Research and Development
Planning Assessment Tool (PAT)
Solution:
The aim of this project was to produce a Housing for Health data analysis tool to help scope major upgrade works following a Housing for Health Survey Fix project.
HLPs Targeted:
This R&D project focuses on Safety and Healthy Living Practices 1 – Washing People to Healthy Living Practice 7- Reducing the health impacts of dust & Healthy Living Practice 9 – Reducing hazards that cause trauma,
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Age Groups Affected:
This project effects the living environment of all age groups.
Project Details Better planning and scoping for major works
- Introduction
- The Problem
- The Solution
- Trial projects
- Where to next?
- From Housing for Health - the Guide
Introduction
The aim of this project was to produce a Housing for Health data analysis tool to help scope major upgrade works following a Housing for Health Survey Fix project. This was developed to assist the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing (NPARIH) target upgrade monies more carefully to achieve the goals of the National Indigenous Housing Guide. Trialled repeatedly in the first rounds of the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP) in the Northern Territory, the tool was improved as the role out of the NPARIH was being undertaken. The PAT tool has been ignored by the national programs, but used internally by all Fixing Houses for Better Health (FHBH) projects and NSW Health in their management of the Housing for Health program – where larger budgets are often available.
Identifying Poor Environments
Housing funds are often misdirected due to a lack of information about the condition of the existing house and the order of priority of works required to maintain or upgrade it.
Designing for Better Health
The PAT Tool is a complex set of pre-selected analysis profiles grouping key items that will allow for testing the potential of each house for minor maintenance, upgrading, rebuilding or demolition and replacement.
The Problem
Housing funds are often misdirected due to a lack of information about the condition of the existing house and the order of priority of works required to maintain or upgrade it.
The Solution
The PAT tool includes the following features:
- PAT uses existing data collected during SF1 and 2 of all FHBH projects (Check how to refer to these projects)
- A complex set of pre-selected analysis profiles grouping key items that will allow the testing the potential of each house for minor maintenance, upgrading, rebuilding or demolition and replacement
- The ability to select a customised set of items for checking the potential for upgrading of a house
- Reports for all selected items
- Ability to use Survey Fix 1 or 2 information
- Ranking of all houses from best to poorest relative to the selected analysis
Trial projects
The PAT has been developed, trialled, continually improved and used in the Housing for Health program. The rejection of the PAT by the larger national programs, despite being offered free and with assistance from Healthabitat, calls into question the methods used by these programs to scope and deliver a complex range of minor maintenance, upgrading, rebuilding or demolition and replacement works in a wide variety of communities around Australia.
Where to next?
For information for architects, designers, students, communities, housing managers go to :
BIG ISSUES: Where is the money going?
From Housing for Health - the Guide
About the data
“The data throughout the Guide comes from over 190 Housing for Health projects that have tested over 280 items in more than 7,500 houses – over 2.1 million items of data. The testing is done before fix work commences and then again after the project is finished. The rigorous, standardised testing ensures that not only has any money been spent well, but that house function has been improved.
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