Francis Logan

Francis Logan

Minister for Energy; Resources; Industry and Enterprise

    Subsidies for community organisations to attend Housing Conference

    12/09/2005 12:00 AM
     
    12/09/05

    Thirty applicants from community organisations across Western Australia will be given financial assistance to attend the fourth National Housing Conference (NHC) in Perth on October 27 to 28.

    Shelter WA has been given a $15,000 grant by LotteryWest to subsidise members of the community who could not normally afford to attend the high-profile conference.

    Housing and Works Minister Francis Logan said the grant offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for community sector specialists across WA.

    “Shelter WA and LotteryWest are to be congratulated on this initiative, which will allow community representatives from all parts of WA to attend Australia’s peak housing conference, held once every two years,” Mr Logan said.

    “Applicants who qualify for the grants will be able to listen to top international and national speakers, network with their peers from overseas and interstate and participate in panel discussions on key issues.”

    Mr Logan said two streams of the conference sessions, 'Challenges for Public and Community Housing' and 'Meeting the Needs of Indigenous Australians' would be devoted specifically to community issues.

    Subsidies would be up to $250 for 10 applicants from the metropolitan area, $500 for 10 regional applicants and $750 for 10 people from remote areas.

    The subsidies would be awarded to cover the cost of travel, accommodation and registration.

    Shelter WA executive officer Karel Eringa said the subsidy scheme would address concerns that due to WA’s size there would be fewer community sector representatives attending the conference.

    “For the first time, WA housing consumers and housing-related organisations will have a relatively affordable opportunity to meet their peers from around the country to discuss housing issues in a broad national context,” Mr Eringa said.

    “The subsidy will be used to help prospective participants who can demonstrate a need for financial support; it will provide these people with a unique opportunity to participate in the national debate on housing and influence the direction of housing policy and practice in Australia.”

    More information about the subsidies is available from the Shelter WA website at http://www.shelterwa.org.au/housing_news.htm Application forms can be downloaded from the site.

    Minister's office: 9222 8950