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Community

Programs and events

Programs and events

Join your neighbourhood and community

We have a range of programs and events for residents, from art and gardening to education and employment and social outings in your community. We also hold regular events and meetings at resident properties which you can come along to.

Please note that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the below programs and events may not be available at the time of reading. To keep our residents connected during COVID-19, we run free online programs that include art and cooking classes.

To see what is available now, please email [email protected] or call your local office.

A group of people in art class

Art exhibition and classes

We have many talented and passionate artists in our resident group. Experts and beginners alike can join our:

  1. Annual community art exhibition, No Place Like Home which takes entries from residents and creatives from all over NSW. The exhibition highlights the importance of having a safe, secure and affordable home. Read our fact sheet
  2. Resident Art Group classes that are held in different locations throughout Sydney. No previous experience is required. We also proudly display and sell works from our groups at the No Place Like Home art exhibition. 
Find out more
A lady doing gardening

Community gardening

To support the many Link Wentworth residents who enjoy gardening, getting out in the fresh air and making friends, we run:

  1. Community gardening working bees at resident properties. Residents can grow a range of plants with the help of our wonderful partner, Royal Botanic Garden. We also encourage residents to start new gardens with our help. 
  2. Our Annual Gardening Competition where residents can win a $200 gift card! Gardens of all types and sizes are accepted. 
Find out more
A group of students in class

Education and employment

Link Wentworth runs a range of programs to help residents learn new skills and achieve their goals. These include:

  1. Our Scholarship Program that is open to all residents who live in a Link Wentworth managed home. The Program can help with the cost of education, sport and special interests like music. Visit out Scholarship page for more info.
  2. GROW, a training program open to female residents over 18. Participants complete three accredited classes through TAFE that focus on cleaning and care skills for the aged care and health industries. There is also the opportunity for paid work experience.
  3. Digital classes for our residents called Digital Discoveries. Though some sessions are specifically for residents aged 55 years and older, others are open to all. Residents learn simple skills to help them feel happy and safe online and socialise over morning or afternoon tea.

Find out more
Two girls having fun in a social outing

Social outings and events

We take every opportunity for all staff members to spend time and celebrate with our residents and community. These include:

  1. Inspire Choir, run in proud partnership with The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre. The Choir is Open to Link Wentworth staff, residents and community members and accepts all ages and singing abilities. The Choir rehearses weekly during school terms and is free to join. To register and find out more about Inspire Choir, please email Cath Dadd at [email protected]
  2. End of Year Tenant Parties run each year for our residents. Our parties include Christmas treats, entertainment, prizes and more! 
  3. International Women’s Day which brings together residents, our staff and other women in our community for a free event with quest speakers, activities and lunch included. 
  4. Home Sweet, our annual fundraiser to help end homelessness. The event and sleepover, held on the Northern Beaches, attracts the support of businesses and community members. In 2019, the event had nearly 100 participants and raised over $181,000.
  5. The annual City of Ryde Granny Smith Festival held in Eastwood which we have sponsored and attended for many years. We encourage everyone in the community to join us and be a part of the celebration.
Find out more

Western Sydney Heat and Social Housing Project

Each summer, the heat seems to get worse and worse. It affects our family’s happiness, health and general wellbeing. When temperatures climb into the 30s and 40s, it’s often really hard to make your home cooler and more comfortable. 

As part of the Western Sydney Heat and Social Housing project, community housing organisations Hume, Evolve and Link Wentworth, along with Penrith and Hawkesbury councils, have produced a range of educational resources in collaboration with social housing tenants. 

To try and support vulnerable members of our community in the heat, these resources educate people on cost-effective ways to keep cool, based on lived experiences. 

Resources

  • Video with tips and tricks on how to stay cool in summer. 
  • Video of leading scientists and community members discussing the issue of rising heat in Western Sydney. 
  • Fact sheet for the Western Sydney community on how to stay cool, based on tips from our tenants. 
  • Fact sheet for frontline staff who work with vulnerable community members in Western Sydney. 

Keeping your home cool

  • Draw blinds and curtains to help keep the heat out. On days where you know it is going to be really hot, close your blinds early before it warms up.
  • Close off any rooms that aren’t used often, like spare bedrooms or the bathroom.
  • Cover the outside of your windows to keep the heat out. A simple and temporary option is to put shadecloth over windows, particularly ones that get the most sun.
  • Seal front and back doors with a ‘door sausage’. This helps to stop the heat coming in underneath the cracks.
  • Turn off any unused electrical appliances. Things like TVs and lights can create heat when the power is on.
  • Clean out your air conditioner filter so it doesn’t have to work as hard. Set the temperature to around 24 degrees. Fans can also be used to help spread the cool air from your air conditioner around your home.
  • Use fans when you can, as they are a lot cheaper than running an air conditioner. If you don’t have ceiling fans, use a standing or floor fan. You can even place a bowl of ice in front of a floor fan, so the fanpushes the cold air on to you.

Keeping yourself cool

  • Cool your body by using a damp cloth or washer. You can also use a cool neck tube from a camping shop. Using a fan will help your moist skin cool down even more.
  • Eat cool foods like salad that don’t create heat in your kitchen when you make them.
  • Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and cool drinks.
  • Take a cool shower to help lower your body temperature.
  • Place a large towel in the freezer and when you go to bed, place it on top of your sheet, on top of yourself.
  • Use a cool pack from the freezer. It’s a good idea to keep a couple frozen so you can rotate them.
  • Wear loose and cool clothing. This allows air flow around your body and helps keep it cool.
  • Go to a cool public space. When it’s not too hot, this might include a nice park with plenty of shade or somewhere with water like a lake or pool. On really hot days, there are free options like spending time at the library or a gallery. Other options include visiting shopping centres and cafes or even visiting the cinema, if you can afford it.
  • Take turns visiting friends and having them visit your home. This way only one of you has to run the air conditioner. The bonus is you can still connect with friends instead of being isolated inside your own home on really hot days.
  • During periods of really high heat, consider planning your day around the hottest times. This may include things like exercising or doing the weekly shopping trip early in the morning or in the evening.

Don’t forget!

  • Contact your housing provider if you would like to make a change to your property.  

Thank you to our tenants for providing these excellent tips!

Find out more

Journey to Social Housing

The Journey to Social Housing project brought together a group of older social housing tenants from Penrith, The Hawkesbury and the Blue Mountains to discuss their stories of securing housing.

The Big Housing Debate

Meet social and affordable housing needs of Western Sydney now and in the future

Have an idea for a resident program?

We welcome your feedback on our resident programs and ideas for future programs.

Share your input through our surveys or by completing our online Tenant feedback form.

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Feedback Form