Green light for new community health facility

Redfern open for business

New Human Services Plan released

Outcomes from first phase of Human Services Plan

Winners at the NSW Group Training Awards 2008

Work underway on Eveleigh Markets

Channel 7 starts taking shape

Black Theatre site complete

Eveleigh Heritage Walk: Project application

Need Assistance?

Green light for new community health facility

Plans for a $10 million community health facility on the former Redfern Courthouse and Police Station site have been given the green light for construction to commence, Planning Minister Frank Sartor has announced.

Frank Sartor said the new facility proposed by NSW Health would provide both on-site and out-reach services.

“This project is part of the ongoing renewal of Redfern-Waterloo and will deliver significant benefits to the local community,” Frank Sartor said.

“It will create up to 94 full-time jobs in the area and lead to the adaptive re-use of the Redfern Courthouse heritage building, as well as delivering important health services.”

Minister for Health Reba Meagher said construction would soon commence on the new community health building.

“This facility will deliver high-quality community health services, including community nursing, allied health, mental health and drug health services for the residents of the Redfern community in an easily-accessible building,” Reba Meagher said.

Frank Sartor said the facility had been funded through the sale of the former Rachel Forster Hospital site, which was negotiated by the Redfern-Waterloo Authority earlier this year.

“Through projects such as this we are beginning to see the benefits of the Human Services Plan, currently being developed by the Redfern Waterloo Authority,” he said.

The Minister said the next phase of the Human Services Plan, aiming to provide improved services for older people, people with disabilities, migrant communities and homeless people in the area has been approved by the Iemma Government.

The Redfern-Waterloo Authority has released this second phase, following a series of stakeholder workshops and calls for public comment.

Frank Sartor said key recommendations of the plan include:

• A new taskforce to improve the delivery of dementia services;
• Increased cultural awareness training for service providers; and
• Encouraging more elderly Aboriginals to help design health programs.

“This plan aims to better coordinate services to ensure the needs of the community are being met,” Frank Sartor said.

“Over the next decade the Government will work to implement this second phase of the Human Services Plan, along with Phase One – which deals with services for children and families, Aboriginal people and young people.

“Our aim is to ensure that Redfern-Waterloo is home to a strong, well-coordinated network of services that are able to adapt to the changing needs of the local community.

“To achieve this, the Authority will work closely with the Department of Ageing and Home Care, NSW Health, the Department of Community Services, Housing NSW and other government and non-government organisations in the area.”

Member for Heffron Kristina Keneally welcomed the new phase of the Human Services Plan.

“It is vital we ensure assistance is getting to the people who need it and to do that we need a coordinated approach,” Kristina Keneally said.

“We know that 38% of Redfern residents and 34% of Waterloo residents were born overseas with the most common languages spoken in the area – other than English – being Russian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Arabic, Spanish and Greek.

“The Human Services Plan Phase Two contains a number of actions specifically designed to address challenges faced by these communities, including ensuring that services are delivered in a culturally appropriate way.”

 Redfern open for business

Redfern established itself as a learning centre earlier this year when Group Colleges Australia commenced operating from the former TNT Tower building in lawson Square.

With about 1000 students and more than 100 staff, GCA could not be happier with its relocation from Sydney’s central business district.

Speaking at the offcial opening of the new college campus, GCA Managing Director Alan Manly was enthusiastic about the area’s prospects. “If anyone is thinking of moving a business, Redfern is where the future is and it’s open for business” he said.

Alan Manly said that the new campus, with students from over 50 countries, complimented the plans to continue revitalising Redfern into “a modern cosmopolitan suburb”.

Photos: Smoking ceremony at the official opening of the new Group Colleges Australia campus in Redfern and Alan Manly speaking at the launch.

New Human Services Plan released

The RWA’s Human Services Plan Phase Two focuses on improving human services delivery for older people, people with disabilities, migrant communities and homeless people in the Redfern-Waterloo area.

The recently released Plan is available on the RWA’s website at www.redfernwaterloo.com.au  or by calling 9202 9100.

The Plan has eight priority areas that were identified through a two-day forum involving community members, services providers and public policy experts. The priorities are:

• Improving dementia support;
• Improving service quality for migrant communities;
• Improving access to aged care and health services by Aboriginal people over 45 years and older;
• Reducing homelessness;
• Improving identification of need and access to services for people with a disability;
• Reducing social isolation;
• Improving access to local and community transport for people who are transport disadvantaged; and
• Improving safety and amenity.

The RWA is working closely in partnership with agencies such as NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care, NSW Health and Housing NSW as well as numerous other government and non-government organisations to put the Plan into action.

Some of the initiatives included in the Plan are already being put in place such as the establishment of a Redfern Community Health Centre to improve the delivery and coordination of health services to the local community and the reduction of social isolation through the introduction of community barbeques and other local events.

