, their home was transformed into a source of comfort and pride.
Sara’s commitment to getting her family’s life back on track has gone from strength to strength. Hume has provided support services to assist Sara to get back into employment, and with this financial stability, Sara is now pursuing further education.
The children are thriving having settled into their new home. Sara told us: “My daughter has developed a passion for cooking and is making lunches and meals for all of us. She loves the new kitchen and takes pride in keeping everything neat and tidy, I am no longer nagging her to pick up clothes from her floor, she is house proud just like me.”
Christmas marked an important milestone for Sara: “Having a home and a job meant I was in a financially stable position to buy gifts for my kids. This was a first for me. It was such a great feeling and gave me confidence knowing I was a strong mum able to give my children the happy family and home they deserve.”
Sara’s story underscores how important a stable home is and there are thousands of others like Sara desperately waiting for homes. The NSW Government made a record investment into social and affordable housing as part of the recent NSW budget. Housing was front and centre, with the announcement that $6.6 billion will be spent to address the housing crisis and end homelessness. Hume congratulates the government on their commitment and stands ready to partner to help deliver more homes in the communities we serve.
Are you or someone you know at risk of homelessness? Please contact Hume Community Housing on 1800 004 300 during business hours or Link2home on 1800 152 152 outside business hours.
Seniors Hub
Seniors Hub is a program run by Hume designed to help people aged 55 and over to connect with each other and participate in a range of fun activities such as day trips, arts and crafts, gentle exercise classes, morning teas, and more.
The motto of Seniors Hub is “By Hume seniors, for Hume seniors”; Seniors Hub members are encouraged to contribute to day-to-day running of their Hub and share any skills they have.
Member activities are $5 per month and are open to all Hume customers and their friends.
RAYMOND TERRACE HUB
Time: Thursdays from 9:30am
Address: 5 Wahroonga Street, Raymond Terrace
Contact: Maddison at 0491 086 882
Moments that made us 30TH ANNIVERSARY
In 1994, Fairfield Rental Housing Company and Liverpool Rental Housing Association came together to form Hume Community Housing.
But that’s not the end of the story! Hume owes its beginnings to three hard-working no-nonsense women who swam against the tide in a sector dominated by men.
Judith Beveridge and Lesley Wyatt teamed up with Pat Martin, who headed up the Fairfield Migrant Resource Centre. In the 1990s, South-Western Sydney was home to a growing migrant population, including refugees who were housed in migrant hostels. The three women knew they had to think big – with gusto, they joined forces and worked hard to tackle the growing demand for affordable housing in South-Western Sydney.
EAST MAITLAND HUB
Time: Tuesdays from 9:30am
Address: 77 George Street, East Maitland
Contact: Richard at 0491 691 977
“None of us had any experience regarding amalgamations, but we had a lot of passion for housing people,” said Pat, “We started with just 125 houses and $275,000 in cash. We knocked on the doors of Parliament House, we lobbied local politicians, and we fought to hard to secure land, build homes, and support local communities.”
By 1999 and with 500 properties under management, Hume was the first Community Housing Provider to secure three-year accreditation status against the National Community Housing Standards (NCHS). In 2014, Hume had secured Tier 1 status and as they say, the rest is history. We celebrate our founders Judith, Pat, and Lesley. As the saying goes... from little things big things grow. Today we have close to 5,000 homes and 9,000 customers and we are still growing and helping even more people.
Pat Martin
Judith Beveridge
Lesley Wyatt
Meet the Hume Board –Jeff Cummings
Elected in 2022, Jeff has been in the property industry as a senior executive and director.
For the past 21 years, Jeff has been self-employed as a consultant to government agencies such as Landcom and NSW Department of Health among many other private and public companies.
Can you share with us a little about yourself and why you joined the Hume Board?
I have spent over 30 years working in the property industry, mainly in construction of affordable residential housing and the development of residential sub-divisions. I have also been active as a volunteer in various humanitarian activities throughout the South Pacific, particularly, Papua New Guinea, engaged in such work as leadership training, disaster relief, and developing programs to help people become self-reliant. The opportunity to join the Hume Board was a natural marrying together of these two life experiences.
What are some of Hume’s achievements that have stood out for you?
