RESIDENT GROUP
STREET LIBRARY
ANNUAL RESIDENT MEETING
DECEMBER 2019
WOMENS COFFEE CLUB If you’re a woman living in an Evolve Housing property, you’re invited to our new Women’s Group, which meets for a chat, coffee and catch up. The group meets every second month in the Bankstown area, and we would love to see some new faces — women of all ages, backgrounds or locations are welcome to join us, as long as you are an Evolve Housing resident. Community Development Officer Heidi Bain, who organises the meet ups, said that she decided to form the group after a few Bankstown residents told her that they were interested in a women-only social group. “I had a few women residents in the Bankstown area tell me that having a group just for women would be really beneficial, so that they could have a chat about what’s going on in their community and lives, and share tips about lifestyle and wellbeing,” Heidi said.
The group is fun and informal, with the women able to choose how they want to spend their time together. “We don’t have an objective for the group initially, we want the women participating to tell us what they want and need — it could just be informal chatting over coffee, or it could be coming up with ideas for programs or events they want to get involved with,” Heidi said. To register your interest for the next Women’s Group catch-up, email or call Heidi at — community@evolvehousing.com.au 1800 MYEVOLVE (1800 693 865)
Evolve Housing wishes you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS. Please be aware that we will be closed from Tuesday 24th December 2019 and will reopen on Tuesday 7th January 2020. EVOLVE 1 NEWS
New resident group in Bankstown This monthly group is your chance to tell us how we can improve our programs and services for you and your family. Please come and have a coffee with us, give us feedback, hear what’s new from Evolve in person and meet some other Evolve Housing Bankstown area locals. Held on the last Wednesday of every month, starting 26 February 2020. Contact us at — community@evolvehousing.com.au
Support over Christmas
Blacktown Street Library launch
Around 100 kids and adults living in one of our community housing blocks in Blacktown are now able to enjoy free books after we launched a new Street Library. Anyone within the unit block can borrow a book or recycle their own books into the library for their neighbours to enjoy. Books have been generously donated by Booktopia to kick-off the library collection. The aim of the project is to encourage ongoing and positive interaction between residents and provide access to free books. A launch event was held on Wednesday 6th November at the unit block, with Evolve Housing staff and 47 residents in attendance. Attendees celebrated the new library, discussed the importance of reading, enjoyed a pizza dinner and watched a movie together. The street library was decorated with artwork by resident Todd Darward. Todd is legally blind, is a skilled artist and used traditional Aboriginal techniques, such as dot painting. A proud Kullilli man, Todd said he has used motifs and imagery in the design that is related to his country, located in south-west Queensland.
Christmas can be a difficult time for many people, both financially and emotionally, but there are support services available if you need to access them. Check these out: Food hamper and gift assistance: Salvation Army — 1300 371 288 Food and financial assistance: Anglicare — 02 8805 0900 Salvation Army — 1300 371 288 St Vincent De Paul — 13 18 12 Mental Health: Lifeline — 13 11 14 Mental health line — 1800 011 511 Suicide call back service — 1300 659 467
Other useful links: Ask Izzy (accommodation, food, domestic violence, support and counselling, drugs and alcohol, employment, legal and more) — askizzy.org.au Way Ahead (mental health) — wayahead.org.au There are also many free lunches held on Christmas Day around NSW — for a list of a few in Sydney, please visit our website at evolvehousing.com.au/christmas.
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Annual Resident Meeting
Our Annual Resident Meeting for 2019 was a great success with residents, Board members and staff taking the opportunity to mingle over lunch. The event was held at Parramatta RSL on Wednesday 20 November, with 67 residents attending to learn more about Evolve Housing and meet their neighbours. Evolve Housing CEO Lyall Gorman, Chair Paul Howlett and senior staff members gave speeches about the past financial year and the organisation’s future plans, and residents had the chance to speak one-on-one to staff about maintenance, programs, services and the Resident Advisory Group.
Annual Report promotion We have launched our 2018–19 Annual Report, which features information about our achievements, activities and financial performance over the past financial year, along with some resident stories. If you’d like to see a copy, you can pick one up from our Head Office in Parramatta or read it online at evolvehousing.com.au/reports.
Christmas Closure As the holiday season is nearing, we would like to take the opportunity to inform you that Evolve Housing will be closed from Tuesday 24th December 2019 and will reopen on Tuesday 7th January 2020. During this time, the office will be closed and online forms and emails will not be monitored. For any urgent maintenance issues only please call 1800 MY EVOLVE (1800 693 865). We will endeavour to respond to all non-urgent matters within the first week of the office reopening. Evolve Housing wishes you a very happy and safe holiday period and all the best for a successful and prosperous 2020.
FREE Swimming group We’ve heard that you’d like swimming lessons. Evolve Housing has arranged for free swimming lessons! We need 10 people to start a group. You must be 16 years or older. The first lessons will be held in Auburn at the Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre — other areas coming. Please call Rob Costa — 1800 MYEVOLVE (1800 693 865)
EVOLVE 3 NEWS
Register fo
Save the date
evolvehousing.cormev.aents at u/whats-on or by calling 1800 m yevolv
We always have fun activities and events planned to entertain, inspire and educate our residents.
e (1800 693 865).
Take a look at what’s coming up and don’t forget to save the date and keep your eye on our website for more information.
Digital Basics Workshops
Money Management Workshops
Understanding and managing money can be difficult. Evolve Housing offers workshops to help you manage your money. Contact us and we can discuss what area you’re needing support in and arrange for the right workshop for you. Please call 1800 MYEVOLVE (1800 693 865) speak to Rob Costa for more info on both workshops, or register your interest through the Evolve Housing website and we’ll get in touch with you to make an appointment.
Summer FILM Sessions
FREE MOVIE in Merrylands and Bankstown Enjoy a movie with fellow Evolve Housing residents at our new Summer Sessions event series, to begin in January 2020. The event will involve a free screening of a family movie in the evening at locations Merrylands and Bankstown. FREE popcorn! Residents of all ages are welcome to attend.
Do you need help to use your mobile phone or computer? We have workshops to help you with just that. Please call 1800 MYEVOLVE (1800 693 865) and speak to Rob Costa for more info on both workshops, or register your interest through the Evolve Housing website and we’ll get in touch with you to make an appointment.
SESSION DETAILS Date: Thursday 23 January 2020 Place: Wentworthville Community Centre 2 Lane Street, Wentworthville Time: Kids movie 1.00pm Family movie 3.30pm Date: Friday 24 January 2020 Place: Yagoona Community Centre 176D Cooper Road, Yagoona Time: Family movie 5.00pm
To book in for a session, visit — evolvehousing.com.au/whatson
Help us create cartoons! We need residents of all ages and cultural backgrounds to join in a workshop with a professional cartoonist. Together we’ll create pictures to help communicate to residents how to keep our blocks clean and tidy. Language interpreters will be at the workshops. Email community@evolvehousing.com.au or call 1800 MYEVOLVE (1800 693 865) if you want to be involved. A big thanks to Cumberland Council for their support in funding this project. EVOLVE 4 NEWS