Bunjum Social Housing is committed to developing the provision of long-term subsidised rental housing opportunities for members of the local Aboriginal Community who are in need of securing and affordable rental accommodation. We have a housing stock of 24 properties within Ballina LGA and Lismore LGA’s.
We have a Housing Policy that provides a structure that allows for the professional management of the housing assets that Bunjum owns and manages. This will allow the allocation of properties in line with community needs and circumstances to cover long term housing needs.
The Bunjum Housing Wait list is open to all Aboriginal Members who have cultural links and living within our local Community and who are over the age of 18 years
Housing Applicants are to complete a Bunjum Housing Application which will include the name, date, current address, and current housing situation of the applicant and their family. Applicants will receive a letter of acknowledgement of their application.
New wait list applicants are to be endorsed by the next Board meeting following the completion of the application form prior to Bunjum formally adding the applicant to the Bunjum Housing Wait List Register. Applicants will receive a letter confirming that they have been accepted or declined onto the Bunjum Housing Wait List.
The links to Housing Handbook, Housing Policy and Complaints and Appeals Policy documents are available by clicking on each of these links, or the buttons on this page.
Bunjum has partnered with the NSW Aboriginal Housing arm of the Department of Family and Community under the AHO Strong Family, Strong Community Strategy.
Bunjum have a formal partnership agreement with a local Property Management service that provide the nominated support as part of our property management in line with the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW).
As an accredited Social Housing Provider, we continue to try and work within a continual changing landscape by government and legislative requirements that impact on Aboriginal Social Housing Providers in many forms and Bunjum will maintain our commitment to carry on keeping Bunjum Tenants informed via Quarterly Newsletter, regular tenant yarn up forums and regular communication on latest news and events on our Webpage and Facebook page.
Social Housing FAQ
Housing applicants and existing tenants have the right to make a complaint if they wish to express dissatisfaction regarding the waiting list, non-selection or removal from the waiting list, being allocated a property which the applicant does not want to accept, rental amounts, being refused housing, issues relating to repairs and maintenance, other tenants, or other issues governed by the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW), ex nuisance and annoyance, use of premises etc.
The Complaints and Appeals Policy is available by clicking here.
This policy excludes complaints and appeals by applicants and tenants relating to:
- Disputes and grievances of staff or management
- Complaints by a tenant about another tenant (or someone else outside Bunjum)
- Complaints about Bunjum and its tenants by people who are not service users (eg neighbours, funding body, real estate agents)
The Complaints and Appeals Policy is available by clicking here.
- Tenants and applicants will be advised of the appeals and complaints process either at the time of applying for housing or when they sign the tenancy agreement and or at times when the procedures may be changed by Bunjum..
- Any complaint or appeal by an applicant or tenant will be dealt with fairly, promptly, in confidence and without retribution.
- All complaints and appeals can be in writing, verbal and anonymous and should be directed to the Bunjum Property Manager in line with the complaints policy of Bunjum
- Under no circumstances, are applicants or tenants to directly approach any Bunjum staff person or Director regarding any complaint to do with Bunjum Housing.
- The Property Manager is to notify the Bunjum General Manager of any complaint, and provide the organisation with copies of any written complaints which will be filed in a complaints register.
- If the complaint is deemed to be of a readily resolvable nature, the General Manager is able to make any procedural decision required or take any appropriate action deemed necessary to handle the complaint and advise the Chairperson accordingly.
- If the complaint is deemed to be of a more complex nature, the Board is to be advised and a meeting held to discuss the issue.
- The complaint will be handled in a fair and reasonable manner, and proper processes will be followed.
- The appellant or complainant will also be informed of the external bodies within the state such as the Aboriginal Housing Office, Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service and Residential Tribunal to whom complaints can be taken up further if required. If the complain is anonymous then the complainant will not be able to be contacted
- All information pertaining to the complaint and appeal will be maintained on file.
- For unresolved complaints relating to tenancy management including eviction, rent management, repairs and maintenance, asset management and all other issues governed by the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW), tenants can seek a hearing through the NSW Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) processes.
