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INDIGENOUS HOUSING

PUBLIC HOUSING ISSUES FOR INDIGENOUS TENANTS

THE ISSUE IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY

The way in which public housing matters urban areas are being managed at the moment, gives cause for concern. I imagine the same to be the case in regional centres and know for a fact there are issues in remote communities.

General

In urban terms, my concern has to do with the fact that allocated homes are not, in many cases, given the care and attention they should be afforded by tenants. When homes are vacated, many thousands of dollars are being spent on refurbishments prior to reallocation. When those homes are re-tenanted, new occupants are on their own. There appears to be no follow-up in terms of visit from the housing authority to see how the new tenants are going.

In my opinion, this leaves tenants vulnerable. This is particularly the case for those moving into new areas or possibly into conventional urban towin housing for the first time. They do need support on the systems this appears not to be forthcoming.

There should also be a role in terms of Government housing that considers education of people to live in houses, to care for property and to be considerate of neighbours. Included should be the use of stoves, refrigerators and washing machines. Garden maintenance and care for overall appearance should be taken into account. Too often the responsibilities that should be shown by tenants are ignored.

It would seem there is an assumption the tenants know all about how to maintain and care for conventional houses and gardens. This is certainly not the case, particularly for those who are coming into these housing contexts for the first time.

This has the effect of causing large sections of our suburbs to look very substandard and run down. Street appeal is reduced and there has to be a negative impact on the overall valuations of properties. Large sections of Darwin’s northern suburbs housing illustrates my point. The general vista and appearance of many parts of these suburbs now, compared to ten and fifteen years ago, suggests they are diminished and run down.

Humbugging

On the basis of observation, a real issue for indigenous tenants is that of being victims of “humbugging”. It might be assumed that indigenous tenants can easily manage the problem and push the humbuggers away. This is not the case. Family obligations often mean that those doing the pestering have to be accommodated and looked after. Huge and at times unmanageable pressures are placed on those who are trying to make a go of living in their new residences.

DARWIN’S CBD – GHOSTING TAKING OVER

MORE CBD GHOSTING

Betts and Betts close.
Another Clothing shop shuts.
Now the Darwin Cinemas are going west.
(Patrons may be sick of the parking challenges and having to run the gauntlet of itinerants and inebriated persons in getting into the theatre. They may also be over wondering what condition their cars will be in when they emerge from the cinema.)
Wicking’s cartoon in the NTN News today sums it up well.

Apparently the cinema site and the Ducks Nuts next door (previously shut) may become ANOTHER hotel.
Like we NEED another hotel.

Planning boundless
CBD bankrupcy possible.

What a sad situation.

CELEBRATING WORLD TEACHERS DAY – OCTOBER 26, 2018

CELEBRATING TEACHERS AND SCHOOL STAFF

This Friday, October 26 is being celebrated as World Teachers’ Day. Northern Territory teachers and school support staff will be recognised and thanked at functions in Darwin, Palmerston, Alice Springs, Katherine, Nhulunbuy and at smaller centres around the NT. Individual schools, their students and communities will also celebrate their teachers and school support staff. This is well deserved.

Teachers and school staff members have enormous responsibilities. High-level expectations are held for them. Teachers are people responsible for a great deal that goes beyond the academics of teaching and learning. They are advisors, counsellors and friends, responsible for social, emotional and moral aspects of development in young people. They share a real partnership with parents and primary caregivers in the nurturing of this world’s most precious resource – our children.

Dispelling Myths

There are two everlasting myths about teaching that need to be dispelled.

The first is that teachers work a six hour day, five days a week, for forty weeks each year. The amount of time teachers spend “on tasks” over and above that time means the public is only aware of the “tip of the iceberg”. Hours of additional planning and preparation go into teaching. Instruction is followed by assessment, upon which revision and extension programs are based.

The second myth is that teachers focus only on academics. Although the “3Rs” are very important there is a great deal more to the development of children other than ‘Reading, Writing and Arithmetic’.

The aim of school educators is to work with parents to develop well rounded students. Young people need both confidence and skill to master the challenges they will face. Sincere educators offer children the chance to succeed, by growing up to become confident, competent adults.

Recognising Northern Territory Teachers

The Northern Territory Government, the Department of Education, Catholic Schools and the Northern Territory Independent Schools Association’s will recognise teachers and school support workers for the contribution they make to our community. Teachers unions and professional associations also appreciate teachers and school staff members. This once a year celebration recognises the effort, care and commitment teachers and staff bring to work every day.

Celebrations on Friday will enable the NT community to appreciate teachers, support staff and others connected with education across the length and breadth of the Territory. This recognition is richly deserved.

There can be no greater or more significant work than what is done by staff in our schools. The destiny of our children and young people of today, the leaders of tomorrow’s world, is largely in their hands.

Thank you all for your good work, your care and empathy, the blessings you bring to the lives of our students and for the way in which you enrich our community.

TAKING STOCK

A REFLECTION

It is now north of six years since I retired from full time contribution to education in the NT.

In retirement I have found time to learn about and be a contributor to ‘Linked In’, unknown to me during my years at work. I have discovered ‘The Conversation’ and enjoy reading papers and contributing comments.

I discovered ‘WordPress’ and set up a blog.

