HNSW Research Committee Overview & Terms of Reference

Redfern and Waterloo Community Learning and Research Plan - Overview

CONTEXT - COMMUNITY RENEWAL

On 7 June 2010 Federal and State 'Housing Ministers jointly announced $3.05 million in funding to create a concept plan for the redevelopment of existing social housing precincts in Redfern and Waterloo. This Research Plan is written in the context of likely future renewal.

VISION

Our vision is for the Redfern and Waterloo Communities to have an influential voice in planning for renewal, informed and strengthened through access to quality information and research.

MISSION

Our mission is twofold: to identify external research and evaluation findings that have implications for Redfern and Waterloo; and to implement a local community learning, research and evaluation initiative that will benefit local residents, as well as residents in other renewal areas.

AIM

The aim of the Research Plan is to develop a collaborative approach to research and evaluation based on:

• Open dialogue
• Careful planning
• Strong methods
• Transparent reporting.

OBJECTIVES

The Community Learning and Research Plan will help us:

• Learn from elsewhere
• Learn from and document local experience
• Facilitate community learning and participation
• Coordinate local research initiatives.

COMMUNITY LEARNING FORUM

An open forum for residents to discuss research and evaluation related issues.

COMMUNITY LEARNING & RESEARCH COMMITTEE The development and implementation of the Research Plan will be overseen by a Community Learning and

Research Committee comprising two residents from the Community Learning Forum plus representatives from each of the following:

• Housing NSW
• Redwatch
• Consultant/ academic.

ROLE OF COMMITTEE

The Committee will:

• Determine local research priorities
• Oversee local research initiatives (including ethical considerations)
• Coordinate the work of different researchers
• Communicate findings to local stakeholders
• Ensure that reports are in plain English.

KEY ELEMENTS OF THE RESEARCH PLAN

Comprehensive information is available in a separate work plan. This document provides an overview only. Key elements of the plan include:

• Provision of existing literature to local stakeholders
• Regular community forums, including guest speakers
• Telephone survey
• Local qualitative research
• Local evaluation framework and plan
• Resident participation in designing and conducting research.

HOUSING NSW COMMITMENTS

In working with the local communities of Redfern and Waterloo Housing NSW commits to:

•  Consulting residents and other stakeholders on our research
•  Checking and discussing findings with local residents
•  Respecting the Redfern and Waterloo communities, their people and their cultures
•  Expressing optimism about Redfern and Waterloo and not talk negatively about them
•  Working with local stakeholders via the Research Committee.

FURTHER INFORMATION

There will be various opportunities for stakeholders to provide input into the Research Plan and its implementation. If you would like further information please contact:

David Lilley, Project Manager Housing NSW, L10, 234 Sussex St Sydney NSW 2000 Tel: 9268 3514.

Redfern and Waterloo Community Learning and Research Plan Research Committee Terms of Reference

• Set direction and identify priorities.
• Oversee implementation and reporting.
• Ensure residents are involved in research design and implementation.
• Ensure ethical conduct.
• Ensure that findings are fed back to residents in plain English.
• Provide recommendations to Housing NSW.

• Represent the interests of diverse stakeholders.
• Give voice to local interests.
• Influence those who seek to undertake research, to ensure that it benefits the residents of Redfern and Waterloo.

The performance of the Research Committee will be assessed on the extent to which:

• Research reflects local interests and priorities.
• Residents are able to participate in the research process.
• Interested stakeholders understand the findings of local and external research, and their implications for Redfern and Waterloo.

Two resident representatives from Redfern and Waterloo, plus one representative from each of the following:

Housing NSW.

• Redwatch.*
• Universities.

Roles and Responsibilities of Members

• Read distributed material ahead of meetings.
• Attend all meetings (unless absence is unavoidable).
• Act in the best interests of the Redfern and Waterloo Communities.
• Jointly 'own' processes and decisions of the Research Committee.

* REDWatch Note - REDWatch had not been consulted about involvement on this committee prior to HNSW issuing this leaflet. REDWatch subsequently decided it was unable to consider involvement in this committee in the absence of an agreed community consultation / engagement strategy. HNSW and RWA consulted on a Draft consultation framework in 2009 which was not subsequently released. Current activity has not been in line with this draft and community input into the draft. Waterloo NAB has also decided to set up their own working group independent of HNSW for Research and Monitoring the Re-development. Public Tenants and REDWatch has also called for release of earlier relevant research undertaken by HNSW and RWA which have not been publically released.