The Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO) and its partners have delivered two new homes in Glen Innes under the Social Housing Accelerator Fund (SHAF), marking another milestone in providing culturally appropriate housing for Aboriginal people across New South Wales.
The AHO, the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) and the Glen Innes Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) worked with David Reid Homes Australia to build the homes on land owned by the Glen Innes LALC in Ngarabul Country.
Jacqueline Byrne, chairperson of the Glen Innes LALC said the collaboration demonstrates the power of partnerships to deliver better housing outcomes.
“This project shows what can be achieved when organisations work together to meet the housing needs of Aboriginal communities.
“These homes will provide safe, secure housing for Aboriginal families who need them most.”
The Social Housing Accelerator Fund is an Australian Government initiative to increase the supply of social and affordable housing across the country.
The AHO secured $130.1 million of the NSW Government’s $610 million allocation to deliver Aboriginal housing through two streams: AHO-owned properties and the Aboriginal Community Housing Provider (ACHP) stream.
The ACHP stream, under which the Glen Innes homes were delivered, supports the construction of new homes, the refurbishment of long-term vacant properties and the progression of housing pipeline projects.
The ACHP stream also strengthens capability by supporting ACHPs to lead projects that respond to the specific needs of their communities.
The completion of the Glen Innes homes brings the total number delivered through the ACHP stream to 61. A further 36 homes are set for completion by June 2027, bringing the total to 97.
The AHO has a dedicated SHAF team that provides ACHPs with guidance, mentoring and technical expertise.
ACHPs retain control of project delivery, including the appointment of contractors, with a strong preference for engaging local Aboriginal businesses. This approach supports Aboriginal self-determination while creating jobs, building local capability and ensuring investment flows back into communities.
Ash Livingston, Property Director at the Aboriginal Housing Office, says the program's community-led model is central to its success.
“A key strength of the SHAF ACHP workstream is that it empowers Aboriginal organisations to lead housing projects for their own communities through dedicated grant funding.
“The partnership between the Aboriginal Housing Office, NSW Aboriginal Land Council and Local Aboriginal Land Councils enables LALCs to develop housing on land they own, creating much-needed homes for Aboriginal families in their communities.
“By working together, we are delivering more housing while strengthening the capability of Aboriginal organisations to lead and drive housing outcomes across New South Wales.”
The AHO has so far partnered with NSWALC on 19 SHAF projects involving Local Aboriginal Land Councils and looks forward to delivering more homes for Aboriginal communities across the state.
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