Register as an Aboriginal Community Housing Provider (ACHP)
Housing providers who want to be eligible to manage AHO properties and be eligible to receive AHO funding or support must go through a two-step process to register as an ACHP:
- Register through the National Regulatory System for Community Housing (NRSCH) or the NSW Local Scheme (NSWLS) with the Registrar of Community Housing.
- Apply to the AHO to become a registered ACHP using the registration application form.
Register as an Aboriginal Community Housing Organisation (ACHO)
Aboriginal organisations who own social housing but do not want to register as an ACHP can apply to be registered as an ACHO instead.
ACHO registration will not provide access to manage AHO properties, but will open up eligibility for future funding and/or support from the AHO.
To be eligible, organisations must:
- have their properties managed by an Aboriginal Community Housing Provider (ACHP) registered under the NRSCH or the NSWLS
- submit and implement a rent optimisation plan and provide six-monthly progress reporting to the AHO
- apply to the AHO to become a registered ACHO.
AHO’s registration of ACHO status will be maintained until 31 December 2025. A review process will take place prior to this date to consider the ongoing need and form of ACHO registration.
To apply for ACHO registration complete the ACHO application form and the rent optimisation plan template, provide the attachments outlined in Section 3 and submit to [email protected].
Registration systems and schemes
National Regulatory System for Community Housing (NRSCH)
The NRSCH aims to ensure a well governed, well managed and viable community housing sector that meets the housing needs of tenants and provides assurance for government and investors.
The NRSCH seeks a clear separation between regulatory activities, and state and territory policy and funding activities. The Registrar is an independent statutory officer appointed by the NSW Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services to carry out the functions established under the National Law for Community Housing Providers. The scope of a Registrar’s functions under the NRSCH is limited to regulatory activities.
NSW Local Scheme (NSWLS)
In October 2016, NSW Parliament enacted an amendment to the Community Housing Providers (Adoption of National Law) Act 2012 [NSW] (the Act) to establish a local system of registration, monitoring and regulation of entities that provide community housing but are unable to be registered under the Community Housing Providers National Law (NSW).
In August 2017, under section 25A of the Act, the NSW Minister for FACS directed the Registrar to commence the NSWLS that:
- as far as reasonably practicable, is consistent with the NRSCH,
- does not include the ‘wind-up’ condition of registration under the Act, whilst ensuring that any assets or assistance provided by the NSW Government is appropriately protected,
- Initially focuses on registering NSW Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs).