In my 2.5 years as a Board member, the achievement that stands out to me has been the establishment of a dynamic and highly competent Growth & Development team, which has now successfully tendered for transformational development of new housing stock for Hume customers, including major partnership bids for a substantial number of houses under the Federal Government’s Housing Australia Future Fund.
The other achievement that has really resonated with me has been the Together Home program and meeting Hume customers who have successfully been able to access permanent housing after experiencing homelessness and been able to receive other wrap-around services to enable them to achieve better life outcomes.
Director, Member of Growth, Development and Sustainability Committee, Member of People and Culture Committee B Bus, FAICD
THE OTHER ACHIEVEMENT THAT HAS REALLY RESONATED WITH ME HAS BEEN THE TOGETHER HOME PROGRAM.
Cold you talk us through your role as Chair of the Growth, Development and Sustainability Subcommittee?
The Growth, Development and Sustainability Subcommittee has two main duties. Firstly, to develop new additional housing stock for Hume customers, either by way of transfer, purchase, or construction of new product. The second is to oversee the ongoing maintenance and continual improvement of all housing stock to increase both their longevity and provide a safe and cost-efficient living environment for Hume customers.
My role as Chair, along with the Committee members, is to ensure that these two functions are carried out in a financially responsible manner and to ensure the activities of the Growth & Development team are in alignment with Hume’s strategic priorities.
What else are you working on outside of Hume now?
I’m still active as a property consultant to both private and public companies as well as to government agencies. I was also recently named the national coordinator of the Giving Machine project in Australia and New Zealand. The Giving Machine is a global campaign held each Christmas in over 60 cities worldwide where vending machines are set up in shopping centres and the public can make donations to 6 different charities for specific nominated products. 100% of the donations made are then given to those charities
MEALS FROM THE HEART
Hume has been an active supporter of Ronald McDonald House
– a great charity supporting the families of sick children who are hospitalized at Westmead Children’s Hospital and John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle. In June, Hume employees volunteered their time to cook a healthy Mexican feast for the families with seriously ill children living at the Ronald McDonald House in Newcastle. After dinner, our team sat and shared a meal with the families, learning first-hand about some of their struggles, sacrifices and heartbreak.
A home-cooked meal not only provides relief for these families –who spend most of their days at the hospital bedside of their kids – but demonstrates the power of community connections that can be formed through acts of kindness.
A big thanks to our generous team who volunteered their evening to take part in this important community initiative and bring smiles (and extra ice cream!) to these families.
for the products specified. I’m also the Deputy Chairperson of SEIROS Limited, which is a not-for-profit research organisation that studies the economic value of religion in society.
You’ve been very active in humanitarian and disaster relief, what was your most memorable moment in these activities?
The thing that stands out to me is that wherever I travelled throughout Papua New Guinea, I met people who had literally nothing from developed world perspective, yet they were the happiest people I know, rich in their own sense of who they were and the natural environment in which they lived. I learned that it was not my role to impose my world on them but to help them to improve and enhance their own world.
Are you finding it hard to successfully secure a rental?
Are you struggling with budgeting and paying your rent?
Join our FREE session to help you secure, and successfully maintain a rental tenancy.
IT KEEP IT Hume acknowledges The NSW Department of Communities and Justice who developed The Rent It Keep It program. Also, our partners who support us to deliver the program.
Are you at risk of losing your rental because of property care issues?
No matter your age, if you are a current tenant or looking for your first rental – this program will help everyone.
Learn how to be a good tenant, understand your rights, and responsibilities of renting in the private rental market (or in public and community housing) and increase your chances of successfully securing a rental tenancy.
If you are struggling to secure a tenancy, or think your tenancy is at risk we encourage you to sign up today! Register at Eventbrite or call Hume on 1800 004 300.
BOOK AT EVENTBRITE
Sessions available in both Regional Maitland NSW & Metro Fairfield NSW – scan the QR Code to find a session near you.
• The 4-hour program is FREE and includes a light lunch.
• Enjoy a welcoming, relaxed non-judgemental setting.
• Attend on your own or bring a support person.
• Gain a recognised Certificate of Completion to add to your customer record or use to apply for a private rental.