The Plan also tackles the issue of lower life expectancy for Aboriginal people and will provide many opportunities for local Aboriginal people to be involved in the design, implementation and evaluation of health programs and other community activities and events that increase the quality of life.

Information and services for migrant communities are also a key component of the Plan as approximately half the population of Redfern and Waterloo speaks a language other than English in the home.

This phase of the Human Services Plan follows on from and complements the work of the Human Services Plan Phase One that deals with services delivered to children and families, Aboriginal people and young people.

The actions in the Redfern Waterloo Human Services Plan Phases One and Two will continue to be delivered in the community over the next decade. The Plan will also be evaluated during this time to monitor outcomes and to ensure that actions continue to meet the needs of the local area.

The Human Services Plan Phase Two will further build on the strengths and works being undertaken by community groups, non-government organisations and local, state and federal government agencies delivering services to the Redfern Waterloo community.

Photo: The priority areas in the new Human Services Plan were developed at a two-day community forum.

Outcomes from first phase of Human Services Plan

A key factor of the Redfern Waterloo Human Services Plan Phase One was the commitment that the progress of the Plan would be evaluated at regular stages over the ten-year implementation period.

The evaluation of the first 18 months of action indicates that government and non-government agencies are still in the early stages of measuring improved community outcomes from the performance indicators developed to measure the plan.

There has been much progress and success in agencies working together to progress initiatives and projects as well as increased activities and service delivery in the community.

Highlights of the early stage of the evaluation include:

• The establishment and ongoing activities of the Babana Aboriginal Men’s Group. Prior to the establishment of this group there were no long standing groups in the community that enabled Aboriginal men to network and provide support for each other.
• The development and implementation of the Aboriginal employment Model that provides training in both construction and hospitality, places the trainees into paid positions and provides ongoing mentoring support. The model has brokered employment opportunities for over 250 Aboriginal people in the construction industry over the past 18 months and 90 people, predominantly Aboriginal, have received the Certificate II in Hospitality with the majority of these students gaining full time positions in the industry.
• The development and actions of the Case Coordination project. This has enhanced the capacity for senior and middle management staff in the major government and non-government human services agencies to collectively consider the needs of client families and children and opportunities for working collaboratively to more effectively deliver services to these families and children.
• The development, implementation and reporting of the Waterloo Green Action plan. This plan was developed in 2007 in response to local community concerns regarding antisocial behaviour and other related safety issues in the vicinity of Waterloo Green.
• Formation of the Family Violence taskforce. This Taskforce hosted a Family Violence Networking Event that culminated in the RWA developing and overseeing the implementation of a Family Violence Action Plan, and a comprehensive resource database to allow easier access and referral to services. The RWA in conjunction with NSW Department of Community Services also provided a five day Deep listening in Indigenous Counselling Skills Workshop by Southern Cross University for workers from over 20 different Indigenous and non-Indigenous organisations.
• Establishment of the Redfern Waterloo Community drug Action team (CDAT). This group has been successful in obtaining funding to undertake a number of projects to address risky drinking in the area and has also established a Community Assistance Support Team (CAST) program to engage with street drinkers to identify services to further assist this group.
• Provision of six Easy Cooking on a Budget courses for young parents to provide cooking skills as well as soft entry points to other support services targeting this client group. The project has resulted in a working partnership between SDN Children’s Services and NSW Health.
• Provision of catering grants in conjunction with the NSW Community Relations Commission to allow local non-profit community based groups to meet the costs associated with small community events.
• Connect Redfern (Schools as Community Centres program) undertaking numerous actions including the development of strategies for communicating with parents to increase children’s participation in childcare, providing supported playgroups and preschools and facilitating interagency professional activities as well as delivering the Redfern Early literacy Program.
• NSW Department of Community Services establishment of an Early Intervention Team with a manager and four case workers covering the Redfern Waterloo area.
• The NSW Department of Aging, Disability and Home Care (DADHC) attending two supported playgroups four times a year as well as the Schools as Community Centre’s “Play Days” three times a year to improve links between assessment and early intervention services for children with a disability.
• Redfern Police recruitment of four Aboriginal Liaison Officers located at Redfern Police Station.

The report also notes that the majority of agencies involved with the delivery of Phase One indicated their ongoing support for the program of actions and strategies included in the Human Services Plan. The agencies also reported that the RWA played a crucial role in providing secretariat support and the coordinating function for implementation.

The RWA will continue to play a facilitating and coordinating role to support both government and non-government agencies to maintain the progress achieved through the Human Services Plan Phase One and to implement the actions contained in the Human Services Plan Phase Two.

Photo: Proud graduates from the Certificate II in Hospitality in 2007

Photo: The Waterloo Green Action Plan was developed in response to community concerns.

