Latest Insights form the Arora Education Foundations RISE Project
The Aurora Education Foundation has released its latest insights from the RISE project - a five year initiative evaluating programs ranging from tutoring, in-person support, cultural camps, and connecting students with Elders.
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News.com.au
33 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Rental inspection checklist: How to spot red flags in 15 minutes
When it comes to securing a rental, time is of the essence. Most properties only come up for inspection once – and most agencies only allow a 15 minute window for prospective renters to walk through the property before they apply. So how can you get the most out of each inspection to ensure the properties you apply for are the right ones for you while also being in good condition? CHECK THE LIVING STANDARDS It's important to watch out for the three Ds when inspecting a rental – dirty, damp and dark, says The Rent Fairy founder and director Sarah Elkordi. 'If you've got a dirty, damp and dark property, the fourth D will be depression,' she says. South-facing properties that get very little sunlight and poorly maintained properties with damage from water leakage should be avoided as they can be breeding grounds for mould. Good ventilation is also important, including whether or not there are flyscreens on the windows, she says. 'It is also very important to check that you have enough pressure in the taps, so turning on the shower, turning on the taps and flushing the toilets,' she says. Security is another crucial thing to check, including whether or not there is a working intercom for apartments and whether all locks and latches are in good working order. Wild way Aussie scored home for just $4000 The Rental Specialists principal Jo Natoli says renters should make sure the lights are working and that water runs freely down the drains when you turn on the taps. 'Make sure there's no terrible smells around,' she says. 'Have a look at the paintwork. The paintwork can usually give a bit of an indication if there are any water ingress problems.' MEASURING UP Ever moved into a home and realised your fridge doesn't fit in the fridge space? This can be easily solved by measuring your fridge ahead of time and taking a small measuring tape with you to each inspection, says Natoli. In fact, you could do the same with your lounge and washing machine, she says. Sydney Rental Search director Marcelle Wever says you can even get an app that measures fridge spaces. And while you've got your phone out, open up your compass app too. 'With the main windows in the property, do always take a compass reading,' she says. 'Just so you know which way the windows are facing. That's so important so you don't get those issues with mould.' Another thing Wever recommends checking is the size of the garage. This is particularly important for old houses that were built long before modern SUVs were designed. Another thing you might want to check while you are in the property, says Elkordi, is phone coverage. 'You could go into a property that is actually a black spot and end up with no phone reception,' she says. QUESTIONS TO ASK Natoli recommends renters try to avoid being hemmed into a 15 minute open by arranging a private inspection ahead of time. Not only does this give you more time to view the property without battling the crowd, it also provides an opportunity to build a rapport with the agent. She says it's also useful to ask about the long term plans of the owner in case they are planning to sell up or move in within the not too distant future. TIPS FOR A STREAMLINED INSPECTION Once you know what you're looking for, it helps to be as efficient as possible in the 15 minutes you have. Here are three tips from the experts on how you can streamline the inspection process. 1. The seven minute rule – Sarah Elkordi suggests breaking your timeslot into seven minute intervals: one to check if the property meets your needs and the other to assess for cleanliness and working order 2. Take a video – This gives you something to refer back to and helps you remember each property more accurately – just make sure you seek permission first, says Marcelle Wever 3. Ask for a virtual tour first – Since not all agencies let you take videos, ask if they can provide a video or virtual tour first, says Jo Natoli. That way, you can decide if it's worth checking out in person
Daily Telegraph
33 minutes ago
- Daily Telegraph
Rental inspection checklist: How to spot red flags in 15 minutes
When it comes to securing a rental, time is of the essence. Most properties only come up for inspection once – and most agencies only allow a 15 minute window for prospective renters to walk through the property before they apply. So how can you get the most out of each inspection to ensure the properties you apply for are the right ones for you while also being in good condition? CHECK THE LIVING STANDARDS It's important to watch out for the three Ds when inspecting a rental – dirty, damp and dark, says The Rent Fairy founder and director Sarah Elkordi. 'If you've got a dirty, damp and dark property, the fourth D will be depression,' she says. South-facing properties that get very little sunlight and poorly maintained properties with damage from water leakage should be avoided as they can be breeding grounds for mould. Good ventilation is also important, including whether or not there are flyscreens on the windows, she says. 'It is also very important to check that you have enough pressure in the taps, so turning on the shower, turning on the taps and flushing the toilets,' she says. Security is another crucial thing to check, including whether or not there is a working intercom for apartments and whether all locks and latches are in good working order. MORE: 'Free rent' deals on rise in Sydney as market shifts Wild way Aussie scored home for just $4000 The Rental Specialists principal Jo Natoli says renters should make sure the lights are working and that water runs freely down the drains when you turn on the taps. 'Make sure there's no terrible smells around,' she says. 'Have a look at the paintwork. The paintwork can usually give a bit of an indication if there are any water ingress problems.' MEASURING UP Ever moved into a home and realised your fridge doesn't fit in the fridge space? This can be easily solved by measuring your fridge ahead of time and taking a small measuring tape with you to each inspection, says Natoli. In fact, you could do the same with your lounge and washing machine, she says. Sydney Rental Search director Marcelle Wever says you can even get an app that measures fridge spaces. And while you've got your phone out, open up your compass app too. 'With the main windows in the property, do always take a compass reading,' she says. 'Just so you know which way the windows are facing. That's so important so you don't get those issues with mould.' Another thing Wever recommends checking is the size of the garage. This is particularly important for old houses that were built long before modern SUVs were designed. Another thing you might want to check while you are in the property, says Elkordi, is phone coverage. 'You could go into a property that is actually a black spot and end up with no phone reception,' she says. QUESTIONS TO ASK Natoli recommends renters try to avoid being hemmed into a 15 minute open by arranging a private inspection ahead of time. Not only does this give you more time to view the property without battling the crowd, it also provides an opportunity to build a rapport with the agent. She says it's also useful to ask about the long term plans of the owner in case they are planning to sell up or move in within the not too distant future. TIPS FOR A STREAMLINED INSPECTION Once you know what you're looking for, it helps to be as efficient as possible in the 15 minutes you have. Here are three tips from the experts on how you can streamline the inspection process. 1. The seven minute rule – Sarah Elkordi suggests breaking your timeslot into seven minute intervals: one to check if the property meets your needs and the other to assess for cleanliness and working order 2. Take a video – This gives you something to refer back to and helps you remember each property more accurately – just make sure you seek permission first, says Marcelle Wever 3. Ask for a virtual tour first – Since not all agencies let you take videos, ask if they can provide a video or virtual tour first, says Jo Natoli. That way, you can decide if it's worth checking out in person MORE: Bizarre 'murder home' stuns internet Aus council takes drastic action on cat crisis 'What the f**k': Block star's nasty spat
ABC News
6 hours ago
- ABC News
Could conches put snoring to bed?
