Figures from the 2006 census supplied by Housing NSW
about their tenants showed that around 22 per cent of the public tenants in
Redfern and Waterloo were born overseas with around 45 per cent speaking a
language other than English at home. About 65 per cent of units in 2006 were single-person
households.
Given these demographics it was staggering to see that, for the survey
of Redfern and Waterloo tenants, Housing NSW did not provide any translation
services to ensure input from this least heard part of the tenant community.
The instructions for the HNSW study read: “If the respondent speaks a language
other than English and requires the assistance of an interpreter to complete
the questionnaire ask for another member of the household who may be able to
answer the survey in English. If … no other person … thank and terminate.”
You can find the results on the Housing NSW website’s Redfern Waterloo
Redevelopment page.
Source: October 2011 South
Sydney Herald http://www.southsydneyherald.com.au/