The Home Building Advocacy Service Program is a triennial program which funds an organisation to provide legal advice, advocacy services and assist or represent (where appropriate) NSW residential home building consumers before the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal.

Key dates

Current triennium: 1 November 2008 to 30 June 2012.
Next call for applications: March 2012.

Who can apply?

Applications can be made by New South Wales not-for-profit incorporated or registered organisations.

Note: this does not preclude profit making organisations from applying, providing they do not operate HoBAS on this basis. Joint applications, where two or more organisations pool resources and expertise, will also be accepted.

Who can’t apply?

Applications cannot be made by:

• organisations intending to use the funds for a project in a State/Territory other than NSW
• Universities, TAFE and other academic institutions
• Government agencies 
• the Office of Fair Trading, including the Consumer Trader and Tenancy Tribunal, or their employees.

What will be funded?

The program aims to provide funding to an organisation to provide:

• advice to NSW residential home building consumers on their rights, responsibilities and on what action can be taken to resolve their home building dispute 
• advocacy to builders or relevant parties on behalf of residential home building consumers via telephone calls, letters or personal representation 
• negotiation of disputes between consumers and builders or relevant party
• assistance to residential home building consumers in the preparation of cases for Tribunal hearings
• representation of residential home building consumers at Tribunal hearings where considered appropriate
• referrals to relevant authorities
• community education activities.

How much funding is available?

$215,000 per annum is currently available under this program.

Current priorities

The program contributes to the achievement of the key objective for which the Office of Fair Trading is responsible under the Department of Commerce’s corporate plan – a fair marketplace. The program also assists the Government to achieve its competition, consumer protection and social justice policy objectives.

To achieve these objectives, the Home Building Advocacy Service Program aims to fund grant applications of a high standard which demonstrate sound planning and a commitment to professionalism in the home building industry and positive outcomes for industry clients.

How to apply

To apply for funding under this program, please refer to the following document:

• Funding guidelines (PDF size: 142kb)

Currently funded service

The service currently funded is:

Macquarie Legal Centre
Suite 302
Level 3, 107 Philip Street
Parramatta  NSW  2150
Phone: (02) 8833 0911
Facsimile: (02) 8833 0900
Website: www.macquarielegal.org.au

Want more information?

Contact Community and Industry Grants Branch at grants@oft.commerce.nsw.gov.au or phone 9619 8731 or fax 9777 8810.