MARCH 2022
It is an honour and a privilege to be returned to the Board by co-ops at the 2021 Annual General Meeting and to be reappointed by my Board colleagues as the CEHL Chair for a second term.
As part of the Board’s commitment to improving communication with co-ops and co-op members, in each edition of Co-operatively Speaking, I will provide you with an overview of major changes and topical issues impacting CEHL and our co-op members.
The monthly shareholder reports will continue to be published in Co-op Resources in the portal www.cehl.com.au/ProgramFramewo... and from April, the Shareholder Report will also include information in relation to CEHL financial statements.
I will also be keeping you updated on CEHL’s progress towards meeting the Housing Registrar’s performance standards.
Liz and I recently met with the Registrar and his team and, while there is work to be done to get to where we need to be, he expressed a keen desire to work with CEHL to address the performance issues that have been identified in relation to a shorter turnaround time to fill vacant properties and an improved complaint handling processes.
Quarterly Board Report
Current membership of Board Committees
Finance and Risk Committee
- Samantha Winter - Board Director and Committee Chairperson
- Heidi Lee - Board Director
- Liz Thomas - Managing Director
- Brad Hosking - Corporate Director
- Independent member to be appointed
Policy Advisory Committee (PAC)
- Fiona Herman - Board Director and Committee Chairperson
- Liz Thomas - Managing Director
- Michelle Boxell - Co-op member
- Liza Dezfouli - Co-op member
- Beth Rundell - Co-op member
- Leanne Warner - Co-op member
- Christine Tenney - Co-op member
Property Committee
- Keith Bayliss - Board Director and Committee Chairperson
- Robyn Evans - Board Director
- Jean Nankin - Board Director
- Liz Thomas - Managing Director
- Independent member to be appointed
People, Culture and Governance Committee
- Tony De Domenico OAM - Board Director and Committee Chairperson
- Brodie Woodland - Board Director
- Liz Thomas - Managing Director
- Michelle Lee - CEHL Manager People, Organisation and Development
- Independent member from CEHL membership to be appointed
Co-op Program Committee (CPC)
- Gordon Kieselbach - Board Director
- Sylwia Greda-Bogusz OAM - Board Director
- Liz Thomas - Managing Director
- Elizabeth Ellen - Co-op member
- Damian Dickson - Co-op member
- Dianne Gorman - Co-op member
- Karren Walker - Co-op member
- Denise Francisco - Independent Chair
- Gillian McFee - Independent Co-op Advisor
Strategic Plan – Towards 2025
The launch of Strategic Plan at the Annual General Meeting was well received. In February, the Board approved the 2022 Business Plan that sets out the work to be done to take us on the pathway towards achieving our vision of:
Empowered people
Thriving co-operatives
Better housing solutions
Each quarter, Liz will report implementation progress on the Business Plan to the Board and to the co-op membership in Co-operatively Speaking.
Take a moment to watch the Strategic Plan – Towards 2025 video and dive into the details of our strategic goals and priorities.
Policy update
The Board considered and approved the policy covering the principles of Director remuneration. There is no change to the remuneration pool.
The Board approved the Policy Committee’s recommended changes to the
1. Rent Arrears Procedure
2. Breach of Duty Program Policy and Procedure
3. Appropriate Use of Property Policy
Funding opportunities
These unprecedented times have seen the Victorian Government make a substantial $5.3 billion investment, over five years, in the Big Housing Build Social Housing Growth Fund (SHGF), to increase Victoria’s supply of social and affordable housing.
So far, CEHL has been successful in securing $6.7m of the funding for property upgrades and 175 homes have already been upgraded. We have also received another $10m for 34 homes which are scheduled to be completed by 2023.
CEHL continues to make submissions for the regional grant funds as they open and by planning together, co-ops and CEHL can take advantage of the SHGF funding opportunities to build our housing stock. A series of regional information sessions will be held over the coming months to identify how we can work together to make the most of the available funding.
Many co-ops participated in the Big Housing Build Q&A held in December and the upcoming sessions will be another great opportunity to learn more.
Community Housing Sector news
Social housing reform disappointment
Days after the Victorian Government’s announcement of significant reforms that promised a secure funding stream for future social housing in Victoria, the reforms were abandoned.
CEHL will continue to work with our peak body, the Community Housing Industry Association (CHIAVic), the Victorian Government and key stakeholders to explore alternative funding models to increase the supply of community housing.
Read the Statement on Planning Reform Package
Social Housing Regulatory Review
The Victorian Government is undertaking an independent review of social housing regulatory arrangements. The aim of the review is to identify a regulatory framework that supports the long-term interests of social housing residents and their communities.
CEHL is contributing to the review of the interim report via our peak body, (CHIAVic). A final report will be provided to the Government mid-year.
Link to Social Housing Regulatory Review Information
Complaints handling by Community Housing Providers
The Victoria Ombudsman has launched a review of current complaints handling processes across the community housing sector to identify opportunities to improve processes and ensure fairness in how public and community housing providers handle complaints.
The investigation was brought about after the Ombudsman received more than 1,000 public and community housing complaints last year. The investigation will make recommendations to the government later in the year.
Link to CHIAVic post about the investigation
Link to Victorian Ombudsman announcement
Yours in co-operation,
Heidi Lee
CEHL Chairperson