Director-General's message

From the establishment of the Workers' Dwellings Branch in 1910 and the Queensland Housing Commission in 1945, through to the Department of Housing and Local Government in 1989 finally emerging as the Department of Housing in 2004, the State Government has made providing housing assistance to Queenslanders a priority. Throughout, the department has remained responsive to the housing needs of its clients, establishing in the past three years in particular, an integrated, responsive and client-focused social housing system for Queensland.

Recent machinery-of-Government changes implemented on 26 March 2009 abolished the Department of Housing as a legal entity, with its functions now forming a core part of the new Department of Communities. We are very proud of the Department of Housing's achievements and the assistance we have provided to our clients across Queensland.

Helping those in highest need

In January 2006, the department began introducing significant reforms to the social housing sector, bringing together all housing and housing service providers to create an integrated and responsive social housing system, providing a wide range of housing assistance for low-to-moderate income households and individuals. A key component of this system, a new client intake and assessment process, launched in September 2008 represented a significant shift from a wait-turn system. It allows the department to now prioritise applications for housing assistance based on the level of applicants' need, and provide assistance to those in highest need first for the duration of their need.

The department continued to encourage and support community and local government-managed housing organisations to manage larger portfolios to achieve positive client outcomes and greater efficiencies in service delivery. From July 2008 to March 2009 the department:

• continued to work with organisations on the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns to progress the restructure of organisations to respond to the changing social housing environment
• established a Business Development and Innovation Unit in Brisbane in October 2008, dedicated to increasing the capability of not-for-profit housing providers to become major providers of social and affordable housing within one social housing system, to encourage and support innovation and continuous quality improvement by providers
• continued to work with housing providers in high need areas across the State to establish housing companies which provide quality client outcomes and demonstrate organisational viability, strong governance, and capacity to operate at scale
• contributed to research papers supporting the establishment and operation of a National Regulatory Framework for the not-for-profit sector, and in partnership with the State Governments of New South Wales and Victoria, continued to oversee the development of this framework
• continued to lead a national review of the National Community Housing Standards which aims to promote and encourage continuous improvement in community housing through a system of accreditation and facilitation of quality service provision.

Continuing to assist Indigenous Queenslanders

Through the Housing Improvement Program and the Rural and Remote Indigenous Housing Program, the department assisted Indigenous Councils to provide housing services in Indigenous communities across Queensland. Between July 2008 and March 2009, these two programs saw the department spend $48.73 million to:

• complete the construction of 27 dwellings commenced in 2008-09 or previous years, including nine factory-built homes, replace 22 dwellings, and perform 191 upgrades to existing dwellings
• purchase nine dwellings outside of Indigenous communities to provide eligible families in Indigenous communities with the opportunity to relocate off the communities
• maintain approximately 4,079 dwellings
• support Indigenous Councils by providing advice, tools and training in asset and tenancy management.

The department also developed capital investment proposals for Aurukun, Kowanyama, Palm Island, Mornington Island and Yarrabah, and commenced development of capital investment proposals for communities under the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council and Torres Strait Island Regional Council.

New funding agreements

Progressing and implementing new funding agreements was a priority for the department. In November 2008, the Council of Australian Governments agreed to establish the National Affordable Housing Agreement which came into effect on 1 January 2009. This agreement provides the framework for state, territory, and federal governments to work together to improve housing affordability, reduce homelessness, and reduce Indigenous housing disadvantage across the nation. Funding of $1.21 billion over five years is allocated to Queensland through this agreement and replaces funding provided through the Commonwealth State Housing Agreement and the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program Agreement.

The department commenced implementing three national partnership agreements which, in unison, support the National Affordable Housing Agreement:

• under the Social Housing National Partnership Agreement, Queensland will expend a total of $80.1 million over two years to provide:
  • additional social housing through construction
  • improved housing opportunities for Indigenous people
  • accommodation options to assist people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to transition to secure long-term accommodation.
• through the Homelessness National Partnership Agreement, Queensland will spend a total of $135.1 million over five years, including $35.7 million over five years for A Place to Call Home, to help people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness achieve sustainable housing and social inclusion
• under the Remote Indigenous Housing National Partnership Agreement, Queensland will expend $1.16 billion over ten years to improve housing amenity and reduce overcrowding for Indigenous people, particularly in remote areas and discrete communities. This agreement provides for the delivery of 1,141 new dwellings, 1,216 major upgrades to existing dwellings, a repairs and maintenance program, provision of tenancy management services, and housing-related infrastructure and employment outcomes.

Future directions

The announcement of the Federal Government's $42 billion Nation Building and Jobs Plan (Economic Stimulus Package) on 3 February 2009 will see Queensland's social housing stock portfolio increase by up to 4,000 dwellings. Through this plan, Queensland will receive an estimated $1.28 billion, consisting of:

• $138.6 million to accelerate planned capital works during 2008-09 and 2009-10
• $1.06 billion for new construction between 2009-10 to 2011-12
• $40.05 million in 2008-09 and a further $40.05 million in 2009-10 for repairs and maintenance of existing social housing stock to extend the life of older stock and increase the number of disability‑modified dwellings.

The capital works will deliver an immediate boost to the building and construction sector, helping to save existing jobs and creating new jobs for Queenslanders.

We are entering into an exciting period that presents opportunities to improve our overall capacity as we transition to the new Department of Communities, which will see us continue to provide excellent human services and further contribute to the social development of Queensland.

The pages that follow feature the activities and achievements of the former Department of Housing, its structure and operations as at 26 March 2009. I invite you to provide your feedback on this report by emailing the Department of Communities at annual.report@communities.qld.gov.au

Natalie MacDonald
Former Director-General
Department of Housing