Requesting maintenance

If something in your house needs fixing:

Blue phone for requesting maintenance

We have installed a blue phone in most remote Indigenous communities. You can use the blue phone to call the Maintenance Call Centre and report anything that needs fixing in your home.

This phone is free to use and is only available for maintenance requests. For other assistance, please contact Housing staff.

Location of the phone

The blue phone is usually located near the Council office. Ask Housing staff if you’re not sure where the blue phone is in your community.

Kowanyama doesn’t have a blue phone.

Types of blue phones

There are 2 types of blue phones in remote Indigenous communities:

  • a phone with no keypad
  • a phone with a keypad.

Blue phone with no keypad

Phone with no keypad

Blue phone with keypad

Phone with keypad

How to use the phone

  1. If the blue phone is in a box, open the door to access the phone.
  2. Pick up the phone handle. The phone automatically calls the Maintenance Call Centre for you.
  3. If a recorded message asks you to choose an option, press the numbers on the keypad and your call goes to a person. If your phone doesn’t have a keypad, your call goes directly to a person.

What to tell staff

Be prepared to tell the Maintenance Call Centre staff:

  • your name
  • the name of your community
  • your tenancy/rental agreement number
  • whether you’re the tenant
  • the address of your house
  • your phone number
  • details of what needs fixing.

Make sure you know the correct address of your house. If you’re not sure, talk to Housing staff or your local Council.

What staff will tell you

Maintenance Call Centre staff will tell you when the work will be done (e.g. 1–4 hours, 1–14 days).

They will give you a receipt number for your call. Keep a record of this in case you need to call back.

Maintenance staff in your house

Maintenance staff may need to go into your house to do the work.

We don’t keep spare keys, so you or someone else (age 18 or over) needs to be home to let them in.

If no one is at home when maintenance work needs to start, the work may be delayed.

Please secure your pets when maintenance staff visit.

More information

Contact Housing staff for more information about requesting maintenance. Find your nearest office (PDF, 136KB).