Aboriginal Housing Victoria

Our Sector Development and Aboriginal Homelessness Reform teams were thrilled to attend this year’s Australian Homelessness Conference in Adelaide. Delegates travelled from across the country to participate in inspiring and thought-provoking presentations and panel discussions.  “Gathering momentum - the 2024 conference was an important opportunity to connect, to clarify the challenges the sector faces, and to chart the pathways that will move the sector forward,” said AHURI Managing Director, Michael Fotheringham. The program featured presentations on all sectors addressing homelessness in Australia to share new ideas, best practices and opportunities for system reform. Three dedicated sessions were led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander speakers, highlighting the importance for a self-determined approach in service provision.  As we reflect on our experience at the 2024 Australian Homeless Conference, we are immensely grateful for the opportunity to connect with professionals, advocates, and experts from across the nation. The conference not only offered a platform for rich, insightful dialogue but also allowed us to forge valuable connections that will undoubtedly enhance our work moving forward. We leave the conference inspired and equipped with new ideas and strategies, eager to continue our collaboration with like-minded individuals and organizations to drive meaningful change in the sector. 

We are excited to launch the Aboriginal Home Ownership Hub, a new initiative dedicated to advancing homeownership opportunities for Aboriginal Victorians. This central resource provides essential information, support, and tools to help Aboriginal Victorians on their journey to owning a home The Hub offers up-to-date details on home ownership schemes available, entry steps, home maintenance, personal finance management, and support services. Serving as a platform for both homebuyers and service providers to access professional supports and community events. Learn about the Hub at: https://lnkd.in/gQ8vqr7b

Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the US Department for Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Jemine Bryon to Narrandjeri House.  Jemine is in Australia for the 2024 Australian Homelessness Conference, which our Sector Development and Aboriginal Homelessness Reform teams attended.  Darren Smith, CEO and Chair of the Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Forum, and Jenny Samms, former AHV CEO, Specialist Advisor and Chair of the Blueprint Steering Committee, met with Jemine to discuss Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort and self-determined approaches to housing for Aboriginal Victorians. Thank you to Jemine for joining us on Wurrundjeri Country.

Every 9 August commemorates the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, chosen in recognition of the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations held in Geneva in 1982. It is a day to recognise and honour the resilience and contributions of Indigenous peoples around the world and their role as change-makers, custodians of Country, and knowledge holders while also raising awareness of the ongoing challenges they face. On this day we’d like to celebrate our renters who light up and strengthen their communities every day. 🖤💛❤️💚💙

Aboriginal Housing Victoria maintains a mix of Directors on the Board from different backgrounds, with complementary skills and experience in the areas of business, governance, asset management, law, finance and accounting, communications, and social housing and Aboriginal community controlled sectors. AHV is undertaking an open expression of interest (EOI) process, to attract suitably qualified candidates for future directorships on the AHV Board. For the 2024 EOI round, AHV is seeking EOIs from candidates with experience in senior roles within the social/community housing sector, including the Aboriginal housing sector. We looking to add to our established register of candidates who have been assessed as demonstrating the potential skills and attributes required, for nomination to Director vacancies as they become available. https://lnkd.in/g5CXEEWK

"I apologise for the hurt and loss of dispossession and of the lack of recognition." The Hon. Harriet Shing, Minister for Housing acknowledges that Government has a lot of work to do to "address the centuries of systematic dispossession and to provide the right housing that is needed now and into the future". Follow to stay updated on social justice hearings. #Housing #HarrietShingMP #Dispossession #SpringSt

An exciting identified opportunity has opened up at AHV! The AWF (Aboriginal Workforce Fund) Administrative Support Officer provides administrative support to the Aboriginal Housing Services division, as well as some assistance across the other four divisions, to ensure exposure and experience across the entire business. The Support Officer will have the opportunity to upskill with different teams to develop their knowledge of the different AHV services with an aim to provide the best possible exposure to as many skills and roles as possible. This role would be ideal for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person looking to start a career in the Aboriginal community organisation or housing space. For more information, please see the link below: https://lnkd.in/gv-eVPBu

"Aboriginal people are accessing homelessness services at the highest rates in the country in Victoria," Darren Smith, CEO of Aboriginal Housing Victoria gives evidence about the housing crisis being overlooked by government. Follow to stay updated on Social Justice issues affecting First Peoples. #FirstPeoples #SocialJustice #AboriginalHousingVictoria

Today is Mabo Day, and this is Mer Island in the Torres Strait. The home of land rights activist and proud Meriam man, Eddie Koiki Mabo. Mabo Day is celebrated on the 3rd of June to commemorate the efforts of Mabo, and members of the Mer community, in their monumental fight for land rights against the High Court of Australia. Marking the end of Reconciliation Week, today we celebrate the abolishment of Terra Nullius and the passing of the Native Title Act 1993. We recognise Mabo's long lasting legacy as we work everyday to improve the lives of Aboriginal Victorian's. Every Aboriginal Has A Home. Image: NGV Melbourne.

The significant over-representation of the Aboriginal community in homelessness statistics is a direct consequence of colonisation. The key to ending this crisis is self-determination. In the February edition of Parity, Tim Cronin (Manager, Blueprint – Aboriginal Specific Homelessness System Project, Aboriginal Housing Victoria) reflected on the sector’s progress toward achieving this through the Blueprint for an Aboriginal-specific homelessness system in Victoria. As Tim writes, “There is a huge demand among ACCOs wanting to deliver Aboriginal entry points in their own communities. At the Victorian Homelessness Conference, Darren Smith, Palawa man, AHHF Chair and Aboriginal Housing Victoria CEO, noted that despite Aboriginal Victorians representing over 12 per cent of all clients of specialist homelessness services, ACCOs only receive approximately three per cent of all homelessness funding”.   But as Tim points out, “even with adequate resourcing, the Aboriginal Homelessness Service System needs the support of the mainstream homelessness system. In reference to the mainstream, Darren Smith stated: ‘You have got a part to play. Aboriginal self-determination doesn’t mean you sit in the corner and watch the Aboriginal organisations and Aboriginal people struggle to do it. It means you’ve got to take a different approach in thinking about how you help’, whilst also noting ‘you don’t come with solutions, you work with Aboriginal community to get to the solutions.’” Read the full article at the link.