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HANZA NEWS

March2013 Issuenumber11

PromotingHomeshareinAustralasia

NEWS

HANZACOMMUNITYOFPRACTICE‐SharingExperienceCANBERRAPROGRAMOFHOMESHARE

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ThevalueofsharingpracticeexperienceandwisdomwassoevidentinourfirstCoPtele‐meetingheldon30thJanuary2013.

ThemajortopicofdiscussionwasthechallengesofworkingwithHomeshareparticipantstohelpclarifyexpectationsofeachotherandtheHomeshareprogram,duringthematchsetupphase,developingtheagreementandthenlearningtolivewitheachother.AllagreedthisisthekeyareaofHSpracticethatenablessuccessfulandsustainablematchestobemadeandthatrespectsaconsumer(self)directedwayofworking.CoPmembersbenefittedenormouslyfromthemanyyearsofexperienceandpracticewisdomofHANZA’sJoanCrawford,withaddedvalueofBernadetteLarkin’sdisabilityexperience.BotharepicturedherewithBerisCampbellaroundthe“Mushroom”duringthelivelydiscussion.

Canberra’sCommunityConnectionssenttheirnewHomeshareManager,LeeHarrison,toMelbourneinFebruaryfortwointensivedaysofsoakingupasmuchaspossibleonHomeshare.TheHANZAteamranafullday’sworkshopwhichwasverystimulatingandproductive.JessChrystal,thenewworkerofHousingResource&SupportServices(firstweekinthejob!)alsoattendedandwentawaywithherheadreeling.Leehasacoupleofmatchesalreadyinplace–agreatstartfortheprogramandpromisestofulfilourpredictionofCanberrabeinganidealcityforHomeshareinAustralia.GoodluckLee! Joan,LeeandDeniseattheworkshop

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NEWS CONT.

FUNDRAISINGFORHANZAHANZAcameintobeingasaresponsetotheexpansionoftheHomeshareprogramthroughoutAustralasia.Wearekeentoseeeveryoneworkinginunisonwithaviewtoprovidingmutualsupport,aswellasmaintainingthehighestpossiblestandardsofservicedelivery.Inpracticethishasmeantafewpeopleputtingupthefundsneededforsuccess.Wehavehadtoincorporate,achievetaxdeductibilitystatus,DeductibleGiftRecipientstatusandworstofall,payforInsurance.KenMawdsleyhelpeduswithallthis.

Membershipfeeshavehelped,butonSaturdaywetooktheplungeandhadaSAUSAGESIZZLEtoputusintheblackandmaketheTreasurerhappy.Itwasanastonishinglysuccessfuleventandweraised$1400.Anyonewantingtodothismustbewarnedthatalthoughitlookssimple,thestaffworkcarriedoutbyourJoanCrawfordwasonerous–scaryeven.

VICTORIA‐EXPANSIONOFHOMESHAREPROGRAM

Submissions for the expansion of Homeshare into the North West and the Eastern Metro Regions ofMelbourne closed on the 15th February 2013. It has been a slow but valuable process for Homeshare.Interestinthetwoprojectswashigh.AwarenessoftheHomeshareprogramintheagedcareanddisabilitysectorhasincreasedsignificantlyasaresultoftheprocesswhichwasanunexpectedoutcome.

The Victorian Department of Health, HACC unit, is investing significant resources in this expansion ofHomeshareoverthenextthreeyears.ThiswillhaveanenormousimpactonthefutureofHomeshare,notonlyinVictoriabutthroughoutAustralia.

AHACCHomeshareReferenceGroupwillbeestablished toguide theproject. Thiswill includedevelopingreportingrequirementsandevaluatingtheprojects.

TheReferenceGroupwillbecomprisedofDepartmentofHealthCentralOfficeandRegionalOfficestaff,thesuccessful Eastern Metro and North and West Metro service providers, the Southern Metro Homeshareservice provider,HANZA and aged care peak organisations including theMunicipal Associationof Victoria,Carers Victoria, Council on the Ageing and Leading Aged Services Australia. Announcements of the newHomeshareproviderswillnotbemadeforafewmonthsbutthenewprogramsareexpectedtostartfrom1stJuly2013.AveryexcitingtimeforHomeshareandforusallinHANZA.LASATRAININGPROPOSAL(LeadingAgedServicesAustralia)

ForsometimetheSocialWorkersamongushavebeencanvassingtheideaofaHomesharetrainingprogram,toprepareagencystafffortheirroleasaHomesharecoordinator. Ithasbeenrightlypointedoutthatthehomesharepracticediffersfromthatofanyothertypeofassessmentandmatchingprocessbecauseyouarebringingstrangerstogether‘tolive’together.Wehavenotbeenabletofindanytrainingcoursesorunitsinanycounsellingtrainingfor‘matchmaking’andbelievethisneedstobeaddressed.LASAhastakenupthechallengeandisintalkswithBerisaboutdesignandimplementation.(Berisisbusierthanevershewaswhilegainfullyemployed)

