Around $100,000 has been awarded in grants to help consumer advocates target door-to-door sales and educate tenancy advocates.
Minister for Consumer Affairs Marlene Kairouz today announced the grants for the Consumer Action Law Centre (CALC) and the Tenants Union of Victoria (TUV) to help improve their support to consumers.
CALC was awarded more than $60,000 to partner with WestJustice, Peninsula Consumer Law Centre and Loddon Campaspe Consumer Law Centre to address door-to-door and unsolicited sales.
It will fund research of people’s experiences with door-to-door and unsolicited sales. It will help improve the skills and expertise of consumer advice and advocacy workers, and educate the public.
The TUV project received more than $36,000 to develop:
- Six training webinars on typical tenancy problems which will assist in the training of tenancy advice and assistance workers with varying levels of experience
- A web portal for better access to, and management of, information and training resources for workers on common tenancy and related issues
- A kit with information on VCAT enforcement options and processes for clients.
The Innovation Fund, administered by Consumer Affairs Victoria allows tenant and consumer advocacy agencies to develop new ways to deliver their services more efficiently and effectively.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Consumer Affairs Marlene Kairouz
“We want Victorians to be informed consumers. These projects target common issues with unsolicited sales and renting.”
“We’re working with experienced consumer advocates, so that Victorians have the right support and know their rights when it comes to renting and unsolicited sales.”
Quote attributable to Chief Executive Officer Consumer Action Law Centre Gerard Brody
“This funding will go a long way to help us address unsolicited sales practices that can negatively impact people in their own homes.”
Quote attributable to Chief Executive Officer Tenants Union of Victoria Mark O’Brien
“Our project will make tenancy services more efficient, and enable more help for vulnerable and disadvantaged renters.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020