There are a number of tenant programs underway at the Aboriginal Housing Office. These programs work with Aboriginal tenants to achieve better outcomes in housing and beyond.
Strengthening Aboriginal Tenancies Program
The Strengthening Aboriginal Tenancies Program (SATP) provides wraparound support for tenants in Dubbo and surrounds and Batemans Bay (with outreach to Nowra) who have been identified as at-risk of losing their tenancy.
For tenants
If you’re a social housing tenant who has been referred to the SATP, a caseworker will be assigned to you for up to 12 months.
The caseworker’s aim is to set you up for success with future renting, reduce the risk of matters escalating or advocate for you if matters need to go to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT).
The caseworker can work with you and your ACHP on:
- payment plans for overdue rent
- managing tenancy breaches or evictions
- improving your ability to manage future tenancies
- accessing health and wellbeing support
- understanding the housing application process.
Case workers can also help service providers better understand and respond to your needs as an Aboriginal tenant.
The program is primarily for Aboriginal tenants in Aboriginal Housing Office and Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) properties, but private rentals are also eligible.
For housing providers
If you’re a housing provider in the Dubbo and Batemans Bay area who would like to refer a tenant to the program, use these contact details.
For referrals in:
- Dubbo and surrounds, contact Murra Mia Western on 02 6881 5700 or [email protected].
- Batemans Bay and surrounds, contact Murra Mia Southern on 02 4472 9363 or [email protected].
Aboriginal Tenant Engagement Groups
To better engage Aboriginal social housing tenants in matters that affect them, we're organising two in-person Aboriginal Tenant Engagement Groups (ATEGs) each year in the Mid North Coast and Western Sydney.
The aim of the ATEG program is to:
- engage Aboriginal tenants from various regions to participate and provide feedback on key issues
- support Tenants and community to engage with Aboriginal Housing Sector
- allow voices from the ground up on matters impacting in relation to Aboriginal housing in NSW
- provide a mechanism to report back to Aboriginal communities from time to time on sector performance
- gather feedback and data we can act upon.
How to get involved
Tenants of the Aboriginal Housing Office, Homes NSW and Department of Communities and Justice properties in the Mid North Coast and Western Sydney are able to join an ATEG.
Participation is voluntary.
If you would like to be involved in an upcoming group, you can email your interest to [email protected].
