Charity Defends Home Insulation Program

Victorian charity, Try Youth and Community Services (TRY) has defended the Federal Government’s Home Insulation Program saying it has brought great rewards to the Not for Profit organisation as a social enterprise.

The praise comes despite the program being dogged by claims of malpractice and being blamed for the death of four installers in Queensland. As well there have been calls for the Federal Environment Minister overseeing the program, Peter Garret, to resign.

The Home Insulation Program is part of the Federal Government’s Economic Stimulus Program.

Since the program began, TRY says it has ventured into a Home Sustainability social enterprise, giving training, education and experience to disadvantaged unemployed people. So far the organisation says it has completed more than 400 installations in the Melbourne and Gippsland regions without any complaints.

Damien Mowlam, the CEO of TRY says the Home Insulation Program has allowed the organisation to provide young people with work and training while also providing a great outcome for the community.

He says all of their home insulation employees are fully qualified and are given comprehensive training before they start on-site and in Victoria they have never laid foil insulation.

The Government has now banned the use of foil insulation which were linked to safety concerns in other states.

TRY says it has employed over 50 people as part of the Home Insulation Program, and continues to employ more people as they expand the social enterprise.

Despite the current issues faced in other states, Mowlam says the program has been great for TRY.

He says because TRY is a Not for Profit organisation, all the money it receives goes back to creating more jobs or providing services to the local community.

He says TRY is competing in a very competitive environment in regards to getting jobs for home insulation – competing with private companies and new start up companies taking advantage of the government rebate.

TRY is an independent non-denomination charity. It runs kindergartens, child care centres, training and employment programs and youth mentoring programs such as Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Visit the Try Youth and Community Services (TRY) website at www.newsboys.org.au