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Energy Companies Step-up to Help CALD Communities Take Charge of their Energy Bills

 

A new program is helping people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds to take charge of their energy bills during summer, when energy use and household energy bills typically increase.

Delivered in language, in culture, and in community, the Voices for Power ‘Train the Trainer’ Project will turn leaders from seven different cultural and religious communities across Sydney into “energy experts” who can then share energy insights and tips with members of their community, while also advocating on their behalf.

The $200,000 pilot program is a partnership between national energy retailers AGL and Origin Energy, New South Wales electricity distributors Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy and gas distribution company, Jemena. The program will be administered and delivered by Sydney Alliance, a civil society coalition.

Thuy Linh Nguyen, Project Lead of the Voices for Power Project at Sydney Alliance said the Alliance had received feedback from over 1,160 community leaders who stated many people are experiencing structural, technological, language and other barriers when it comes to understanding energy, or being able to engage in meaningful decisions.

“Our members have told us that they prefer to receive important information in-language and through people and places they’re familiar with and trust, including peers, local community and religious leaders,” said Ms Nguyen. 

“This project provides a strong platform for informed community conversations around energy. It’s encouraging to see energy companies come together to help improve energy affordability, advice and outcomes for people across our local communities.”

Speaking on behalf of participating energy companies Jemena’s Managing Director, Frank Tudor, said the program is a first of its kind in Australia.

“As an industry, we want to ensure no one is left behind when it comes to energy,” said Mr Tudor.

“Through this program, we will work closely with people from across the Filipino, Vietnamese, South Asian, Pacific Island and Maori, Jewish, Middle Eastern Christian and Muslim communities to understand what they’re most interested in and concerned about, how they wish to be communicated with, and develop information resources that empower them by being tailored to meet the unique needs of their individual communities,” said Mr Tudor.

“Our ambition is to empower community leaders to support others to take control of their energy concerns, adopt simple energy safety practices, and negotiate a better deal on their power bills.”

Workshops as part of the Voices for Power ‘Train the Trainer’ Project are expected to commence in March, with the program scheduled to run until December 2021.

For more information about the program visit www.sydneyalliance.org.au/voicesforpower

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Media contact: 1300 331 239 

About Sydney Alliance 

Sydney Alliance is a diverse coalition of community organisations, religious organisations, unions and schools that uses the tools of community organising to make the city a better place to live. The Sydney Alliance currently has four key campaign focus areas: Work, Bills, Homes & Heart. Within Bills, the Voices for Power Campaign brings seven diverse cultural and religious leaders and communities together to build collective power and organise for Affordable and Renewable energy solutions for all. 

More information can be found at www.sydneyalliance.org.au/

About Jemena 

Jemena is an $11.5 billion company that owns and manages some of Australia's most significant gas and electricity assets. These include:  

• the Jemena Gas Network servicing more than 1.4 million customers around NSW  

• the Eastern Gas Pipeline which delivers gas from Victoria's Gippsland basin to the ACT, Sydney and regional NSW  

• the Darling Downs Pipeline Network in south-east Queensland supplying Darling Downs Power Station and APLNG’s export pipeline 

• the Queensland Gas Pipeline which supplies Gladstone and Rockhampton  

• Jemena's Victorian electricity network which delivers electricity to over 350,000 homes and businesses in northern and western Melbourne 

• the Northern Gas Pipeline from Tennant Creek in Northern Territory.

More information on Jemena can be found at www.jemena.com.au