• You can improve your rental housing journey, moving from temporary accommodation into long term rental in the private market.
Sessions fill up fast so don’t miss out.
BOOK YOUR SEAT NOW! FREE LUNCH INCLUDED
Blooming greatness
IN CARTWRIGHT
Recently, after a few unforeseen delays, we were finally able to gift a Cartwright unit complex with the grand prize for the winning garden – a $400 Bunnings voucher and a special certificate recognising their win in the 2023 Hume in Bloom competition!
Cartwright’s lead gardener Dean joined Hume team member
Jonathan on a trip to Bunnings to spend the voucher on new plants and garden essentials that will add to the enjoyment of the garden for everyone living at the complex.
Winning the Community Garden category as well as the overall competition, the beautiful garden has transformed the Cartwright complex into a colourful paradise, very much adding to the street
The garden also provides a muchneeded relaxing outdoor space for the eight customers living in the complex to sit outside and use the communal barbeque.
Hume in Bloom is an annual gardening competition open to entries from all Hume customers. This competition is designed to recognise customers who take pride in their property and encourage others to follow in their footsteps. There are categories for
pot and balcony gardens to larger community gardens. If you have a green thumb and love to potter, we would encourage you to enter and share your garden with us.
Our annual gardening competition is open to all Hume customers regardless of experience - simply take a photo of you with your garden and tell us your story! LOVE GARDENING? WANT TO TRY IT? GET EXCITED BECAUSE...
All
about water charges
All Hume customers are charged for water used in their home. This is set out in Section 139 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2010.
How are my water charges calculated?
Your water charges are calculated differently depending on the type of property you live in.
If your property has its own water meter
Sydney Water or Hunter Water is responsible for checking your water meter and sending a bill to Hume (usually every quarter).
Each time we receive this bill, we will charge you for water usage. This should be paid within 28 days of the issue date.
If your property has a shared water meter
If you live in a unit, you will have a shared water meter.
We will charge you a weekly water charge according to the number of people in your household. These payments must be made weekly or fortnightly in advance just like rent payments.
How can I pay my water charges?
There are many options to pay your water charges:
HumePAY: Go to humehousing.com.au/ humepay and login with your details to view and pay your bills online anytime, anywhere.
Centrepay: If you receive Centrelink payments, you can choose to have your water charges deducted from these payments and paid directly to us.
BPAY: You can pay your water charges online using the BPAY details displayed on the front of your rent and water bill letters.
Over the phone: Please call our Customer Service Centre on 1800 004 300 and have your customer number and debit card details ready.
Are there any allowances for water charges?
If you live in a property with a separate water meter, Hume will consider granting allowance if you or a member of your household requires home-based kidney dialysis or has a health condition or disability which means more water use is required.
Applications for a water charge allowance must be submitted to Hume in writing, along with documented medical evidence supporting your claim.
What if I am having difficulty paying my water charges?
If you are concerned about your rent or water charges, it is important that you contact us as soon as possible. We want to support you to keep your home and can work with you to customise a repayment plan and seek financial supports.
How to contact us
Need to talk to us? There are many ways to get in touch with the friendly team at Hume.
Customer Service Centre
Our Customer Service Centre features our most frequently asked questions and answers, making it easy for you to find out what you need. Just click on an article or search.
Digital Forms
If you want to report a repair, apply for affordable housing, or have a general question, you can use our new digital form on humehousing.com.au/contactus and get a quick response from our Customer Service team.
Facebook Messenger
You can also talk to us through Facebook Messenger on your computer or phone.
You will need to download Facebook Messenger from the Play or Apple store to message us via your phone. Simply search “Hume Community Housing” and message.
Phone and Email
Of course, you can continue to get in touch with us on our traditional channels if you prefer:
• General Enquiries: hume@humehousing.com.au OR 1800 004 300
• Repairs and Maintenance: repairs@humehousing.com.au OR (02) 1800 004 300
We can work with you to communicate using a method that best suits you, including interpreter services, sign language, visual aids, or assistive technology.
If you want information in your language, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service at 131 450.
If you are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, please call the National Relay Service at 133 677.
COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
CHILL FEST 2024
MEN AND THEIR BOOKWORMS
SYDNEY FREE LEGAL ADVICE
Every Monday 10:30am – 11:30am Whitlam Library, Cabramatta
Calling all dads, grandpas, uncles, and big brothers with children under five to join this special story time session!
Men and their Bookworms is about building connections, relationships, and literacy skills while making friends with other men and starting a life-long journey with your child.
For more information, please contact Uniting Services at 0418 178 863.
Friday July 5th – Sunday July 21st | 11am – 11pm | Koshiyaga Park, Campbelltown
Campbelltown’s much loved Chill Fest is back for 2024, and Koshigaya Park will come alive with the magic of winter these July school holidays.
Come along for lots of fun activities and entertainment for the whole family, including amusement rides, an open-air ice-skating rink, light shows, performances, marshmallow toasting, and plenty of food trucks.
For more information, please contact Campbelltown City Council at (02) 4645 4487.
FREE EXHIBITION: RESONANCES
Available until Wednesday July 31st | 10am – 4pm Liverpool Regional Museum
The free RESONANCES exhibition takes visitors on a journey to discover Liverpool’s heritage through its collection of donated objects.
We can only speculate about the personal meanings and significance an object holds for an individual or family; donors provide a trace of their story as a gift for future generations.
For more information, please contact the Liverpool Regional Museum at (02) 8711 7126.
First Tuesday of the month 10am – 12pm Glenquarie Library, Macquarie Fields
Do you need to talk to someone about a legal issue? You can now book in for a free legal advice appointment with Legal NSW.
These appointments are free and for an allocated time. A practicing lawyer will listen to you talk about your problem, ask some follow-up questions, and advise you on what to do next.
To make a booking, please contact Glenquarie Library at (02) 4645 4055.
CABRAMATTA MOON FESTIVAL
Sunday September 8th | 11am – 8pm | Cabramatta Town Centre
Every year across Southeast Asia, millions of people celebrate the Moon Festival in early September.
From exciting lion dances and parade to beautiful traditional dances, complete with costumes and vibrant live performances, the Cabramatta Moon Festival event offers a diverse and inclusive program, closing with an amazing fireworks finale at 8pm.
For more information, please contact Fairfield City Council at (02) 9725 0288
FAMILY MOVIE FUN
First Friday of the month 5:30pm – 8pm Bankstown Library
Jump into your pyjamas and bring the family along to FREE Friday night movies at the Bankstown Library and Knowledge Centre. Popcorn and drinks included!
Please note that bookings are essential and adults must accompany all children under 12.
To make a booking, please contact Bankstown Library at (02) 9707 9704.
COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
HUNTER
DIGITAL TECH SESSIONS
Tuesdays | 11am – 12pm | Rutherford Library
Thursdays 11am – 12pm | East Maitland Library
Learn new digital skills and build your confidence with technology at Maitland City Library’s small, free group sessions.
Whether you want to pick up new skills or dive into a new topic, you can make a booking to join a free tech session:
• 11am every Tuesday at Rutherford Library
• 11am every Thursday at East Maitland Library
To make a booking, please contact Maitland City Library at (02) 4033 0999.
PORT STEPHENS MOBILE PRESCHOOL
Various dates and times | Anna Bay, Fern Bay, Medowie, and Raymond Terrace
The Port Stephens Mobile Preschool offers a challenging and stimulating educational program that provides opportunities for children to try new experiences, practice new skills, and enjoy play at their personal developmental level.
The Mobile Preschool offers care, learning opportunities, and school readiness for children aged 3-5 through qualified educators.
For more information, please contact the Mobile Preschool on (02) 4988 0308.
MAITLAND AROMA FESTIVAL
Sunday August 11th | 7:30am – 6pm
Maitland Riverside Carpark
Ward off the winter chill at the Maitland Aroma festival!
At this family-friendly event, you can learn the latest in coffee and chocolate cooking techniques, take part in workshops, and enjoy live music, wine, and comfort food from the Hunter and beyond.
For more information, please contact Maitland City Council at (02) 4931 2801.
TRAUMA TEDDY KNITTING GROUP
Every second Wednesday 10am – 12pm | Kurri Kurri Library Trauma Teddies are special friends given to children in times of sadness or crisis.
