To sustain the IHH home, there are many groups that come together to create the ecosystem of the house we live in.

  • Guests

  • Residents

  • Aboriginal Liaison Officers & Social Workers

  • Business Committee & C A N

  • Visting Volunteers & Solidarity Networks

OVERVIEW:

The day-to-day running of Indigenous Hospitality House is carried out by the Residents. Residents respond to and work with Aboriginal Liaison Workers, social workers and health workers to provide accommodation and support for patients and their families. These hospitals and health services are registered with the IHH and they are responsible for referring patients to us. The IHH is overseen by our IHH Business Committee who offer advice and structural support to the home. Visiting Volunteers and other affiliated groups those contribute to our fundraisers, donate goods and participate in our community events. The house itself is owned by CAN.

Guests

People who come to stay at the IHH are generally Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are in Naarm, Melbourne to access health or wellbeing services. We provide accommodation for their families or chosen support network, given that they have been referred onwards to us by Aboriginal Liaison Officers, and have appointments in the city.

Residents

There are 6 residents of the IHH that live on site in the IHH home. Each weekday, one person is designated as the “Daily House Person”. They are there to be attentive to the guests needs and energy, as well as liaising with ALO’s to take referrals and provide care.
They help in the communal space through day-to-day responsibilities.
We introduce guests, volunteers and affiliated groups to the house and welcome people to our communal home.

Residents responsibilities:  

  • Check in & welcome guests

  • Take referrals & liaise with ALO’s & social workers

  • Keep the kettle hot, ready for a cuppa and a chat at any time

  • Answer the phone and emails

  • Complete household care duties

  • Maintaining spaces; cleaning, stocking the fridge & pantry for guests to use

  • Attend monthly House meetings, monthly Business Committee meetings, attend IHH review weekend

Aboriginal Liaison Officers & Social Workers


The IHH has strong working relationships with Aboriginal Liaison Officers from various health and wellbeing services. ALO’s are key partners in the IHH project, and refer guests to stay at the IHH. They are our primary connection of contact for Indigenous patients and help Indigenous people in managing their health options and plans.
We deeply value ALO’s lived experiences, advice, and advocacy.
We seek to develop and strengthen our network through the referral processes, by inviting ALO’s to the IHH home, having frequent phone calls and maintaining our accountability to them. During guests stay, the IHH Residents continue communication with ALO's in order to maintain our service and ensure guests safety and comfort. It also provides a contact person if difficult circumstances arise or if the guests need assistance that the IHH cannot provide. We are accountable to the Aboriginal Liaison Officers (ALO's), who know our guests needs and and hospital business intimately.
We are thankful to be working beside them, for their advice and their ongoing support of the guests.

Business Committee

The Business Committee is made up of a combination of people who began the project 23 years ago, a representative from the Church of All Nations (CAN). This Committee is responsible for the bigger picture and longer term aspects of the success of the IHH.  This includes fund raising, contributing to the well-being of residents, approving any money to be spent or changes to the property, and so on. CAN, or the Church of All Nations, is the Uniting Church in Carlton which owns the property the House is on.

Visiting Volunteers & Solidarity Networks

- We at the IHH encourage individuals and local businesses to contribute their skills and people power to the wider IHH community. We see volunteering as being involved in caring for the community, caring for eachother which contributes to caring for country.
We have volunteers who bring their own knowledge, experiences and strengths:

  • cooking: helping a resident cook on dinner shifts 6-9pm weekdays, serving up and eating with guests and whoever is home

  • gathering donations, fundraising in your own community, 

  • collaborate in helping hold Learning Circle events 

  • gardening, painting, working bees

  • admin, grant writing, contributing to the newsletter

The IHH is a great opportunity to be working together, with potential to develop and strengthen our solidarity networks.
Get your community involved, what can you bring to the table?!
Give us a call or send an email to arrange a cup of tea to start forming the relationship.

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