- Homes co-designed with Aboriginal community members
- Transitional housing supports jobs, training and education in regional WA
East Kimberley communities are benefiting from more jobs, training and homes under the State Government's North-West Aboriginal Housing Fund.
Housing Minister Peter Tinley visited Kununurra today to meet Aboriginal partners in a 50-home transitional housing project and tour one of the properties nearing completion.
The Department of Communities has been working with the Binarri‑binyja yarrawoo Aboriginal Corporation and other local stakeholders to decide housing location, density and design specifications in a co-design approach that ensures the transitional houses genuinely suit the needs of local Aboriginal people.
Miriuwung Gajerrong Corporation Building and Maintenance and Kullarri Building are constructing the 50 homes in Kununurra, Halls Creek and Wyndham in a staged program that maximises Aboriginal apprenticeship opportunities.
Construction began in April 2018 and is due for completion by June 2021.
The homes are funded through the $200 million North-West Aboriginal Housing Fund, amajor regional services reform initiative established to help improve the lives of Aboriginal people in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions.
Transitional housing is a key regional priority of the McGowan Government's Affordable Housing Action Plan and reflects the contribution of affordable housing to health, education, social and economic outcomes.
The plan will increase the previous government's 2010-20 target of 30,000 housing opportunities for people on low-moderate incomes to more than 35,000 by 2020 - including delivery of a further 7,700 affordable homes between 2017-18 to 2019‑20, and construction that will support $2.3 billion in economic activity and almost 6,000 jobs.
As noted by Housing Minister Peter Tinley:
"It was great to meet apprentices and builders today who live in Kununurra and benefit directly from the North-West Aboriginal Housing Fund.
"Constructing new houses generates jobs and training opportunities for local Aborigines. Building contractors are required to ensure that at least 40 per cent of their Kimberley workforce is Aboriginal.
"The Transitional Housing Program embodies the McGowan Government's focus on the principles of People, Place and Home.
"Affordable housing, combined with tailored support services, strengthens individual and family wellbeing and helps create beneficial intergenerational change."
