Government Announces National Rental Affordability Scheme Partnership Facilitators

The Australian Government is pleased to announce the engagement of Partnership Facilitators to assist organisations to make applications under the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS).

The Partnership Facilitators will work with the Australian, State and Territory Governments to support the implementation of NRAS by coordinating potential partnership arrangements between interested organisations such as investors, builders and developers, local councils and tenancy managers.

The National Rental Affordability Scheme encourages large scale investment in housing by offering incentives to investors to increase the supply of affordable rental dwellings for low and moderate income households.

The Scheme aims to deliver 50,000 affordable rental dwellings by 2012. Rent for these properties will be charged at 20 per cent below the market rate for eligible tenants.

Nationally, Lesley Dredge and Roland Nauful will facilitate partnerships for the aged care sector, and Carol Croce will facilitate partnerships for the community housing sector.

In New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Michael Tilt will act as the Partnership Facilitator.

In Victoria and Tasmania, David Bruce will act as Partnership Facilitator, while David Leszenko will undertake the role in Western Australia and Ian Barnes in Queensland.

Justin Shadiac will facilitate partnerships in South Australia and the Northern Territory.

An Interest Register has been established to direct organisations to an appropriate Partnership Facilitator.

Meanwhile, information sessions are now being conducted across the country to inform potential applicants about NRAS.

The Department of Families, Housing, Community Service and Indigenous Affairs is holding these sessions for interested potential applicants including financial institutions, developers and land holders, local governments, not for profit organisations, property managers and housing groups.

Sessions have already been held in Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart and Canberra.

Upcoming sessions will be held in Brisbane (August 11), Cairns (August 12), Darwin (August 13), Adelaide (August 14) Newcastle (August 14) and Perth (August 15).

Organisations can register their interest by emailing National Rental Affordability Scheme (nationalrentalaffordabilityscheme@fahcsia.gov.au).