Hoarding Heidi Waterson Community Development Officer City of Greater Geelong

1. Hoarding Heidi Waterson Community Development Officer City of Greater Geelong Work days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesdays Ph: 5272 5026 E-mail: hwaterson@geelongcity.vic.gov.au

2. Hoarding can be defined as: The acquisition of and failure to discard a large number of possessions that appear to be useless or of limited value; 2. Living spaces resulting in sufficient clutter that renders living spaces unusable for their intended purpose; 3. Causes significant distress and impairment in function caused by Hoarding. (Frost & Hartl 1996).

3. How prevalent is Hoarding? Prevalence is estimated by Samuels et al (2008) at 5%, twice that of OCD, five times the rate of disorders like Panic Disorder and Schizophrenia

4. Internal Hoarding Working Group • The Internal Hoarding Working Group at City of Greater Geelong was established • in response to hoarding being identified as an emerging community health and safety issue • It recognises the importance of working together across departments to share information, identify and develop clear points of contact across the organisation • This group continues to meet, maintain and build on relationships • April 2010, Hoarding forum hosted by City of Greater Geelong. From this the • Hoarding Network was established

5. Hoarding Network • The Hoarding Network is an active and robust network in existence to purely focus on Hoarding, within the context of the associated economic, public, environmental and personal health risks and costs; within the Greater Geelong region. • The Hoarding Network aims to: • share and provide updates on information across the network and beyond • further identify what the gaps are • maximise opportunities to work together • focus on activities that are innovative and strategic • seek to be informed and up to date with what is happening across the region and Statewide • take up funding opportunities and share resources from agencies to develop and deliver initiatives

6. Hoarding Network - members • Open to all community, housing, health care services, education, and Local and State Government departments that have Hoarding as a component of their work, or have incidences of people experiencing Hoarding when they otherwise would not have this on their agenda. • Currently the following organisations are represented on the Hoarding Network mailing list, attend Network meetings, or both: • - Baptcare - Karingal -PHAMS • - Barwon Health - Medicare Local, Geelong • Bethany - North Geelong Rental Housing Cooperative • Borough of Queenscliffe - Pathways • BRACAS - Salvo Connect • - CFA - Southern Cross Care • City of Greater Geelong - St Laurence • Deakin Psychology Clinic - Surf Coast Shire • DHS Office of Housing - The Salvation Army • Glastonbury Community Services -Victoria Police • Golden Plains Shire - Wintringham • Kardinia Network

7. Hoarding Network- Schedule of meetings for 2013 Meeting time: 10.30am Venue: Geelong City Hall February Monday 4th Monday 25th- Hoarding forum March Monday 25th May Monday 27th July Monday 29th September Monday 16th November Monday 18th

8. Hoarding Network- Priorities • The Hoarding Network identified a number of key priorities to action. • Hoarding information guide for service providers • 2. Hoarding forum- community • - service providers • Hoarding information guide for community • *In response to the Hoarding-community forum, a one-off hoarding support group • was instigated

9. Hoarding Network Information Guide for Service Providers The purpose of this document is to be a resource for service providers, with contact points, information and links for further resources about Hoarding. It can be used by services across and beyond the City of Greater Geelong, a number of organisations provide services across Local Government Areas, including; Borough of Queenscliffe, City of Greater Geelong, Colac Otway Shire, Golden Plains Shire and Surf Coast Shire. What does it look like?

10. Hoarding Network • Information Guide for Service Providers • Definition of Hoarding • Context • Hoarding Network • Agencies in the G21 Region • Resources and Useful Contacts • Literature

11. Hoarding Forum Monday 25th February 2013 1: Community Members- free 2: Service Providers - $50 KEY PRESENTERS Dr Christopher Mogan Julie Harris and Gary Connelly The Anxiety Clinic Metropolitan Fire Brigade Psychology of Hoarding Debby Mazurek- CFA Strategies to minimise risk of fire Tania Reid Tracie McPherson For the Crowded House Bethany Practical approaches Case Studies

12. Hoarding Support Groups- 30th April – 11th June 2013 HoardingSupport group • For carers, family and friends • of a person with hoarding One, one hour session per week, for six weeks. Facilitated by Tania Reid, founder of For the Crowded House. Venue: Wintringham community room, Highton HoardingSupport group • For people with Hoarding

13. Hoarding information guide-community • Purpose • To provide information to the community that is clear, positive, and easy to read; specific to hoarding. • Must cover the following: • What is hoarding • Hoarding is not specific to age, gender, socioeconomic group • Strategies to minimise risk of fire • Possible to treat, harm minimisation approach • List of resources, websites and publications • Key service provider contacts

14. Thank you for your interest and time… Heidi Waterson Community Development Officer City of Greater Geelong Ph: 5272 5026 E-mail: hwaterson@geelongcity.vic.gov.au