Photo: The Aboriginal Employment Model has created more than 250 jobs in the construction industry over the past 18 months.

Photo: Participants in the ‘Easy Cooking on a Budget’ course preparing a healthy and affordable.

Winners at the NSW Group Training Awards 2008

MG My Gateway and the RWA were winners at the NSW Group Training Awards held on Friday 27 June 2008 at the Crystal Ballroom, Luna Park.

The awards presented by The Group Training Association of NSW Inc. recognise the hard work and dedication of apprentices, trainees, host employers and member organisations by rewarding their outstanding achievements and excellence in-group training.

MG My Gateway and the RWA won the prestigious NSW Innovation and Best Practice Award for development of creating opportunities for employment within the Indigenous community through the Aboriginal Employment Model.

The RWA congratulates the Indigenous Apprentice of the Year MG My Gateway employee Lawrence Kelly. Lawrence is a third year construction carpentry apprentice hosted by Bovis lend lease, who hopes to become a leading hand and foreman. Lawrence got his start in the industry through the RWA’s Aboriginal Employment model working on the CarriageWorks project at North Eveleigh.

The RWA is proud of its partnership with MG My Gateway and looks forward to working with them to continue to create and support Aboriginal employment opportunities.

Photo: Congratulations to Indigenous Apprentice of the Year Lawrence Kelly.

Work underway on Eveleigh Markets

Work has commenced on the Eveleigh Markets and the project is aiming for a launch later this year.

The heritage Blacksmith’s Workshop in Wilson Street adjacent to the CarriageWorks performance space is undergoing a $3 million refurbishment by the RWA which will result in 109 undercover market stalls operating initially on each Saturday and Sunday.

The markets will sell fresh local produce, gourmet foods and arts and crafts and will also provide additional employment opportunities in the area.

To find out more about the Eveleigh Markets please contact Denny Hall at the RWA on 9202 9100 or by email denny.hall@rwa.nsw.gov.au or redfernwaterloo@rwa.nsw.gov.au

Photo:

Channel 7 starts taking shape

The $123 million media hub at the Australian Technology Park is fast becoming a reality with excavation and other early works reaching completion.

Building construction is about to commence with the Seven Network, Global Television and Pacific Magazines to be fully relocated in the new media hub by early 2010.

A marketing campaign has already commenced for additional tenants to occupy the remaining 12,000m2 of commercial space in the new development.

Photo:

Black Theatre site complete

The Commonwealth Indigenous land Corporation’s $8 million development on the historic former Black Theatre site in Cope Street, Redfern is now complete.

The three story building has retail space on the ground floor, office accommodation on the second and a purpose built radio station and recording studios for the Gadigal Information Services, the local broadcaster of Koori Radio 93.7 FM on the third.

Indigenous designs have been incorporated into the building’s exterior to highlight the structure and to celebrate the fact that this was the birthplace of Indigenous theatre.

Photo:

Eveleigh Heritage Walk: Project application

The RWA has prepared an Environmental Assessment for the construction of the Eveleigh Heritage Walk, a pedestrian and cycle bridge traversing the railway corridor, near Redfern Railway Station, connecting the Australian Technology Park and North Eveleigh and suburbs beyond.

The Project application will be determined by the Minister for Planning under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

The Department of Planning is placing the Environmental Assessment on public exhibition from 16 July to 15 August 2008 at the following locations during regular business hours:

• Department of Planning Information Centre, 22-33 Bridge Street, Sydney;
• City of Sydney Council, Town Hall House, 456 Kent Street, Sydney; and
• Redfern Neighbourhood Service Centre, 158 Redfern Street, Redfern (open Saturday 9am to 12 noon).

The Environmental Assessment can also be viewed on the RWA’s website at www.redfernwaterloo.com.au

All submissions must be sent to the Department of Planning by the 15 August 2008. Address your submission to: Director, Urban Assessments, Department of Planning, GPO Box 39, Sydney NSW 2001 or email: information@planning.nsw.gov.au  

If you have any questions regarding the Environmental Assessment, please contact Yolanda Gil at the RWA on 9202 9100 or by email on redfernwaterloo@rwa.nsw.gov.au

Photo: An artist’s impression of the new Eveleigh Heritage Walk, a pedestrian and cycle bridge which will connect the Australian Technology Park and North Eveleigh.

Need Assistance?

For more information or to send us your feedback please contact the Redfern-Waterloo Authority, Level 11, Tower 2, 1 Lawson Square, Redfern

Tel: (02) 9202 9100 Fax: (02) 9202 9111 Mail: PO Box 3332, Redfern NSW 2016 Email: redfernwaterloo@rwa.nsw.gov.au  Internet: www.redfernwaterloo.com.au