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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;line-height:106%">Dear REDWatch members, supporters and agencies,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;line-height:106%"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoToc1"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="#_Toc157023024"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Homes NSW with Minister Rose Jackson – Monday 5<sup>th</sup> February 6.30pm</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoToc1"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="#_Toc157023025"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">What we have heard about Homes NSW</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoToc1"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="#_Toc157023026"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">No REDWatch meeting on Thursday 1<sup>st</sup> February</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoToc1"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="#_Toc157023027"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Environmental Monitoring Project seeks Volunteers</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoToc1"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="#_Toc157023028"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Yabun – Friday 26 January 10am-6pm Victoria Park</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%"><i>Please note – this email contains hyperlinks. This means that if you see a blue underlined word or phrase that you can click on it and go directly to a document or to get more information.</i>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%"> Happy New Year and welcome to 2024!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;line-height:106%;page-break-after:avoid">
<a name="_Toc157023024"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#2E74B5">Homes NSW with Minister Rose Jackson – Monday 5<sup>th</sup> February 6.30pm</span></a><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#2E74B5"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt">The February REDWatch meeting will focus on an introduction to Homes NSW which comes into effect on 1<sup>st</sup> February. Minister Rose Jackson will introduce the change and other staff from Homes NSW will
also attend. Rebecca Pinkstone the new CEO of Homes NSW has also been invited.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt">The meeting will be held at Counterpoint’s Factory Community Centre, 67 Raglan St Waterloo and will be available on Zoom via
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/RedwatchMeetingZoom"><span style="color:#0563C1">http://tinyurl.com/RedwatchMeetingZoom</span></a>.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt">The meeting starts at 6.30 pm sharp as the Minister can only attend from 6.30 to 7.00 pm. Other staff will participate in the meeting after the Minister leaves.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt">This meeting will explain the new agency, how it will operate and what can tenants expect from the change.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt">This information session will be of interest to tenants and agencies dealing with DCJ Housing and AHO, as well as those dealing with LAHC through maintenance, concierges and public housing redevelopments. Homelessness
programmes will also transition to Homes NSW. All these functions will be now under Homes NSW. Everyone is welcome to attend.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt">You can promote this event by sharing our
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1568822897222082/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A%5b%5d%7D">
<span style="color:#0563C1">Facebook event</span></a> or the <a href="http://www.redwatch.org.au/eventnotice/240205redwp">
<span style="color:#0563C1">flyer</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;line-height:106%;page-break-after:avoid">
<a name="_Toc157023025"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#2E74B5">What we have heard about Homes NSW</span></a><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#2E74B5"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt">Homes NSW combines Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC), Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO) and some relevant social and affordable housing, and homelessness functions within Department of Communities and Justice
(DCJ) to create a new agency within DCJ. Some changes will be immediate and others may happen over coming months.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt">Homes NSW will be created as a new division within DCJ reporting directly to the DCJ Secretary through the new CEO, Rebecca Pinkstone, previously of community housing provider Bridge Housing. Reporting to her
will be a number of Executive Directors. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt">The AHO, LAHC and the Housing Services team are being transferred from the Department of Planning and Environment to the Department of Communities and Justice from February 1 2024, in accordance with the
<a href="https://gazette.legislation.nsw.gov.au/so/ds/view_results.w3p?query=%22Department+of+Planning%2C+Housing+and+Infrastructure%22&dateFrom=&dateTo=&results=">
<span style="color:#0563C1">Administrative Arrangements (Administrative Changes—Miscellaneous) Order (No 6) 2023 (2023 No 648)</span></a> of 6 December 2023. This is the same Administrative order that restructured the Department of Planning and Environment
to form two new Departments on January 1<sup>st</sup> 2024. The new Departments are the
<a href="https://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/home/dphi"><span style="color:#0563C1">Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI)</span></a> and the
<a href="https://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/home/dcceew"><span style="color:#0563C1">Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW)</span></a>.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt">At a local level the DCJ Housing Director will, as of February 1<sup>st</sup>, be part of Homes NSW reporting into the new structure rather than to the DCJ Executive District Director.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;line-height:106%;page-break-after:avoid">
<a name="_Toc157023026"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#2E74B5">No REDWatch meeting on Thursday 1<sup>st</sup> February</span></a><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#2E74B5"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-AU">The normal February REDWatch meeting has been moved until Monday 5<sup>th</sup> February to allow Minister Rose Jackson to attend. There will be no meeting on Thursday
1<sup>st</sup> February.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;line-height:106%;page-break-after:avoid">
<a name="_Toc157023027"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#2E74B5">Environmental Monitoring Project seeks Volunteers</span></a><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#2E74B5"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt">Some researchers at Sydney University have received a City of Sydney Innovation and Ideas Grant to help citizens perform environmental measurement with the help of scientists to tackle climate change. The project
is to introduce the issues related to urban overheating, how people can stay safe during heatwaves, and will educate them about thermal condition and air quality.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt">The project is looking for interested volunteers. The project will give local residents the equipment to perform measurements and guide them through the process.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt">While this project is open to anyone interested, it may be an opportunity for some in public housing, who have less control over the insulation and thermal properties of their homes, to monitor their situation
and highlight the environmental impacts on public housing tenants.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt">If you are interested in getting more information contact Shamila Haddad
<a href="mailto:shamila.haddad@sydney.edu.au"><span style="color:#0563C1">shamila.haddad@sydney.edu.au</span></a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;line-height:106%;page-break-after:avoid">
<a name="_Toc157023028"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#2E74B5">Yabun – Friday 26 January 10am-6pm Victoria Park</span></a><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#2E74B5"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt">The Yabun Festival is Australia’s largest one-day celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and it happens near us all in Victoria Park. This year’s theme, “Surviving, Guiding, Thriving,”
celebrates the resilience and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt">The Yabun Festival is more than just a gathering; it’s a living testament to the enduring strength and vibrancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt">You can find out more about the day at
<a href="http://www.yabun.org.au"><span style="color:#0563C1">www.yabun.org.au</span></a>. Everyone is welcome to be a part of a community celebration that embraces the world’s oldest living culture so come along and enjoy the singers, dancers, corroboree,
talks, stalls and children’s activities.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:navy;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU">Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:navy;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Script MT Bold";color:navy;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU">Geoff</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:navy;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:navy;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU">Geoffrey Turnbull<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:navy;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU">REDWatch Co-Spokesperson<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:navy;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU">Ph Wk: (02) 8004 1490 Mob: 0418 457 392</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:navy;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU">email:
</span><a href="mailto:spokesperson@redwatch.org.au"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU">spokesperson@redwatch.org.au</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:navy;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:navy;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU">web:
</span><a href="http://www.redwatch.org.au/" title="blocked::http://www.redwatch.org.au/"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU">www.redwatch.org.au</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:navy;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU">
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-AU">FB: </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/RedfernEveleighDarlingtonWaterlooWatch/"><span style="color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU">www.facebook.com/RedfernEveleighDarlingtonWaterlooWatch/</span></a><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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