Is the NSW Government adequately monitoring boarding houses?

Last month The “Central Courier” published some of the appalling neglect residents had to endure that were detailed in a recent report of the NSW Ombudsman. “Residents in one boarding house were required to scoop scalding water from a broken urn, using plastic cups. Fire safety and food hygiene was substandard and medicines were not stored adequately. In another boarding house, the ombudsmen reported that the residents suffered from poor nutritional conditions, female residents claimed to be sexually assaulted and in one residency the tenants were shouted at if they made a mistake”.

The Ombudsman’s report found only one prosecution across the state since 1998. Greens Upper House MP, Sylvia Hale, was quick on the attack and said the Department had failed its duty of care. However it seemed the Minister for Ageing and Disability, John Della Bosca, actually welcomed the criticism in the report. He claimed the report acknowledges that much progress has been made in this area and also recommends a greater focus on monitoring, standards and improving quality in boarding houses. “There has been substantial progress supported by $50 million in recurrent funding. Since the Ombudsman’s 2005 investigation, the Department has been implementing a number of measures to address concerns that have been raised. These include: Auditing boarding house monitoring activities across NSW; Training Department staff responsible for monitoring activities, “Since 1998, about 500 people have been moved to more appropriate accommodation and a further 900 people are receiving funded support services in boarding houses,” the Minister said. “This funding has delivered more help to people with a disability living in boarding houses and more options for people requiring alternative support. But more needs to be done,” he added.

Community visitors regularly enter premises and an education program for operators, staff and residents about their rights, complaints handling and resolution is being introduced by the Ombudsman. The Minister also encouraged people to ‘dob in’ a crook boarding house. “If they have concerns about people with a disability living in a boarding house, they should contact the Department immediately on 8270 2000.”

Newtown Neighbourhood Centre boarding house worker, Leigh Connell, welcomes the Minister’s response but hopes that the Ombudsmen will keep on monitoring boarding houses across the state. He went on to say that “There is no tenancy protection whatsoever. It’s not unusual for a person who has been hospitalised and got behind in their rent to find that their belongings are dumped on the street and their room rented out. The worry over their possessions is now replaced with their need of shelter and the risk of homelessness”.

[South Sydney Herald August 2006]