about us

Origins Of SPK

Our organization was established in 1991, and in 1993 purchased its first two houses. Since then we have gained over seventy members and friends. SPK stands for Sib Pab Koom, meaning in the Hmong language to help each other. We are affiliated and comply with the Government Department of Housing, Queensland.
We currently have 25 detached properties and one duplex unit spread over all areas of Cairns, and in the nearby picturesque town of Innisfail, 45 minutes drive from Cairns. Our properties are regularly inspected and damages can be reported to our office for repair

Co-ordinator's Comment

Since SPK incorporated in 1991, SPK consist of small group of people less than 10 and we had been working very hard and travelling between Cairns and Innisfail to get help from Anne Scott, the resource worker at the Innisfail Community Advice and Information Centre. It had been a difficult and time consuming task to get our aim on the govenment table. After spent thousand hours and dollars for the travelling up and down from Cairns and innisfail we then finally incorporated as a legally company.
Since the first incorporated until today, we (SPK) spent thousands of dollars, energy and times to run the co-op and the same time we had Anne Scott, the most valuable resource person standing beside and pushing the group to get thing done and she was helping us to establish initial policy and organised several training sections relating to management skills. Apart from Anne Scott we had Sue Johnstone from the Cairns Community Housing had organised so many workshops for the group relating how to run a co-op and dealing wih the government. Terry Wallace, the Far North Queensland resource worker is another most valuable person who is assisting SPK since then.
Today SPK has successfully funded for 26 properties, they all come from the participation and contribution of members and especially those who were executive committee. However, SPK would continue to open to get more members if the organisation get more fund from the government.
I am on behalf of the SPK well understand that forming an incorporated body isn't that easy. It is required multiskillings, willpower, cooperation, strength and patience from all of the members.
Without the support from the members we are not successful as we can see today and I would take this great opportunity to thank you so much for all the members who were first contributed in any form toward SPK and especially to those who had been helping SPK all along.
I please urge to all members that SPK needs your helps, your helps in term of participation, contribution, management skills, language skills and knowledge. We do not know about the future because funded will be cut by the government and we will probably struggle by our own so that mean we build our strength within the co-op right now to catch with the future.
Finally, I am very appreciated and very proud of what you all have been helping SPK all along. However, there will be nothing more than the word "thank you very very much" and we (SPK) wish all the best for your future.
Chang Vang Yee
Co-ordinator of SPK

SPK Housing Structure

Mission Statement

SPK Housing Group is established by the Hmong people living in Cairns. Over the past several years it seems to the community that large family have difficulty to looking for adequate housing and very high rent charged by private house.
People with large family size and low income are disadvantage at the same time because of the limitation of health regulation, people are not allow big family size to live in a smaller houses. SPK has the following agenda -
1. SPK would like to ensure that all of its members stay together as a group so that they (members) can helping each other in some emergency occasions.
2. SPK would like to see its members who with low income, poor of English language and large family size are no longer struggle for the finding of housing with a reasonable rental charge.
3. SPK would like to ensure that SPK be able provide with each members an adequate housing and those houses are close enough to the government facilities. Government facilities include transport, hospital and school.
4. SPK would continue to ensure that it work in partnership with the governent in the development and delivery housing to every members of the group to ensure that the government continuing to fund for those who still on the waiting list.
5. SPK will continue open to the public for new membership until its membership reach 50.
6. SPK would ensure that this organisation is the base in which can create a strong cooperation and glue all the members together as a group so that the members can regulate and manage their business affairs.
7. SPK would ensure that this organisation is a focal point in which those members who are kind and generous be able to share their knowledge, skills and energy to those who are not affordable.
8. SPK would ensure that members participation in management is an important characteristic of its aim.
9. From the members point of view, SPK should be affordable , secure and appropriate to their needs.

Membership

Membership of SPK is in accordance with its "Memorandum and Articles of Association" and will not exceed 50 members at any one time. To become a member of SPK, a membership application is required to be completed and lodged with the Secretary. The Secretary will then refer the application to the next General Meeting of the company.
The application will either be accepted or rejected by the company at its General Meeting by majority of votes of not less than two thirds of the members. This acceptance or rejection will be countersigned in writing by two members of the Executives of the company.
There are two classes of member for SPK, Associate and House members. The Associate members are those who do not wish to be housed, for example those who already own there own house. The House members are those who wish to be housed and will place their name on the waiting list on approval of their application for membership