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INTERNATIONAL HOMESHARE The3rdWorldHomeshareCongressinOxford,UKisalmostuponus.Dates: 4thand5thJuly2013Theme: Homeshare:Whatworks?DevelopingtheevidencebaseforHomeshareVenue: RewleyHouse

HIPRESSRELEASE(extract)March2013‐

Assessingtheevidenceforhomeshare–apolicyoptionforthe21stcenturyHomesharepractitioners,policymakersandacademicswillcometogetherinOxford,UK,from4‐5July2013,for Homeshare International’s Third World Homeshare Congress. This two‐day conference will focus onHomeshare:Whatworks?Developingtheevidencebase for theeffectivenessofhomeshare. Itwillmakethe case forprograms toevaluatewhat theydo, discuss success criteria and showhowevaluation canbebuilt in to everyday practice. And it will celebratemany successes and show how they can be replicatedelsewhere.Speakerswillincludeexperiencedhomesharepractitionersandeminentgerontologists.

Theconferencewillbenefitpeoplerunningprograms(orthinkingaboutstartingone)andthosewhowanttolearn what homeshare can offer in the policy context. At a time when accommodation is scarce andexpensiveinmanycitiesandthegrowthintheolderpopulationisputtingabigstrainonmanypublicservices,homesharedeservesaplaceamongthehousingandsocialcareoptionsonoffer.ReadmoreaboutthecongressonHomeshareInternational’swebsite:http://homeshare.org/world‐congress/NSHRC(NationalSharedHousingResourceCentre)–USAEmailexchangewithKirbyDunn,HomeshareVermont,hasalertedustothelatestpublicationintheUSonshared housing “Strategies for Scaling Shared Housing”. All members are recommended to study thisexcellentpaper.Gotohttp://nationalsharedhousing.org/news/andclickonREADMORE…abouttheSharedHousingSymposiuminLosAngelestogettothefulldownloadablereport.NewHInewsletterApparentlycomingsoon.HANZAhassentashortprécisoftheirrecentactivitiesforthedelectationoftheinternationalset.

THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF WORKING TOGETHER

BerishasdesignedacertificateofmembershipforHANZAmemberstomakeyouallfeelgoodandremindyoutopaynextyear’sfees.Verypretty.Comingsoon.

HELPFUL HINTS Let’sHomeshare–Whywait?(StorybyBeriswritten2002butstillrelevantfortoday.)

“I’mnotreadyforhomeshareyet!” isacommentsometimesmadeafterourhomeshareprogramhasbeenexplainedtoagroupofolderpeople.“Whenisyet?”ourCoordinator,BerisCampbellresponds.“Wearenotin the business of finding someone to look after you. You probably don’t need looking after,” she says.Homesharedoesnotrecruit live‐in‘carers’,wesetouttofindcaring,responsiblesharers. Notsurprisingly,olderhouseholdersdreadseeingthemselves,orfearbeingseen,as‘anuisance’‐beingdependentonfamilyandfriendsoradmittingtoneedinghelp.Being‘ready’forhomeshareisnotaboutbeingdependent,quitethecontrary.It’saboutmaintainingindependence.

Homesharing is an interesting, positive thing to do! You don’t have towait to be ‘ready’ for it. It is notsomethingyouonlyput inplacewhenyouneedhelpandcan’tmanagebyyourself safelyathome. Idealhouseholdersarethosewhoarestillindependent(particularlyinspirit!)butwouldprefertoshareandenjoy

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thecompanyofanotherpersoninthehouseratherthanlivealone.‘It’ssogoodforme–welaughsomuch!’oneofourhouseholdersrecentlysaidtoherdaughteraboutherHomesharer.

Byhomesharingolderpeople candemonstrate to family and theworld at large that theyarepeoplewhohavequalitiesthataresuchthatayoungerpersonwantstocomeandlivewiththem.“Ageingwell”iswhatit’s all about. There are necessary attributes for ageingwell ‐ a sense of humour, learning from youngerpeople,lettingpeopleintoyourlife,makingnewfriendshipslaterinlife.Andthat’swhathomesharingisallabout!

Of course homesharing is also about older householders feeling safer at home and being able tomanagetheirmuch‐loved pets,maintaining the garden and lotsmore. And it gives a younger person a homelike,familyenvironment. Thiscanmeansucha lot toa lonely,homesickperson fromoverseasor thecountry.Homeshareisallaboutreciprocity!

COMMUNICATION IS VITAL NancyHoganistheonlyHANZAmembertoclaimtheprizeforhavingreadthelasteditionofournewsletter.WhatamItothink?Shameontherestofyou.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Thewebsiteisinoperationbutwehavenothadalotofopportunitytobuildonitandmakeimprovements.Trywww.homeshare.org.auandpleasegiveusanyfeedback.Wewouldlovesuggestionsforimprovementandoffersofhelpwouldbeespeciallywelcome!Wearestartingworknextmonthtobringthingsup‐to‐dateandexploringwaysofmakingitabitmoreinteractiveandattractive.IfanymembershavesomeHomesharesuccessstories–especiallywithphotos–theywouldliketoshare,wewouldbedelighted.

