FOUR BRISBANE GROUPS AWARDED TENANCY EDUCATION GRANTS
Published Friday, 21 September, 2007 at 02:37 PM
Minister for Public Works, Housing and Information and Communication Technology
The Honourable Robert Schwarten
Housing Minister Robert Schwarten today announced that four organisations based in Brisbane’s central business district and northern suburbs had been awarded community education grants by the Residential Tenancies Authority.
Mr Schwarten said the Tenant’s Union of Queensland, New Farm Neighbourhood Centre, Queensland University of Technology Counselling Service and Red Cross had been awarded grants.
“The Tenant’s Union and Red Cross will each receive more than $20,000 to improve awareness of tenant’s rights and responsibilities for indigenous people living in the inner city and Caboolture, and to develop a training package on the Residential Tenancies Act 1994 respectively,” Mr Schwarten said.
“The QUT Counselling Service has been awarded $15,000 to develop information resources for students living in share houses, and the New Farm Neighbourhood Centre will develop a website for international students with its grant of more than $9,000.”
Mr Schwarten said many tenants were not fully aware of their rights and responsibilities when it came to renting a property, and many were not aware of the obligations of their landlords.
“That’s where the RTA’s Community Education Scheme comes in,” he said.
“The scheme plays an important role in funding local community groups to deliver tenancy information to groups who otherwise may not receive this information.”
“The standard of applications for grants in 2007 was exceptionally high, which made the task of awarding the grants extremely difficult.
“The RTA received 22 applications this year with ten organisations selected and awarded grants totalling almost $150,000.”
Mr Schwarten said more than $1 million in community education grants have been awarded to more than 131 projects since the grant scheme was first introduced.
Applications for the 2008 round of grants will open in April next year.
Media contact: Scott Chandler on (07) 3237 1832
Mr Schwarten said the Tenant’s Union of Queensland, New Farm Neighbourhood Centre, Queensland University of Technology Counselling Service and Red Cross had been awarded grants.
“The Tenant’s Union and Red Cross will each receive more than $20,000 to improve awareness of tenant’s rights and responsibilities for indigenous people living in the inner city and Caboolture, and to develop a training package on the Residential Tenancies Act 1994 respectively,” Mr Schwarten said.
“The QUT Counselling Service has been awarded $15,000 to develop information resources for students living in share houses, and the New Farm Neighbourhood Centre will develop a website for international students with its grant of more than $9,000.”
Mr Schwarten said many tenants were not fully aware of their rights and responsibilities when it came to renting a property, and many were not aware of the obligations of their landlords.
“That’s where the RTA’s Community Education Scheme comes in,” he said.
“The scheme plays an important role in funding local community groups to deliver tenancy information to groups who otherwise may not receive this information.”
“The standard of applications for grants in 2007 was exceptionally high, which made the task of awarding the grants extremely difficult.
“The RTA received 22 applications this year with ten organisations selected and awarded grants totalling almost $150,000.”
Mr Schwarten said more than $1 million in community education grants have been awarded to more than 131 projects since the grant scheme was first introduced.
Applications for the 2008 round of grants will open in April next year.
Media contact: Scott Chandler on (07) 3237 1832