If you would like to help comfort children in need, come along to the Trauma Teddy Knitting Group at Kurri Kurri Library for some ‘bear repair’, morning tea, and friendly conversation. Non-knitters are welcome to come and help sew and stuff the knitted skins too.
For more information, please contact Kurri Kurri Library on (02) 4937 1638.
MENTAL HEALTH CARERS SUPPORT
Mental illness can have a ripple effect on families, and there is often little training or support for people caring for a loved one with mental illness.
ARAFMI Hunter is a Samaritans-run service that provides support to families and friends of people with mental illness. No referral is needed to reach out.
For more information, please contact Samaritans at (02) 4922 1546.
FINGAL BAY PARKRUN
Saturdays | 8am | 3 Marine Drive, Fingal Bay
Want to try jogging but don’t know where to start? Come along to Fingal Bay Parkrun, one of many free weekly community events run all around the world.
Parkrun is a positive, welcoming, and inclusive experience where there is no time limit, and no one finishes last. Everyone is welcome to come along, whether you walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate.
For more information, please contact Tammy at 0419 668 540.
Winter fire safety checklist
Every winter, there are more than 1,100 home fires across New South Wales. Keep yourself and your family fire safe this winter by going through this checklist.
Escape plans
Make sure you and everyone in your home knows your evacuation plan
Know and record one or two safe ways out of every room
Practice your escape plan regularly with the whole household
Heaters
Check your heater for any signs of damage before use
Ensure everything is kept at least one metre away from the heater
Never use any outdoor heating equipment inside your home
Electric blankets
Check your electric blanket for any signs of damage before use
Do not use the electric blanket while sleeping
Roll your electric blanket for storage as folding it can cause damage
Smoke alarms
Ensure you provide access if Hume asks to test your smoke alarm
If you’re unsure if your smoke alarm is working, contact Hume
Candles
Make sure lit candles are supervised at all times and kept away from flammable items and children
Choose a safe place to store matches and lighters away from children
Wheat bags
Check your wheat bag for any signs of damage before use
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when heating and using
Urgent repairs at Hume
If there is something impacting your safety or security in your home, this is considered an urgent repair.
What is an urgent repair?
Urgent repairs include:
• A burst water service
• A blocked or broken toilet
• A serious roof leak
• A gas leak
• A dangerous electrical fault
• Flooding or serious floor damage
• Any fault or damage that makes the home unsafe or insecure
• A serious fault in a lift or staircase
• Significant security threats to the premises and people
• The failure or breakdown of the gas, electricity or water supply
• The failure or breakdown of any essential services or appliances that have been provided by Hume for hot water, water, cooking, heating, or laundering
• An appliance, fitting or fixture provided by Hume that uses or supplies water and that is broken in a way that causes a substantial amount of water being wasted.
What do I do if I need an urgent repair?
If the repair you need is in the list above, please call us on 1800 004 300
All urgent repairs will be fixed within 4 hours.
The easy way to pay
Did you know that over 95% of Hume customers are enjoying using HumePAY?
Don’t waste time and energy – you can pay your rent, water, and maintenance bill online! Using HumePAY means you can:
• Make secure, safe payments at any time of the day or night
• Use your Mastercard or Visa debit card to pay
• View bill balances and ensure you always stay on top of payments
• Adjust the amount you wish to pay
• Allow household members to log in and pay
• Receive an instant receipt to your email address with print-at-home option
Simply log onto humehousing.com.au/humepay with your customer number, name, and year of birth, and easily access bill balances and make a payment.
SMS alerts Water Bill
Tech Tips
Need help to master your computer and mobile?
Welcome to the second installment of our new Tech Tips segment! In this edition, we will show you how to pay your rent, water, and utility bills online through HumePAY.
Step 3
Type in you or your household member’s full name, customer code (as seen on your Hume letters), and year of birth, then click “Submit”.
Wondering when your water bill is due?
We’ve just launched SMS reminders to help you manage your upcoming or overdue water bills! If you have an upcoming or overdue bill, you’ll now receive an SMS message reminding you.
A lot of customers don’t realise that they have one or more overdue water bills, plus no one likes surprises. We hope our alerts will serve as helpful reminders to enable you to plan and budget.
