Housing for Livelihoods: Scoping the Lifecycle of Housing and Infrastructure through a Whole-of-System Approach in Remote Aboriginal Communities

Housing for Livelihoods: Scoping the Lifecycle of Housing and Infrastructure through a Whole-of-System Approach in Remote Aboriginal Communities Report

DKCRC Research Report

• Author(s): Seemann, K, Parnell, M
• Published: 2008
• Publisher: Desert Knowledge CRC
• Volume: 29

Link to resource Report broken link

Abstract: This study set out to review work to date on sustainable investment in desert settlements, reporting on extending the lifecycle of remote, particularly Aboriginal, settlement housing and infrastructure relative to social, technical and economic investment. We aimed to synthesise emerging understandings, articulate new thinking in relation to these understandings, and develop keystone strategies for exploring new ideas in the next stage of research. The main thesis of this project is that technical and economic considerations alone are inadequate for developing innovative responses to expressed need. Key factors for success are local end-user experiences and the capacities of desert people in their social contexts, and how they can enhance technological decision-making, so as to extend the life of housing and enhance investment sustainability. Our work was underpinned by the theoretical frameworks of the Total Capital Model, Socio- Technical Systems, Ekistic Theory and Technacy. In the whole-of-system approach we used the goal was a sustained contribution to the local livelihood outcome of housing for settlements. The study confirmed that this approach was an appropriate framework to understand housing and infrastructure issues in remote Aboriginal settlements, and a wide range of stakeholders and desert communities have strongly supported this research and the approach we took to address the issues that affect and can improve the lifecycle of houses and associated infrastructure.

• Urls: http://www.nintione.com.au/resource/DKCRC-Research-Report-29-Housing-for-livelihoods.pdf, https://web.archive.org/web/20180405122947/http://www.desertknowledgecrc.com.au/resource/DKCRC-Research-Report-29-Housing-for-livelihoods.pdf
• Publisher Location: Alice Springs
• Keywords: livelihoods, service delivery