The Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly (MPRA) and the NSW Government are collaborating through the Regional Aboriginal Housing Leadership Assembly (RAHLA) to enhance social housing for Aboriginal people in the Murdi Paaki region.
The $85.2m Murdi Paaki Region Aboriginal Housing Program (MPRAHP) is a direct response to the documented ageing and deterioration of Aboriginal social housing in the region.
The program will improve homes and prevent them from becoming unusable. For Aboriginal tenants, this means improved quality of home, health and safety. For Aboriginal communities across the region, the program will deliver employment, skills and capability uplift.
Program structure
By focusing on two key initiatives, the program will deliver both urgent and long-term, strategic outcomes that meet the needs of Aboriginal communities in the region. The delivery of these two key initiatives will be co-designed with local housing representatives.
Collaboration with key stakeholders, including the NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC), Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs), and Aboriginal Community Housing Providers (ACHPs), is a central tenet of the program.
Initiative 1: Murdi Paaki Repairs and Maintenance will deliver:
- - urgent backlog maintenance and upgrades to nearly 1,000 Aboriginal homes (39% AHO-owned, 61% community-owned)
- - long-term, sustainable housing solutions, tailored to the unique needs of remote Aboriginal communities
- - a cost-effective service delivery model so that skills and jobs in the region are fostered long term.
Initiative 2: Murdi Paaki Aboriginal Housing Strategy will deliver:
- - a community-led Remote Aboriginal Housing Strategy that will extend the lifespan of existing housing assets, preventing further loss of social housing stock
- - up to 100 training and employment opportunities in building and construction for Aboriginal people in the region.
Program timelines
Consultation: April-June 2025
Consultation is an opportunity for LALCs and ACHPs to engage with the program and talk about how it will be delivered.
July 2025 onwards
The AHO will take on feedback from initial consultation sessions and communicate back to key stakeholders the next steps. Based on stakeholder input, the AHO will lead:
- - the development of Project Control Groups in each community that include key stakeholders
- - project planning meetings with the Project Control Groups
- - a community event (likely a BBQ) with the Project Control Group to give community the chance to understand the project and provide feedback
- - the development of a regular newsletter for each community
- - monthly progress meetings with the Project Control Groups
It is likely that a key liaison will be placed in the region to manage ongoing consultation and feedback.
When properties are released
When properties are released, Owning Providers and Managing Providers will be invited to participate in check-ins of their respective properties at three key points:
- - initial walkthrough
- - 50% walkthrough
- - completion assessment.
Key contacts
Jared Wilson, Program and Project Manager, Remote Housing Repairs - [email protected]
Trista Hickey, Program Manager, Murdi Paaki Housing Strategy - [email protected]
Murdi Paaki Services Limited (MPSL) have been contracted to support with the delivery of the Program.
