The OVAHS complex and staff housing have been progressively renovated and improved over the years through IAHP Service Maintenance Program funding of (GO1617G209) FY 16/17 & (GO236) FY 17/18. In order to provide the best possible opportunity for continuity of care for our clients OVAHS attempt to ensure we attract and retain our staff. With this at the forefront of our thoughts we decided to apply for the above IAHP funding in order to attempt increase the level of our staff living conditions by making extensive renovations to our housing through increasing security, lighting, security screen for doors and windows, car cage protection, shed lock-up, CCTVs, RCDs, Smoke Detectors, new toilets, new flooring, Asbestos fence removal, and applied new painting inside and outside with a protective paint that cools the houses down and reduces electricity bills in such hot conditions.
As global warming is gradually affecting us all. The management of OVAHS took the opportunity to discuss innovative ways to do “our bit” a climate change plan was developed and an approach to environmental management and sustainability hatched. OVAHS completed an application for funding through another IAHP grant IAHP (GO1797) and was successful in securing $277k to install multiple Solar Panels to the OVAHS complex capable of generating 30KW and 5KW on each of 12 OVAHS staff housing from a truly renewable energy source. This will not only reduce OVAHS power bills but the staff power bills too. We will also be reducing greenhouse gas emissions and help the environment. When our solar panels generate more electricity than we need, we can send it to the power grid and get a credit on our bill in the form of a feed-in tariff.
