Ageing on the Edge NSW, coordinated by Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG) is setting up a Lived Experience Action Group (LEAG) in NSW.Are you an older person who has had difficulty paying the rent, or have experienced homelessness, and want things to change? Get in touch with us to join this new group. People from different backgrounds and places across New South Wales are encouraged to join and be part of the campaign.

The group will participate in training to share stories with their community and in the media. We will meet online via Zoom over the next few months. If you have time to commit to being part of the group, please get in touch with us by emailing Rebecca at rebecca.cook@oldertenants.org.au, or giving her a call on 03 9654 7389 by the 17th of October.

Many older people are living in expensive and unsuitable housing, and may be at risk of homelessness. Ageing on the Edge NSW, coordinated by Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG), want to work with older people who think the government should take action on this issue.

We invite you to be part of a new Action Group in NSW, focussing initially on the NSW election and getting older people and housing on the agenda. The group will work along- side Ageing on the Edge NSW, to bring about policy change through the actions of its members individually and collectively.

A few group members will be asked join NASH - The National Alliance of Seniors for Housing. NASH is a HAAG working group that includes representatives from across the country who share experiences from their state or territory and also advocate for older people’s housing justice at a national/Commonwealth government-level. The aims of NASH are to represent the voice of older people across the country, who have experienced or are in housing stress, to challenge myths and assumptions about older people who are at risk of homelessness, to raise awareness of housing stress and homelessness for older people in the community and to advocate for a service which can help older people who are in need of affordable housing.

About us

Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG) is a member-based, not for profit organisation that specialises in the housing needs of older people experiencing financial hardship.
About you:

We are seeking people aged over 45 years old, from a range of backgrounds and life experiences. If you have ever struggled to pay rent or a mortgage, wondered where to go for help, had to move many times, received an eviction notice, relied on friends and family for a place to stay, lived in poor-quality housing, or otherwise experienced or been at risk of homelessness we want to hear from you.

What’s involved?

We will ask you to attend a meeting once a month for six months (with fortnightly meetings in the initial stages) with other people with similar journeys from NSW. The meeting will be online so that we can include members from across NSW (we can assist you to connect to the meeting). The meeting will take no more than 1.5 hours. During the discussion, your information will remain private. The meeting will be facilitated by a staff member and notes will be taken, but there will be no identifying information shared outside the group (unless you want to share your story publicly as part of our advocacy work). We will ask you to sign a Code of Conduct and agree to group rules, which include respectful communication and privacy.

What are the benefits of taking part?

Your insights and experience are very valuable. You will contribute to our ‘advocacy strategy’ which will help to improve government policies around housing and older people, and increase support for older people in housing stress. You will also receive training on the following topics:

• Working with the Media
• Advocacy (Advocating for political change)
• Telling your story safely and effectively

You will receive payment for your participation, after the initial meeting.

Count me in!

Please fill out this form if you wish to participate, or email rebecca.cook@oldertenants.org.au. We will then be in contact with you to discuss next steps.