Andy Park: Well, it's a distinctive sound usually found on the salty trade winds of the Blue Pacific, which may replace the far more infuriating sound of your partner's night-time snoring. Yes, one bizarre sleep apnoea study released this week suggests blowing on a conch, yes a conch shell, may be the key to night-time happiness for everyone. And let's face it, people have probably done worse in the search for a good night's sleep. Myles Houlbrook-Walk reports. Myles Houlbrook-Walk: Could this be the answer to ending this? On the streets of Sydney, those living alongside snorers are open to all sorts of solutions. Opinion: Very distracting. I don't think I could sleep with anyone that snores. There's a 12 person room, there's at least three people though snored. The person above me and the person next to me snored. And for doing like 25,000 steps a day in Europe, walking around and getting like no sleep because of snoring, it was rough. Myles Houlbrook-Walk: A new study released this week by the European Respiratory Society and carried out by a research institute in India, looked at 30 people with obstructive sleep apnoea. It required them to play a conch seashell, specifically a shunk in this instance, for 15 minutes a day, five days a week. The study found those who practice shunk blowing as a low cost breathing technique were less sleepy during the day and had better quality sleep at night. The findings were especially exciting to Karen, who's not keen on using a sleep apnoea machine. Karen: And the doctor actually suggested one of those, you know, breathing machines. When you've been married 40 years, that would be like the icing on the cake for the death-knell of the marriage. Myles Houlbrook-Walk: I think hearing something like that, would you ever be willing to practice? Karen: I don't know. I've got a conch shell at home. Maybe I'll give it a go. Myles Houlbrook-Walk: You're kidding. Karen: Yeah, I've got a little one from the islands when I did used to sail back in the, in the eighties. Myles Houlbrook-Walk: You know how to blow into it and all that? Karen: Not really, but I'm sure I could try. Myles Houlbrook-Walk: Do you think if you suggested it to your husband, he'd be, Karen: he'd think I've completely lost the pot. I'd have a crack at it. I think anything that, that helps, you know, um, tried pillows. I've tried loads of different things, but yeah, I'm just a mouth mouth breather snorer. Myles Houlbrook-Walk: Dr Kat Lederle is a sleep therapist in the United Kingdom. She told the BBC, this study fits in with other data around improving respiratory muscles. Dr Kat Lederle: So what that probably does is it strengthens the muscles in the face, in the sort of firings in the thoracic area. And it's really, it's the regular practice. And there are other similar studies looking at other instruments and looking at other exercises that all involve basically the face and sort of the neck, the muscles there to strengthen them and to then stop them from collapsing at night. Myles Houlbrook-Walk: Dr Moira Junge is the CEO of the Sleep Foundation and was not involved in the study. She says it's a novel idea. Dr Moira Junge: It is curious. I've never, um, hadn't heard of this before, even though I have heard of ancient healing things like, you know, with Buteyko methods and things like that. So we don't have standard guidelines or it's not a validated part of therapy for sleep apnoea at this stage at least. Myles Houlbrook-Walk: But she warned the sleep industry can be prone to solutions that are not yet substantively proven to be effective and recommended pursuing other means of treatment under the guidance of a healthcare professional. Across the board, Dr Moira Junge says practising good sleep hygiene is crucial. Dr Moira Junge: Consistent sleep patterns, being very aware of the light and the dark. So being in really bright light conditions when you want to be alert. So during the day and in the night-time, plunging yourself into dim light conditions and less stress, unwinding, unplugging before bed. And that doesn't mean just phones and screens. It's like unplugging from your busy mind, unplugging from responsibilities. Myles Houlbrook-Walk: She says more research needs to be done before this can become a promising alternative. Andy Park: Miles Houlbrook-Walk there.
