DOUBLE CHECK
So what is Double Check?
Whether it is the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing program or a state or territory government funded housing program; more money is being spent on Indigenous housing than at any time in Australia's history.
With the coming of the 'big money' projects being run by federal and state governments, we are getting more calls from communities unsure of the quality of building work being done. Be it new housing, rebuilding of houses or upgrades, the quality of work seems to be an ongoing issue.
The following extract from a letter received from the Aboriginal leaders of a small central Australian community is not unusual.
"Attached is a copy of our letter to the Executive Director dated 8th February 2011 in which we requested quite specific information on the key issues relating to the project. None of that information has been forthcoming and despite local rhetoric that the refurbishment project here has been completed there are still many concerns regarding quality of hardware installed, level of works completion, inadequate floor surfaces, lack of secure food storage, etc, The list is extensive."
Healthabitat have worked in many Indigenous communities over the years and they remember Housing for Health projects favourably. Now HH wants to offer to all communities that are unsure about the quality of new or upgrade housing work completed, under the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing program, a way of checking the completed work through our DOUBLE CHECK to ensure safety and health improvements have been achieved.
We don't have much money, but we do have a well tested way of checking houses and we think many non- indigenous Australians will lend a hand to check the works and ensure large amounts of money are actually improving conditions on the ground for Indigenous families.
Healthabitat will:
- receive requests from communities to DOUBLE CHECK work completed
- assess the requests for DOUBLE CHECK and decide where we can help
- call for volunteers to help work on the projects
- train the volunteers in the Housing for Health method and bring all the necessary survey and fix tools to the project
- run the project and complete a DOUBLE CHECK assessment on a mutually agreed number of houses
- discuss the DOUBLE CHECK results with the participating community
- publish the DOUBLE CHECK results on this website and broadly
The Indigenous community requesting a Double Check will:
- Arrange a place for the visiting volunteer team of around 6 people to stay for one week ..... at no cost
- Have a place available for the local Housing for Health office.... at no cost
- Have the money for licenced trades to do fix work (no less than $500) for each house that is to be DOUBLE CHECKED
- Welcome the volunteers to the community and provide a DOUBLE CHECK farewell
Volunteers will:
- be a guest of the hosting Indigenous community
- see first hand some of the complex issues and living conditions experienced by Indigenous Australians
- need no technical skills as you will receive free training in the Housing for Health method before getting to the project
- maybe be a university student of architecture, building, nursing, medicine, planning, industrial design or any other course?
- be a trade skilled person keen to use their skills for a week
- a member of a services club, used to doing volunteer work
- a group of pubic servants keen to see the results of their policies and hard work
- be a mum or dad interested in how other people's kids live in Australia
Interested?
If you are representing a Community click here
If you are a Volunteer wanting to join the team click here