The Department of Housing - Aboriginal Housing

Aboriginal Housing and Infrastructure Council

KEY POINTS

Aboriginal Housing and Infrastructure Council

Oversees Aboriginal housing issues and the direction of future initiatives.
Tenant and Community Participation

Defining the role of the Aboriginal Housing and Infrastructure Council.
Strategic Plan

This plan sets out what the Aboriginal Housing Infrastructure Council is going to do over the next three years.
Operational Plan

Western Australia's Aboriginal Housing and Infrastructure Operational Plan 2002-2003.
Housing Agreement

Agreement for the Provision of Housing, Infrastructure and Essential Services for Indigenous People in Western Australia November 2005 - June 2008.

The Aboriginal Housing Board (AHB) was established in 1978 as an advisory board for the Minister for Housing, the State Housing Commission and other statutory authorities. In 1994 a bilateral agreement was signed, which gave the Board expanded powers and functions. The Board was directly responsible to the State Minister for Housing and Works.

In May 2002 the Aboriginal Housing Board held its last meeting and was disbanded. Under the new Indigenous Housing Agreement (IHA) the AHB will be replaced by the Aboriginal Housing and Infrastructure Council (AHIC). The AHIC will consist of a part time salaried Chairperson, two State representatives (sitting members), the Executive Director of the Aboriginal Housing and Infrastructure Unit (AHIU) and four ATSIC representatives. The Minister for Housing and Works selected the part time Chair and the State representatives. The Council will be directly responsible to the State Minister for Housing and Works.

Following the signing of the Agreement for the provision of Housing, Infrastructure and Essential Services for Indigenous People in Western Australia November 2005 - June 2008, a revised Council will be established, comprising the part-time Chair and four representatives appointed by the Minister for Housing and Works.

Tenant and Community Participation

The new Indigenous Housing Agreement (IHA) was signed in July 2002 and states the roles of the AHIC. The AHICs roles are defined below:

The AHIC shall meet at least four times per year;
To develop a broad Regional Housing and Infrastructure Plan framework, agreed to by Regional Councils;
To formulate a strategic policy based on the principles, regarding housing and infrastructure provision for Aboriginal people;
To develop a five-year rolling Strategic Plan;
To develop an annual Operational Plan;
To implement housing and infrastructure programs in accordance with ATSIC ;
To establish policy guidelines for the delivery of programs and services in accordance with the Strategic Plan and the principles of the IHA ;
To coordinate and monitor the provision of housing and infrastructure for Aboriginal people in Western Australia and
The Chair of the AHIC, as a member of the State Housing Commission Board of Commissioners, will provide advice and advocate for the improvement of Aboriginal peoples' access to mainstream public housing and culturally appropriate housing services.

Strategic Plan

Open a PDF copy of the Strategic Plan 2003/04 - 2006/07 (1.4 MB). More information on PDF documents.

Housing Agreement

Open a PDF copy of the publication An Agreement for the Provision of Housing and Infrastructure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in Western Australia July 2002 - June 2007 (129kB). More information on PDF documents.