JULY 2020

Australian Research Grant to Investigate Benefits of Co-op Housing

Australian Co-op Housing Alliance has secured funding and commissioned research to reveal the benefits of co-op housing for individuals and the wider community.

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Winter Message from Chairperson Heidi Lee

Welcome to Co-operatively Speaking. This issue contains lots of great articles and information about training opportunities, films, recipes, and more. We also have heartwarming updates from co-op members who are finding positivity in some aspects of home-based living and working.

For many Victorians, we have recently spent our 100th day in lockdown.

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Video Message

Video message from the Chair, Heidi Lee and the Managing Director, Stephen Nash COVID-19 (Coronavirus).

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Delivering Maintenance during the Pandemic

The Asset and Maintenance Service Team have adopted new safety measures to keep delivering essential maintenance and Third Schedule projects.

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Social Housing Volunteer Awards

Nominate a tenant or a group of tenants who contribute positively to their community for these awards.

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Co-op Conversations

Find out how some Australian farmers have transformed their business and community by working together.

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CRABAG - Recognition of Labour

Company Rent and Affordability Benchmark Advisory Group (CRABAG) was established by the Board to review the financial relationship between CEHL and co‐ops. This includes giving co‐ops more flexibility in what tasks they do, and which services they pay CEHL to provide.

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Garden Reflection and Joy

Liza from Liberty CERC shares her lockdown gardening explorations and the magic healing and restorative practice that gardening can have for everyone.

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In My Blood it Runs

This critically acclaimed documentary movie is told through the eyes of charismatic 10-year-old Arrernte/Garrwa boy, Dujuan and his family, revealing the challenges Dujuan faces both in his school and on the streets of Alice Springs.

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Lemon Ricotta Cake

Made from fresh ricotta, this baked lemon dessert cake has a similar texture to cheesecake and is delicious served with lemon curd and vanilla ice-cream.

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Stress Relief

The 4-7-8 breathing technique, in a matter of seconds, can ease a negative response to stress.

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Managing Director Update

As we finalise this newsletter, many of us are returning to Stage 3 Stay at Home restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne local government areas and Mitchell Shire for 6 weeks. This next period of restrictions will hopefully see a dramatic drop in the numbers of people infected and a return to some safe forms of physical contact.

CEHL COVID-19 Updates

Keep up-to-date with changes to CEHL Services and latest measures to assist members during COVID-19. NOTE: While in Stage 3 restrictions, face-to-face meetings with Co-op Development Co-ordinators are not taking place.

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Co-op's Zooming

The Training Advisory Committee have been giving video conferencing software Zoom a go and enjoying the experience.

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Training - New RTA Changes

Co-op's have completed training sessions about the impact on co-ops of the changes to the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA).

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Amsterdam City Council Allocates Funding

The Amsterdam City Council has allocated funding for housing co-op projects which they think can help to address the lack of affordable housing with a loan fund created to be used to support the development of housing co-ops.

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Member Portal Use

The number of members using the Portal has increased over the recent months. Many members are giving it a go, and finding it easy.

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Stories from our Home

Most of us are leading quieter lives at home and others have had to be on the frontline dealing with coronavirus in a more serious way. Sarah Andrew from Liberty Co-op and Kris from CEHL share their experience during the lockdown.

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Empower Food Relief

Empower food relief centers open every Sunday in various Melbourne metro and regional locations.

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National Reconciliation

National Reconciliation is a journey for all Australians. We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures.

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COTAVIC

Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria is the leading not-for-profit organisation protecting the rights of older Victorians.

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