Day Two - Housing & Service Infrastructure
Wednesday 9th June, 2010

9:00
Coffee & networking
9:30
Welcoming remarks from the Chair
Lenore Dembski,
Paperbark Woman
9:40
Houses: A key component of Closing the Gap on disadvantage

  • What progress has been made in housing in priority communities?
  • Identifying challenges and seizing opportunities in remote housing delivery
  • Whole-of-government contracting for efficient service delivery
  • Planning infrastructure needs alongside housing construction for sustainable community development
Brian Gleeson
Australian Government Coordinator-General for Remote Indigenous Services
MAINTENANCE & ACCESSIBILITY
10:20
Housing for Health: 25 years of improving design, construction, maintenance & exploding myths

  • The cycle of new ideas vs. why maintenance as a critical service is ignored
  • Defining need vs. ‘No survey without service’ – a strategy for immediate improvement
  • Big programs for long-term solutions vs. using detailed data to scope and prioritise works and measure progress
  • The difficulty of engaging with local communities vs. training local people for ongoing maintenance, management and building community skills
Paul Pholeros AM, Registered Architect
Director
Healthabitat
Member
National Policy Commission on Indigenous Housing
11:00
Morning tea & networking
11:30
Closing the gap: Using evidence-based environmental interventions to improve health

  • Evaluating the link between the living environment and health outcomes
  • Using research outcomes to inform policy
Jeff Standen, Manager
Aboriginal Environmental Health Unit
Department of Health NSW
12:10
Building accessible houses for people with disabilities

  • The link between access and community inclusion
  • Understanding the housing needs of Indigenous Australians with disabilities
  • Strategies for constructing universal, accessible homes
Damian Griffis, Executive Officer
Aboriginal Disability Network Incorporated
12:50
Lunch
TENANCY SUPPORT
2:00
Redefining ‘tenancy support’ for more supportive, progressive programs

  • Using a strength-based community development approach in supporting Indigenous housing tenants
  • Recognising the stages of support needed in the tenant’s lifecycle of housing
  • Supporting Indigenous tenants to become more independent
Yolie Entsch, Consultant
Queensland Community Housing Coalition
South East Queensland Regional Indigenous Housing Organisation
Cheryl Jacobs, Coordinator
Winnam ATSI Corporation
Brad Currie, Coordinator
Mununjali Aboriginal Housing
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
2:50
Understanding community concerns to ensure successful land management negotiations

  • A community perspective on land lease arrangements
  • Strategies to engage with the community for improved communication and cross-cultural understanding
  • Opportunities for future engagement and discussion
Alfred Lacey, Mayor
Palm Island Council
3:30
Afternoon tea & networking
4:00
PANEL:
Strategies for culturally appropriate community engagement

Thadd Nagas, Environmental Health Officer
Population Health Unit
Greater Western Area Health Service
John Mofflin, General Manager & Founding Director
Jack Thompson Foundation
Russell Logan, Director
World Indigenous Cultural Exchange & Economic Development Organisation
5:00
Closing remarks from the Chair
5:10
Close of Day Two