Indigenous housing and governance: case studies from remote communities in WA & NT
Indigenous housing and governance: case studies from remote communities in WA & NT Report
AHURI Final Report No. 66
- Author(s): Jardine-Orr, A, Spring, F, Anda, M
- Published: 2004
- Publisher: Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute Western Australia Research Centre
Abstract: Greater integration of housing assistance programs and improved consultation at the regional and local levels will assist remote Indigenous communities to achieve better management and maintenance of their housing. This project, conducted by the Remote Area Developments Group (RADG) at Murdoch University, involved a survey of management and maintenance of housing and infrastructure in remote indigenous communities across two states and consultations with other state's agencies, and review of literature of similar work that may have occurred in the other states. The project aimed to study the extent of local and regional capacity-building necessary to improve management and maintenance of housing and infrastructure and recommend how policy-makers can respond to this need. This study also aimed to identify and review housing and infrastructure projects in each state that have demonstrated the successful coordination and local integration of human services programs to improve housing and infrastructure service delivery to indigenous communities. The strengths of these projects were analysed and evaluated for their policy implications in other states and at the national level. This would enable a "whole of government" approach. There has been a general recognition by agencies working within the indigenous field of the necessity of coordinating service and infrastructure delivery - in addition to capacity building to support sustainable outcomes. This study aimed to contribute valuable new knowledge to current policy initiatives by ATSIC nationally and state indigenous housing authorities. Consultation with communities about policy will further delineate an appropriate and sustainable direction for emerging and future initiatives. In brief, the aims of this project were to produce the following: * Case studies of the management dynamic of program integration in relation to housing assistance and its links with human services. * To examine the housing and housing-infrastructure related aspects central to positive health and well-being outcomes. * To examine perceived and 'actual' differences in the nature of community control, ownership and management of housing and how this contributes to community capacity, particularly in remote indigenous communities.