The Queensland Government recognises the importance of connecting with citizens in the development and implementation of policies, programs and services. It acknowledges the right of citizens to have a say and to get involved in the business of Government. Effective community engagement allows Government to tap into diverse perspectives and potential solutions to improve the quality of its decisions.
Community engagement is an active demonstration of the department's commitment to seeking input into decision-making, to keeping the community informed of progress and change, and providing opportunities to contribute to evaluative processes. Engagement is a recognition that by working together, the Government can respond more effectively to the needs of the community.
In addition to contributing to Community Cabinet meetings and Ministerial Regional Community forums, the department continued to work with community organisation representatives, community and local government housing providers, peak bodies representing housing consumers and providers, local governments, other State Government agencies, Australian Government departments and the housing industry.
Client intake and assessment process
The Client Intake and Assessment Process (CIAP) was implemented in September 2008. This implementation supported the department's commitment to a range of housing reforms which address the housing needs of those most critically in need of assistance.
Information on CIAP was provided throughout 2008-09 at cross-agency meetings to representatives of Disability Services Queensland, the Department of Child Safety and Queensland Health's Mental Health Services. The department's service delivery network provided information to community housing organisations by hosting networking sessions before and after the introduction of CIAP. To further support implementation, grants were provided to 12 Community Rent Scheme providers across the State to attend an Advanced Communication and Interview Skills training course convened by the department.
Discrete Indigenous communities
Staff regularly visited Indigenous communities to meet with Chief Executive Officers, Councils, project managers, QBuild and private contractors to monitor and assist with the delivery of Housing Improvement Plans.
Indigenous partnership agreement negotiation tables
The Department of Housing continued to participate in Negotiation Tables for the Indigenous Partnership Agreement 2007 to 2010. Negotiation Tables were attended in Dirranbandi, St George, Coen, Cherbourg, Bundaberg, Doomadgee, Aurukun, and Yarrabah. These negotiations have contributed to the development of Local Indigenous Partnership Agreements, many of which include strategies to improve the condition and increase the supply of affordable housing.
Indigenous Community Housing Organisations
In recent years, the Federal Government has reviewed funding and service delivery arrangements for Indigenous community housing organisations that they directly fund.
In Queensland, there are 81 organisations that manage approximately 2,000 housing assets. The Federal Government has requested that the Queensland Government assume responsibility for managing these organisations and has offered the State $60 million for repairs and maintenance to ensure the assets managed by these 81 organisations meet Queensland's social housing standards. The department has met with a majority of these organisations to discuss options for them to transition into one social housing system.
Realignment of transitional housing
A reference group was established to provide feedback on the implementation and proposed changes to achieve the integration and alignment of transitional housing with one social housing system. The reference group consisted of representatives from the Department of Housing, the not-for-profit housing sector, peak organisations, and the Community Rent Scheme Association Queensland. Reference group members provided advice to the department on implementation activities and disseminate information to transitional housing providers about proposed changes.
Twelve half-day workshops were held across the State in October and November 2008, with community housing providers and area office staff discussing the development of new service delivery arrangements for transitional housing. The workshops were well attended and produced practical advice on how to implement new allocation arrangements for transitional housing and how to ensure applicants are not disadvantaged by the eventual closure of provider waitlists in 2009. As a result, work commenced on preparing a discussion paper and a draft strategic policy framework, consistent with one social housing system, for the development of referral and allocation procedures for transitional housing.
Tenant participation
Regional Tenant Group representatives formed a working group to coordinate development of a training workshop on how to strengthen and sustain groups at local and regional levels. This initiative resulted in three, two-day training workshops being delivered to 72 tenants from across the State during July to September 2008. Approximately 11% of workshop attendees were tenants living in community-managed housing (non-Government-managed social housing).
Evaluation of the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service (Queensland) program
An evaluation was conducted on the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service (Queensland) program between July and October 2008. As part of this evaluation, a detailed consultation phase was undertaken with service providers, accommodation managers and stakeholders (including real estate agents, community housing providers and departmental area office staff), and key staff from the Residential Tenancies Authority and the department. A detailed telephone survey captured feedback from clients of the services offered. Information gained from client interviews informed recommendations to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service (Queensland) program.
RentConnect
The trial of the RentConnect program commenced in September 2008 in the Caboolture and Central Queensland area offices which assisted people to find and secure a property in the local private rental market. To support this program, the department continued to build on its existing relationships with the Real Estate Institute of Queensland and the Tenants' Union of Queensland. The relationship with the Real Estate Institute of Queensland had a significant impact on the RentConnect Advisory Service product and its success. The relationship with the Tenants' Union of Queensland provided the department with advice and guidance relating to issues and barriers facing clients.
Home Access Information Trial
As part of the Home Access Information Trial, the department engaged with the Real Estate Institute of Queensland, Brisbane real estate agents and community groups to improve the availability and consistency of access-related property information in Brisbane's residential housing market. The trial was designed to assist in overcoming some of the barriers which many people with a mobility impairment face in accessing appropriate housing. It has now finished and results from its evaluation will contribute to shaping the future of home access initiatives.
Community Renewal
Promoting participation from a broad range of residents, government, business and community stakeholders was critical to achieving the goals of the Community Renewal program. From 1 July 2008 to 31 March 2009, over 8,000 residents received services funded by the program and/or were engaged in developing and delivering Community Renewal projects and activities.
The fourth annual Community Life Survey was conducted, seeking information on Community Renewal zone resident perceptions of neighbourhood life, individual well-being and awareness of the Community Renewal program. The findings from the survey were used to inform planning and program delivery and provide timely information on key dimensions of community need, participation and satisfaction with service provision. The results also contributed to operational reporting, Community Renewal zone planning and marketing and communication activities.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License