Nina

Good Neighbour Model

Nina Temperton is the CEO of South Burnett CTC Inc. (CTC), a non-profit organisation providing services for families, young people and people with disability.

In this model, a tenant (the Good Neighbour), pays a reduced rate of rent and lives in one unit while people with disability live in a neighbouring unit or units.

The Good Neighbour is selected by CTC and has to meet our standards (e.g. Blue Card, Yellow Card and demonstrated interest in communicating with people with disability). They keep a friendly eye out, are social without being intrusive, and are able to facilitate appropriate interaction with nearby residents (including CTC’s Respite House). Their skills and personality are crucial to the successful integration of the other tenants within the complex and into the wider neighbourhood. While the Good Neighbour is not paid by CTC, they are our eyes and ears so that any developing issues re the property and/or tenants can be responded to before they become serious.

CTC has operated a small scale Good Neighbour model in Kingaroy since 2010. The Good Neighbour lives in one unit, and 2 men with intellectual disabilities live in their own neighbouring unit. This model has worked brilliantly in Kingaroy and the men are now very much part of the neighbourhood.

Based on this success, we started to develop the Nanango project. The Nanango Good Neighbour moved into his unit as the first tenant on 2 June 2016. Other tenants moved into their units over the next 6 months.

Tenants receive support from various agencies at various times while 2 have carers living in. Some have excellent connections in the Nanango community and great support from extended family who are very community minded and happy to include the other tenants in activities. The Good Neighbour and most of the other tenants have jobs (including in supported employment).

All tenants were excited by the concept of the Good Neighbour model long before the units were built and we promoted the “rights and responsibilities” aspect from the start. The model requires a willingness from all tenants to play their part in creating a happy neighbourhood and a Good Neighbour who facilitates, not directs, interaction. It is essential that “fit” is considered when selecting tenants and that the various agencies who support tenants are prepared to foster collaboration and cooperation.

It is early days yet but so far the Nanango model is working even better than expected.

The Nanango Good Neighbour does not have to do much facilitating or assisting with the current tenants because they have all been so very willing to form a good neighbourhood. We think this is due to very thorough promotion of and preparation for this concept but also to good luck in the selection of tenants and their carers.

The Nanango property is surrounded by mature gum trees and it looks like a modern residential development. Tenants have space and privacy, the freedom to furnish their unit to their own taste and develop their small gardens as they wish. The common area has a gazebo and will have a BBQ eventually and already has bird feeders and potted plants. There is talk of getting a communal vegetable bed going when CTC can afford to pay for some raised beds.

The Good Neighbour model works for us—whether it can be replicated will depend on the passion of the developers and the willingness of participants to make it work.

Views and experiences included on this site do not necessarily reflect the views of the Queensland Government or indicate a commitment to a particular course of action.