Step 4
If you have outstanding amounts due and want to pay full payment, type in the payer’s name and “Pay now”, then enter your payment details.
Step 5
If you have outstanding payments due and want to pay a partial payment, tick “I want to pay another amount”, then type in the amount you wish to pay and the payer name. Then click “Pay now” and enter your payment details.
Specialist Disability Accommodation
Rental Properties now available
What is SDA?
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) are properties that have been approved for some people funded under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to live in. IMPORTANT
Hume cannot assess your eligibility for SDA. You will need to contact your NDIS Support Coordinator to see if you are eligible for SDA funding and/or request a review of your NDIS plan if it is not included.
WEST PENNANT HILLS
Charming and warm home with a cosy outdoor area
This welcoming home has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a shared living space, and a double garage. The single-storey home also features a sensory room, a cosy outdoor garden, ceiling hoists in each bedroom, and a van equipped with wheelchairs.
NIAGRA PARK
Stylish home in charming bushland suburb
This beautifully decorated home has four bedrooms, two bedrooms, an open plan kitchen, large living room, and laundry facilities. The single-storey home is situated next to a nature reserve and hosts a well-maintained backyard with an undercover BBQ and entertainment area.
WESTMEAD
Peaceful heritage
home in a peaceful setting
This charming home in Westmead has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a lounge room, a dining room, and an open plan kitchen. The two-storey home is an older Federation-style property with a large backyard and outdoor entertaining area perfect to soak up the sun.
Rental Properties now available Specialist Disability Accommodation
Bright and beautiful home in central location
This centrally-located home features five bedrooms with built in wardrobes, two spacious living spaces, and two accessible bathrooms. The single-storey homey has a lovely outdoor space which is the perfect spot to relax in alone or to be social with your housemates and friends.
Modern
home close to local services
This well-located home has five bedrooms, two open living spaces, and two bathrooms with wide door frames and level access. The single-storey home is located very close to modern community facilities like local shopping centres, medical centres, and village markets.
ST MARYS
Self-contained villa perfect for privacy
This independent villa features one bedroom, one bathroom, and is connected to a communal room and a secure backyard. The villas are situated on a lively street, close to public transport, shops, cafes and a 15-minute trip to the nearest public hospital and medical services.
BLACKTOWN THE PONDS
Hume are proud to announce new partnerships with two Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers. These partnerships are the result of Housing for People with a Disability (HPWD) customers electing a new SIL provider through Hume’s Change of SIL Provider process.
SIL partnerships and you How to protect yourself from scams
Wesley Mission wesleymission.org.au
Wesley Mission is over 200 years old, and they’ve been working in disability services for more than 40 years. That means they’ve acquired knowledge, skills and services that meet the needs of the community plus they’ve developed quality administrative systems, clear procedures, and policies that benefit you.
Wesley Mission believes it’s right for people with a disability to have every opportunity to live the life they want to live and make their own decisions. Wesley Mission wants their services to be shaped by your goals and they’re ready to work with you to live a life you want.
True Living’s mission is to empower people with disabilities to live their lives to the fullest. Being confident in the world while feeling 100% supported and valued can truly transform a life. True Living fosters individuality and champions your wellbeing.
Helping people with disabilities live a life of independence, choice, and freedom. True Living’s person-centred approach means your health and wellbeing always come first. Everyone needs a safe and secure home to take advantage of the opportunity’s life presents.
Customers and their families from two of Hume’s HPWD homes elected Wesley Mission and their new SIL provider, and another HPWD home elected True Living as their new SIL provider.
Once a customer tells us that they would like to end the Service Agreement and change their existing SIL provider, their Supported Housing Coordinator tells all customers and guardians in their home to let them know of the request and explain the process.
Scams work because they look like the real thing. It can be very hard to spot a scam, but here are some warning signs and how to protect yourself and your loved ones.
The most common scam at the moment are tax texts and emails that look like they’re sent from the government and Service NSW. It’s best to delete the message immediately and call the agency to check if the message was from them or not.
It’s an amazing opportunity to make or save money
Scammers trick you into believing you’re getting an incredible deal or offer. They pressure you to act quickly so you don’t miss out. Remember, deals that seem too good to be true, usually are.
