PACT RESEARCH, POLICY & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Providing social research, policy analysis, data collection and analysis, report preparation and editing, evaluation, consultation and facilitation.

PACT Community Support is a non-profit community organisation which provides services to benefit socially and economically disadvantaged members of our community. Social research, policy analysis and community development have been foundations of our work over the past twelve years, commencing under the banner of the Central Highlands Regional Housing Council (CHRHC), continuing for eight years as Grampians Housing Network, and now as PACT Community Support. With offices in Ballarat and Horsham, PACT has strong links with services and community needs in all parts of the Grampians Region, and with communities across Victoria.

PACT has the experience and expertise to provide services to a range of government and non-government bodies. Below is an outline of the roles and tasks that PACT could assist with, followed by some details of key areas of interest and projects that PACT has implemented in the past.

Potential Roles and Tasks  

Key areas of interest

• Housing and homelessness policy
• Housing needs
• Housing services, public and community
• Poverty and low-income issues
• Family violence
• Regional and rural issues
• Community building and development

Past Projects

We have conducted numerous research and policy projects since 1993. Major projects have included:

•  Regional Housing Council Statewide database development 1995
•  Policy Critique, Housing Establishment Fund, 1997
•  Policy Critique, Office of Housing Broadbanding Exemptions, 1997
•  Regional Housing Needs Analysis, 1995 and 1997
•  City of Ballarat 2020 Housing Strategy, 1999
•  Grampians Regional Housing Strategy 2000-2003
•  Private Rental Market Study in Gippsland, 2003
•  Family Violence in the News, 2004-2006
•  Barwon-South West Affordable Housing Project, 2005
•  Kardinia Network Policy and Procedures Project, 2006
• Colac-Otway Shire Housing Audit 2006

Other projects include:

•  Bacchus Marsh Housing Needs, 1998
•  Public Housing Rent Arrears Grampians Region, 1999
•  Unmet Needs in Homelessness Services, 2001
•  SAAP Assessment and Referral, 2001
•  Public Housing Rent Arrears Statewide, 2002
•  After-hours service mapping (Grampians Region), 2003
•  Wimmera After-Hours Crisis Accommodation, 2003
•  Gippsland Crisis Accommodation, 2003-2004

Staff  

PACT's senior project officer is Vicki Lee Thomas . Vicki Lee has worked in the housing sector in the Grampians Region for over 15 years. Past program and project work has included community development, housing needs assessment, policy critique, community and sector consultation, strategic planning and a range of social research projects across geographic areas, target groups and tenures. Participation in the Statewide housing sector has included taking a lead role in the development of Regional Housing Council networks, membership of the Housing Assistance Plan Advisory Committee, and membership of the Ministerial Advisory Committee for the development of a Women's Housing Policy.

Projects are overseen by PACT Executive Officer, Martin Prewer. Martin brings twenty-four years of experience in delivering and managing community programs, across child and family welfare, disability, and housing fields, working in both government and non-government agencies. Project staff are employed as required.  

Costs

PACT is a community organization. We aim to delivering affordable research, policy and community development services to the community sector and government. PACT provides quality services at reasonable costs, in keeping with our community-based philosophy. PACT will provide an initial consultation and quote at no cost.

Contact: Ph 03 - 5333 1351
Fax 03 - 5331 5082

E-mail mp@pactcs.org.au or vlt@pactcs.org.au