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Confirmation of Aboriginality

Confirmation of Aboriginality Policy

This policy applies to community managed properties under the HACP program and AHO properties managed by HNSW.

  1. Where an applicant is already a member of a Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) and can provide evidence of membership, then that evidence/proof should be sufficient for the applicant to be given consideration for housing under the Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO)'s Housing Aboriginal Communities Program. The evidence/proof provided must confirm that the applicant is a member of the LALC and meets the 3-part definition of descent, self-recognition and community recognition.

 

  1. Where the applicant is not a member of any LALC, confirmation will be accepted from one of the following community organisations: 
    • An Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander association incorporated under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (formerly the Aboriginal Councils and Associations Act 1976);
    • An incorporated Aboriginal community organisation where all the members of the organisation are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander or both.

 

Such confirmation must be approved by a resolution at a formal meeting of the organisations governing body and the record of the resolution is to be sealed with the organisation's Common Seal and signed by the authorised signatories. Two of the three specified office bearers must sign this form. The confirmation must also state that the applicant meets the 3-part definition of descent, self-recognition and community recognition.

 

  1. Where the applicant is unable to meet Option 1 and/or 2 above, applicants may complete a Statutory Declaration as evidence of the applicant's Confirmation of Aboriginality and submit to AHO. The Statutory Declaration must include: 
    1. Details of the applicants' Aboriginal family i.e. names and where they are from (land) and/or what they are doing about finding their family details/history, and
    2. A statement that the applicant identifies as an Aboriginal person, and
    3. An explanation as to how Option 1 and/or 2 could not be met, and
    4. Where possible, letters of support from Aboriginal community members, Aboriginal organisations (letterhead) or Government agencies that the applicant is known to. All documentation must be signed Aboriginal people.

 

The AHO may request additional information or seek further clarification as it sees fit.

 

AHO staff will only be accepting applicant's statutory declaration as evidence of Confirmation of Aboriginality and not confirming an applicant's Aboriginality.

This new policy on Confirmation of Aboriginality is effective from 3 August 2009. The relevant forms are attached. 

 

All queries relating to Confirmation of Aboriginality should be directed to the Aboriginal Housing Information Service (AHIS) on 1800 727 555.

 

 

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