Queensland Government
Department of Housing and Public Works
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The Tenant Participation Program

What do tenant groups do?

There are many activities which tenant groups can become involved with. These include:

  • taking part in decision-making on maintenance and upgrading projects
  • providing feedback to the department on policies and service delivery, maintenance and upgrade activities
  • lobbying for better community services such as public transport, schools, childcare, health and sporting facilities, and
  • organising self-help activities.

What types of tenant groups are there?

  • Local Tenant Groups are made up of interested people in a neighbourhood or housing complex.
  • Regional Tenant Groups represent the Local Tenant Groups in the area, and rely on them for information and feedback.
  • The department also recognises the important role that informal groups play in building a sense of community in their neighbourhood.

What's in it for tenants?

Being involved in a Tenant Group provides many opportunities for tenants. For example, tenants can:

  • improve service delivery from the department by suggesting better ways for the department to deal with its clients
  • learn new skills such as producing a newsletter, public speaking or financial management of grants
  • approach other departments, local councils or community groups to improve the local area, and
  • building better neighbourhood relationships.

What's in it for the department?

There are numerous ways that tenant participation contributes to better outcomes for the department. For example, tenant participation helps the department to:

  • improve customer service delivery
  • understand the changing needs of customers, and
  • improve how the capital works budget is spent through tenants providing feedback to the department.

Who delivers the Tenant Participation Program?

Each Housing Service Centre delivers the program. Their responsibilities include:

  • establishing working relationships with tenants on behalf of the department
  • supporting and assisting tenant groups, e.g. with funding applications
  • co-ordinating planning activities from a client focus, under the direction of the Area Manager, and
  • providing information to tenant groups to help them make decisions about issues affecting their housing and local communities.

How do I join or start a tenant group?

Any Department of Communities (Housing and Homelessness Services) tenant can join or start a Tenant Group by contacting either your:

A contact person from these organisations will assist you in getting involved in tenant participation.

More information

View the map for contact details of your nearest Housing Service Centre.

Regional Tenant Groups

Bay and Brisbane South Tenants Regional Group Inc
PO Box 8132
Wynnum North QLD 4178

Brisbane Central Regional Tenant Group Inc
26/56 Farm Street
Newmarket QLD 4051

Central Queensland Public Tenants Association Inc
PO Box 638
Rockhampton QLD 4700

Far North Queensland Regional Tenant Advisory Group Inc
PO Box 3000
Cairns QLD 4870

Gold Coast Regional Association of Tenants Inc
PO Box 10416
Southport QLD 4215

Ipswich Regional Tenants Group Inc
PO Box 5345
Brassall QLD 4305

Mackay Regional Tenant Group Inc
PO Box 6704
Mackay Mail Centre QLD 4741

Suncoast Regional Tenant Group Inc
6 McVey Road
Gympie QLD 4570 

Tenants Network Toowoomba
25 Croydon Street
Harristown QLD 4350

Townsville Regional Tenants Action Group
PO Box 1233
Hyde Park QLD 4812