Healthy housing worker program

• Reach:

  NSW

• Focus area:

  Indigenous

• Status:

  Current

• Evaluated:

  No

Overview

The Healthy housing worker program operating in the far west area of NSW involves developing a solution to the often complicated problem of the maintenance of houses in rural and remote Indigenous communities. The aim of the program is to improve health outcomes for these communities and at the same time build the capacity of the community members to take on the role of fixing housing problems.

The program is operated by the Murdi Paaki Regional Housing Corporation (MPRHC) in partnership with the Greater West Area Health Service in NSW. It runs along side the Housing for health program (see programs and projects under this section for details).

The overall objectives of the Healthy housing worker program are to:

• integrate environmental health and safety as part of normal property maintenance practices
• train workers in practical handyman trade skills and community environmental health principles
• develop a property management database
• address systemic housing problems
• provide a preventative maintenance program
• build networks with local and regional agencies
• create real jobs in communities
• stay ahead of environmental health and safety hazards in remote communities
• promote community education on property maintenance and environmental health and safety

Contacts

Murdi Paaki Regional Housing Corporation
428 Blende Street
Broken Hill NSW 2880
PO Box 270
Broken Hill NSW 2880
Ph: (08) 8088 6077
Fax: (08) 8088 6070
E-mail: admin@murdipaakihousing.com.au

Related publications

Standen J, Behnoosh K, Smith W (2009)

Housing and health: what’s the connection? Health benefits from an Aboriginal housing program in NSW.

Paper presented at the 7th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Environmental Health Conference Kalgoorlie, WA. 12-15 May 2009, Kalgoorlie, WA

• Links
• View conference presentation: Housing and health: what’s the connection? Health benefits from an Aboriginal housing program in NSW (PDF - 620.0 KB)
  pages 62-63
• View information: 7th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Environmental Health Conference Kalgoorlie, WA
• View website: Department of Health and Ageing

Balding B, Graham B, Burke H (2005)

Home-grown solutions for healthier homes: the Healthy Housing Worker program in far west NSW.

Sydney: ABC Online

• Links
• View report: Home-grown solutions for healthier homes: the Healthy Housing Worker program in far west NSW (PDF - 83.6 KB)
• View information: Home-grown solutions for healthier homes: the Healthy Housing Worker program in far west NSW
• View website: Agreements, Treaties and Negotiated Settlements

Links

• View information: Building for healthier communities: healthy housing worker program (ANTaR)
• View information: Success stories in Indigenous health: building for healthier communities - healthy housing worker program (ANTaR)
• View website: Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation
• View website: Murdi Paaki Regional Housing Corporation