Rory’s Rambles: Caring for our care workers

HOUSING affordability is an issue we hear a lot about.

Building a family home is the biggest purchase most people make in their lives.

Not being able to achieve that dream is frustrating. It poses many negatives for young families, for our community and for our economy.

I was very pleased when I heard Erin Brady, who recently bought in at Villawood’s Sanctuary precinct, say that all the sums added up for her and husband Peter and baby son Jude.

“We’d been saving for a deposit for a long time and looking around for a while – it just ticked all the boxes,” said Erin, a maths-English teacher.

What Erin was talking about was the care worker priority scheme Villawood has brought in at its Sanctuary and Armstrong estates to help keep housing affordable.

This scheme keeps housing lots aside for the care industry workers who serve as an invaluable human resource in our community – nurses, teachers, police, firefighters, paramedics and healthcare workers.

We’ve also deliberately kept our lot prices down, while blocks elsewhere in Geelong have gone up by $15,000 to $20,000 in recent months.

Our care worker initiative has drawn strong support. We’ve had dozens of new home-buyers from the care industry and their reactions have been fantastic.

“My wife and I made a pact to not have kids until we build our own house,” said Gurdeep Kaur, a driver for wheelchair-bound people. His wife, Avneet, is a carer with genU.

“Giving back to the community like this is a great idea.”

Gurdeep also backed Villawood’s efforts to keep property speculators out of its estates, saying it made “good sense”.

“When you know people want to live in the community — and build their home there and be part of that community — it really makes a difference,” he said.

Many others have echoed these sentiments. We hope many more will follow their lead as well, because building strong communities is not just about building estates.

Sebin Xavier, who has also bought in under the scheme – his wife Merlin is a nurse at Barwon Health’s University Hospital – probably echoes best the responses we’ve been getting. “It’s a great thing.”

Care workers seeking more information can visit the Armstrong Land Sales office on the corner of Surf Coast Highway and Unity Drive or phone 1300 710 726.