DISABILITY HOMESHARE ItisofinteresttonotethatsomeofthenewHomeshareprogramsaredisabilityfocussed.OurnewmemberCommunityConnectionsintheACTisonesuchandfundedbyDisabilityservices.TheHomesharemodelclearlytickssomanyboxesinallthecurrentthinkingaboutenablingpeoplewithdisabilitiestoliveinthecommunity,achievetheirpotential,buildontheirabilitiesandrecognisetheircapacityandpleasureinbeingpartofareciprocalarrangementlikeanyoneelse.OurexperiencesofarhasshownusthatcarefullydeliveredHomesharehasmuchtooffertopeoplewithdisabilities–especiallythosewhoarekeentomaintaintheirindependenceandliveintheirownhomeinthesamewayasourolderhouseholders.Forthosewantingto‘attain’independence,moveoutofthefamilyhomeoroutofsupportedaccommodation,Homeshareisalsoaveryattractiveoption.Ourexperience,andthatofourcolleaguesinPerth,hasledustotheviewthatOlderPersonsHomeshare(OPH)andYoungerPersonsHomeshare(YPH)aredifferent.TheyneedsomedifferentskillsandexperiencebuttheprinciplesunderpinningHomeshareandmanyaspectsofHomesharepracticearethesame,sothatifpossible,theyshoulddevelopandrunalongsideeachother.WewouldliketoseeDisabilityagencieswhohavenoagedcareserviceswithintheirorganisationsformpartnershipsoratleastrelationshipswithagedcareagencieswhoaredevelopingHomeshare.Thereareobviousbenefits–particularlyinrelationtorecruitmentofHomesharersandbeingabletobuildaricherandbiggerpool.AtopicforaHANZACommunityofPracticemeetingperhaps??

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NEWS FROM HANZA MEMBERS AROUND AUSTRALASIA Communities@WorkLeeHarrisonwillmakecontactwithLynHarwoodtoseeifthereisadvantageinthetwoorganizationsworkingtogetheronajointHomeshareprogram.Wewillstayinformed.CommunityConnectionsInc.GoodlucktoLeeHarrisonandtheteaminCCIwiththeirnewfundedHomeshareprogram.UnitingCommunities‐Adelaide.GarthhasbeenheadhuntedbyanotherprogramatUnitingCommunitiesandwillbemissedbyHomeshare.Kellie’snewco‐workerisTrishWilliams.WewillmeetandwelcomeTrishtoHANZAatthenextCoP.

HousingResource&SupportService(HR&SS)‐Vic

RebeccaDunganhasbeenreplacedbyJessChrystal.JessattendedthetrainingsessionrunbyBerison21st

Feb.

UnitingCareCommunityOptions‐Vic

TonyCavedonofUCCOhasofferedtohostallCoPmeetingsinthefuture.ThankyouTony.

QueenslandCommunityCareNetworkInc.KenMawdsleyisindefatigable.WhileallofhisprogramsarebeingturnedupsidedownwithnewHACCrequirements,heisbusywritingaHomesharesubmissiontotheCommonwealthMinisterforHealth,MarkButler.MostofKen’sexistingprogramsaretargetedatkeepingolderpeopleathomethroughfriendlyvisitingandheisadamantthatHomeshareisthepinnacleofwhatcanbeachievedinthisway.Evenbetter,KenhasanappointmentwithColleenKellyofBrisbaneCityCounciltofurtherherambitionofacquiringaHomeshareprogramforNorthBrisbane.AlsopresentatthismeetingwillbeJoanneHoohilanandKellyBowey(ofCOMMUNITYLIVING,aHANZAmember).Kelly’sorganizationisalsotryingtosetupaHSprogram.

MackayRegionalCouncil

EuniceDonovan’steamisdevelopingaHousingDirectoryforolderpeopleinwhichHSgetsabigplug.SheisinterestedinKen’sinitiatives.CommunityLivingProgram‐QldKellyBoweyisadvertisinghomeshareonherOrganization’swebsiteandisconsideringthepossibilityoftheprogramtosupportnewlydischargedyoungpeoplewithadisabilityintohomesbeingconstructedbyhergroup.Herhomeshareaspirationsarebeingfundedbyfundraising,infrastructurefundsandgoodintentions.Thewaymostofushavestartedup.CommunityBasedSupportSouth‐Tas.VivBeattieisstrugglingonwithdedicationandwithoutfunding.Whatawoman!PerthHomeCareServicesVeryactiveinCoPandindeveloping“AgencyassistedHomeshare”,thetopicforMarch.CarmelHurstForHANZAInc.