Someone you haven’t met needs your help and money
Scammers try to use your good nature against you – they tell heartbreaking or tragic stories to convince you to help them and give them money. Always be wary of any appeal for money.
They ask you to pay in unusual or specific ways
If a person asks you to pay with preloaded gift cards, iTunes cards, or virtual currency like Bitcoin, chances are it’s a scam. Once this money is spent, you can’t get it back.
How to become scam-proof
STOP
Don’t give money or personal information to anyone if you’re unsure.
THINK
You feel pressured to act quickly
Scammers don’t want you to take your time to think things through. They use techniques designed to catch you off guard and rush you, even sometimes saying something bad will happen.
The message contains links or attachments
Never automatically click a link or attachment you receive via email or text. Always make sure that the sender is who they say they are, but it’s safest to find the information yourself via their website or app.
Ask yourself if you think the message or call is fake and never click links in messages.
PROTECT
Act quickly if something feels wrong – contact your bank if you notice unusual activity.
Common signs of a scam
Discovering Australia
FIND A WORD
Budget buster recipes for winter
Leftover Lebanese pizzas
This cheeky pizza recipe will feed the whole family and make sure all your leftover food goes to use.
Ingredients
1 pack of Lebanese bread
1 tube of pizza sauce
1 cup grated cheese
Leftover protein (chicken, beef, tofu, etc.)
1 Preheat the oven to 200°C. Chop the leftover protein and vegetables into small bits. For each pizza, line a baking tray with baking paper (or take turns for each pizza if you have one baking tray).
When you are keeping an eye on your budget, it’s good to know you can eat cheaply without sacrificing nutrition and flavour. Our cheap and easy recipes will have you whipping them up in a flash.
4 Bake the pizzas for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy!
Colouring in
Leftover vegetables Tip!
2 Place one Lebanese bread on every available tray. Spread the pizza sauce evenly across the top of each bread with a spoon.
3 Evenly spread out your chopped protein and vegetables on top of each bread then cover with cheese.
Easy lamington balls
Sweet treats don’t get much easier: these tasty bites only need three ingredients.
Ingredients
1 McVities Milk Chocolate
Digestive biscuit packet
400g condensed milk
2 cups desiccated coconut
1 Use a food processor (or pound the packet on the edge of a kitchen bench) to crush the biscuits until fine crumbs form.
2 Pour the crumbs into a large bowl and add the condensed milk and 1 ½ cups of the desiccated coconut. Mix well.
3 Working in batches, roll level tablespoons of the mixture into balls. Roll the balls into the remaining ½ cup of desiccated coconut.
These pizzas are familyfriendly: they can be sliced up small for little ones.
4
Place the balls onto a baking tray lined with baking paper. Chill the tray in the fridge for at least 3 hours or until firm. Recipe from bunch.woolworths.com.au Recipe from taste.com.au
Compliments, complaints and appeals
We welcome your feedback, as it helps us to improve our services. You can submit a Compliment, Complaint or Appeal.
Feedback takes different forms:
COMPLAINT
• An expression of dissatisfaction with the standard or type of service we have provided.
APPEAL
• A request to have an official decision reviewed as you don’t agree with the outcome
• If you still don’t agree with the outcome of an appeal, you can contact the Housing Appeals Committee on 1800 629 974 and they will conduct an independent review.
CONTACT US
General enquiries: 1800 004 300
General email: hume@humehousing.com.au
Repairs email: repairs@humehousing.com.au
ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR REPORT
• If you are experiencing problems with your neighbours or their visitors, it is not recorded as a complaint
• Your Neighbourhood Officer will manage these reports and keep you updated on a regular basis.
Website: www.humehousing.com.au
Please like Hume Community Housing on Facebook to receive updates.
ABN: 66 647 041 988
Offices PLEASE BOOK AN APPOINTMENT BEFORE ATTENDING ANY HUME OFFICES
7 Hamilton Road Cabrogal Country Fairfield NSW 2165
464 High Street Wonnarua Country Maitland NSW 2320
There’s now even more ways to contact us:
46 William Street Worimi Country Raymond Terrace NSW 2324
