Housing and Homelessness Information Management Group (HHIMG)

HHIMG members only access

The Housing and Homelessness Information Management Group (HHIMG) met for the first time in June 2009—it assumes the roles previously undertaken by the National Committee for Housing Information (NCHI) and the SAAP Information Sub Committee (SAAP ISC).

HHIMG is responsible for advising the Housing & Homelessness Policy Research Working Group (HHPRWG) on national housing and homelessness matters and HHPRWG, through the HHIMG’s Chair, reports the activities of HHIMG to the Housing Ministers’ Advisory Committee (HMAC).

Functions

The HHIMG, as specified in the Terms of Reference (49KB DOC), is responsible for:

• Providing HHPRWG with strategic advice on national housing and homelessness information needs and priorities.
• Overseeing the development, review and implementation of HHPRWG information management and data development strategies as directed by HHPRWG.
• Making recommendations to HHPRWG on Housing and Homelessness work programs, relating to the development and reporting of data and the information requirements of:
  • National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA);
  • National Partnership Agreements (NP) on Homelessness, Social Housing, Remote Indigenous Housing;
  • Nation Building and Jobs Plan;
  • National Indigenous Reform Agreement, as it relates to housing and homelessness.
  This work is to be undertaken in a way that is consistent with the requirements of the Intergovernmental Agreement on Federal Financial Relations.
• Promoting the development of National Housing and Homelessness Minimum Data Sets, including making an appropriate contribution to data coordination and data linkage activities.
• Endorsing data standards and specifications for inclusion in the National Housing and Homelessness Data Dictionary; and endorsing National Housing and Homelessness Minimum Data Sets for national implementation.
• Providing HHPRWG with specialist technical advice and policy-relevant analysis regarding information management and data development issues.
• Establishing and overseeing time-limited technical working groups in specialist content areas, e.g. homelessness, financial data; or the holding of specialist technical meetings as required to implement the annual work plan.

Membership

The HHIMG Chair is an HHPRWG member and is appointed by the HHPRWG. The Chair is responsible for overseeing and monitoring the work of the HHIMG and for facilitating appropriate communication with the HHPRWG. The Chair is also responsible for provision of regular reports to HHPRWG and HMAC.

The HHIMG includes up to two representatives (who will be able to appropriately represent their jurisdictional positions including on policy and data issues associated with both housing and homelessness) from each state and territory and the Australian Government. In addition, membership will include a representative from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), two representatives from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) (one each representing the areas of housing and homelessness) and one representative from the Secretariat (currently AIHW).

Members may nominate a proxy for their representative by advising the Chair through the Secretariat. Proxy representatives have all the rights and responsibilities of members.

Members may invite additional individuals as content specialists or subject experts to attend meetings as required by advising the Chair through the Secretariat at least 3 days prior to any meeting which the specialist/expert is to attend. Invited specialists or experts have observer status but may contribute information and provide opinions.

The Chair is currently Marion Bennett (Housing NSW).

Secretariat support is provided by AIHW.

HHIMG meeting arrangements

The HHIMG meets as required, with at least two face-to-face meeting every twelve months.

Next Meeting:

Thursday 21 February 2013

Contact details

Contact the secretariat for more information.