Initiative to improve Aboriginal housing in Darebin and beyond
Published on 24 November 2022
Aboriginal Housing Victoria and Darebin Council partner to improve access to housing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Darebin.
Every person deserves a home, and in Australia, none more so than Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, the First Nations Peoples of this land, whose sovereignty was never ceded.
In recognition and support of this, Darebin Council and Aboriginal Housing Victoria (AHV) are proud to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to improve access to housing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Darebin.
The MOU is the first of its kind in Victoria, and in signing it, Darebin and AHV put the call out to all other Councils, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCO’s) and Traditional Owner Groups across Victoria to follow this lead to improve access to housing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living right across the state.
Council and AHV, in consultation with the Darebin Aboriginal Advisory Committee (DAAC), have finalised the MOU, with accompanying action plan as a pilot for local governments throughout Victoria.
“Council is leading the way through this MOU, in its support of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community including identifying parcels of vacant land that may be suitable for social or affordable housing and facilitate their development, as well as encouraging developers to work with AHV on projects to include social and affordable housing,” Darebin Mayor Cr Lina Messina says.
“We’re also proud to offer rate concessions for all AHV properties in Darebin and provide practical support for people living in AHV properties to increase participation and inclusion in our services and programs,” Cr Messina says.
AHV CEO Darren Smith says the 2020 Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Framework, Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort, found an additional 27,000 properties would be needed to house Aboriginal households by 2036.
“Currently, one in six Aboriginal Victorians need homelessness assistance and Aboriginal Victorians are 10 times more likely to depend on social housing than other Victorians. They are also 25 per cent less likely to purchase their own home,” Mr Smith says.
“This is unacceptable. Every level of government needs to be working to resolve this, including local government. Rates are a significant operational cost for AHV. If councils waived or reduced our rates, we could reinvest that money into more housing for more Aboriginal Victorians.”
The AHV goal is not just limited to social housing but includes ensuring Aboriginal people have equal access to the full housing spectrum of private rental and home ownership.
“Darebin has shown real leadership on this issue and we are hopeful that other local governments will see the positive impact of this MOU and work with us to help deliver on the Mana-na woorn-tyeen Maar-takkort vision - Every Aboriginal Person Has a Home,” Mr Smith says.
DAAC has developed a strong model of representation and advocacy with Darebin Council over many years, and they have been central to the MOU negotiation process.
DAAC Chair Uncle Alan Brown says: “Our focus is on ensuring this MOU improves the quality of life of people renting AHV properties in Darebin”.
“We will hold the parties accountable. It must be more than a piece of paper, or the ticking of a box.”
Now that this MOU has been signed, Darebin and AHV call on other Victorian Councils and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and Traditional Owner groups to follow their lead.
ENDS
Media Queries
Aboriginal Housing Victoria
Lisa Briggs
Email: lisa.briggs@ahvic.org.au
Mobile: 0499 904 939
Darebin City Council
Senior Advisor - Corporate Communications
Ellie Cope
Email: media@darebin.vic.gov.au
Mobile: 0448 826 487
FAQs
What is included in the MOU?
The MOU has three priorities:
- Explore the availability of housing stock in Darebin for the Aboriginal community.
- Explore rating options to provide AHV with exemptions or rebates for rates.
- Work in partnership to increase Aboriginal Housing Victoria renters’ wellbeing, community participation and inclusion in Council’s services and programs.
Who are the signatories?
The MOU has been signed by Aboriginal Housing Victoria, Darebin Aboriginal Advisory Committee and Darebin Council.
The MOU has been 18 months in the making following a co-design process including engagement with the Darebin Aboriginal Advisory Committee and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, the MOU provides a strategic platform for advocacy to increase the availability of housing stock in Darebin and strengthen benefits for renters.
Why did AHV choose Darebin for the pilot MOU?
Darebin has a strong commitment to working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. At the 2016 Census, Darebin was home to 1,167 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people - one of the largest proportions of Aboriginal residents of the 31 municipalities in Greater Melbourne.
What difference will it make to the lives of people renting from Aboriginal Housing Victoria?
In addition to more housing, the MOU action plan includes initiatives to improve the wellbeing of Aboriginal people who are already AHV renters, with initiatives including:
- Targeted information on Council services and resources, such as responsible animal care and tip vouchers for waste and recycling and connection to wellbeing programs.
- Increasing awareness of Council employment/training and mentoring programs.
- Supporting increased participation and engagement in Council initiatives.
What mechanisms are in place to make sure the aims are delivered?
- Annual action plan with feedback directly provided by AHV renters.
- Reported to Darebin Aboriginal Advisory Committee and Council on an annual basis.
Why should Aboriginal renters get preferential treatment?
Any rates concessions or targeted assistance for Aboriginal renters must be viewed in the context of the history of European settlers taking ‘ownership’ of land in Darebin from the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung without any formal agreement or Treaty arrangement and without any kind of payment or compensation for the loss of Country.
This has led to generational exclusion from ownership and voice in the management of Traditional Lands and displaced people from connection to Country; the source of their spiritual, emotional and economic wellbeing.
The decision to provide concessions to affordable housing owned or operated by AHV in Darebin is a small but sustainable way that Council can acknowledge and make some reparations for the ways in which Aboriginal people have been dispossessed of their lands, all while supporting increased housing options for Aboriginal communities.
About the City of Darebin
Darebin is home to one of the largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities in metropolitan Melbourne. According to 2016 Census data, 1,167 Aboriginal and Torres Strait people live in Darebin, making up 0.8% of the total population.
In addition to being a significant gathering place for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Darebin is the proud home of several significant Aboriginal peak bodies, organisations and businesses, servicing Aboriginal people from across Victoria.
Darebin Council has a strong commitment to recognition of, and justice for, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and supports positive, meaningful change to address and redress historical and current injustices and continued systemic discrimination.
Our Council is actively associated with the Traditional Owners and custodians, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people, as well as Aboriginal community leaders and Aboriginal community-controlled organisations. Our Darebin Aboriginal Advisory Committee (DAAC) is an Indigenous voice to Council. It provides advice on Council’s policies and programs and has been heavily involved in the development of this MOU with AHV.
About Aboriginal Housing Victoria
Aboriginal Housing Victoria (AHV) is an Aboriginal community organisation responsible for owning and managing over 1,500 rental properties for Aboriginal and /or Torres Strait Islander people living in Victoria, including 84 residential properties in Darebin.
Our vision is to ensure that Aboriginal Victorians secure appropriate, affordable housing as a pathway to better lives and stronger communities.
Our CEO, Darren Smith, co-chairs the working group tasked with implementing the Victorian Aboriginal and Homelessness Framework Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort: Every Aboriginal Person Has a Home, which is the State Government’s first self-determined strategic housing policy developed by the Aboriginal community for their people.