I write a weekly column on educational matters for the NT Sun, a free paper circulated weekly by the Northern Territory News. (This is my volunteering bit as i do not get paid for writing this column – but it is good to keep abreast of trends and to share.)

I have written for the Australian Council of Education Leaders online publications

These communicating devices have enabled me to receive and to share, continuing a contribution to the thinking of others and in turn, learning a lot from them.

I do not have a Facebook account and am not a twitterer. What I do, suits me fine. I am a member of a a worldwide fraternity conversing on innumerate issues.

What a great thing.

LEADERSHIP THOUGHTS

A COUPLE OF LEADERSHIP THOUGHTS

* As a school principal, I learned a lot about what to do, by learning a lot about what not to do. Poor leaders can make excellent teachers for those following, because their actions and outcomes inform the way in which those observing and following will make their decisions in the future.

The key is not to make the mistakes you saw them making. The key is to learn and to remember that learning when you get into a leadership role and decision making position.

 

* When in a subordinate position, one learns of things that she or he would do differently if elevated into a leadership role. When arriving, people tend to act in a way that shows they are either ignoring their previous thinking on change needs. Or have forgotten about it altogether.
Follow through on earlier resolutions and don’t shelve them as irrelevant. Remember why you thought the change was necessary. The reason will still be current.

SLEDGING IS RUINING CRICKET

CRICKET SLEDGING SHOULD BE A ‘NO GO’ ZONE

Sledging in sport has reached to horrific and disproportionate levels. This is particularly the case with cricket.

ANY Attack on people on the playing field should attract penalties. Umpires should use yellow or red cards to dismiss players for a session (yellow) or a day (red). Dismissed players should not be replaced if the side is fielding meaning the team is one fielder short for the time during which the penalty applies. A yellow card should attract three runs for the abused batsman, a red card six extra runs.

If the sledging is done by the batsman, a yellow level should attract a deduction of five runs. If the level of offence sits at red level, the batsman should be declared out and the team penalised by a loss of ten runs from it’s accumulated total.

This ruling should be applied to domestic cricket at all levels, Sheffield Shield, One Day and Big Bash fixtures.

Although I have only commented on men’s cricket, the same rules should be shaped and applied to women’s cricket.

Cricketers need to grow up. Many of us have had enough of grossly inappropriate behaviour on the cricket field.

HELP, HELP – GET ME OUT OF HERE!

HELP, HELP – LET ME OUT OF HERE!

Schools are increasingly becoming institutions with inordinate demands and pressures being placed upon them. Most come from ‘on high’, from an unempathetic educational hierarchy and from their commanders, the governments of the day.

Too many educators in schools, principals, teachers and support staff can’t wait to embrace retirement. Increasingly, people can’t wait out the time until retirement years, resign and leave.

I have always been saddened by the fact that so many teachers and principals, many years and years from retirement, cannot wait to walk out the school gate for the very last time.

When that finally happens, they erupt in phyrric exaltation and never ever look back to consider or study their legacy.

How sad.  How personally undervaluing.

For more than a few, the countdown starts years from the end of their careers. They would love to quit earlier but can’t because of financial obligations and lack of savings and superannuation. For them teaching and educating has become a drudge.

No matter what camouflage efforts are employed, this must impact negatively upon their families, their schools and students.

And upon their own psyche and character.

RECOGNISE THE GOOD IN YOUTH

Recognise GOOD in youth

The dysfunctional and aberrant behaviour of a small percentage of young offenders, unfortunately colours the social perceptions held of young people in general.

Many, many – indeed the vast majority – of young people who are decent, principled and upright human beings. It is not fair that their reputations, individual or collectively, should be sullied by the behaviours of the minority.

‘Old ones’ like me need to keep balance and perspective about how we think of and appreciate young people.

We ought also acknowledge those who, having gone off the rails, see the light, repent of their former ways and cast aside and recidivist thought.
__________________________

POOR COMMUNICATION SKILLS ARE ANATHEMA

Poor, POOR communication skills weigh heavily on the world.

. These days too many people cannot talk.
. They lack in speech and speaking skills.
. They are poor listeners and woefully inadequate synthesisers of information.
. They decoding skills at best are paltry.
. They can’t or don’tlook you in the eye when talking.
. They nasalise and slur speech.
. They are TERRIBLE on the phone and challenge listeners.
. Their speech is full of ‘ahs’, ‘ums’, ‘ers’ and other speech imperfections.
. Many of those in high places and occupying elevated positions share these challenges.

This is an area of personal development that needs attention and correction.

TERRY MILLS – A VERY DIFFERENT NT POLITICAN

TERRY MILLS – A UNIQUE POLITICAN

Terry offers a rational, reasoned, political viewpoint. He does not have the awful, unreasonable, illogical and bullying ‘two edged tongue’ which is the affliction of many politicans. Neither does he winge, whine, or go in for playing the unrequited blame game. He is a decent, honourable person who offers solutions to problems. Terry Mills is a deep thinker and a person who is empathetic in his dealings toward others.

He is a unique person because he brings dignity to the political position he fills. He is not filled with soul destrpying bitterness or hatred toward those who brought him down as Chief Minister of the NT. He has lived through circumstances which would have utterly destroyed others and come out stronger and better on the other side.

The NT needs politicans like Terry Mills.