Policy and Advocacy
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people want access to quality, accessible, affordable, and culturally appropriate housing to help empower individuals, families, and communities to optimise their health and wellbeing and improve their employment opportunities, access to education, connection to community and sense of home.
In Australia, governments are responsible for housing policy. Housing policy often focuses on:
- housing support and access to housing products
- providing affordable housing
- driving housing design that responds to need;
- and improving housing supply.
Housing policy in Australia affects access to shelter, the behaviour of renters, borrowers and lenders, and economic activity.
In determining housing policy, governments have a duty to contribute to the economic prosperity and welfare of ALL Australian people – including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
How We Influence Government Housing Policy
Housing Queensland provides a range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific advice and recommendations to government to help them better understand and develop better and inclusive housing policy in Australia.
We influence government housing policy at all phases of the policy development by asking government frequently how their housing policy, decisions or actions are of ‘advantage to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland’.
Our Advocacy
We define ‘advocacy’ as any action that speaks in favour of, recommends, argues for a cause, supports or defends, or pleads on behalf of others.
Housing Queensland advocates on issues important to strengthening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community housing providers and improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland.
We ensure that the voices of our members are heard and that their housing expertise is incorporated into decisions that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland. This housing knowledge provides valuable insights on what works and what doesn’t work in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing.
Since our establishment in 2021, our independent research and advice has helped shape our advocacy work, from recommendations to strengthen community housing providers to targeted homelessness responses, we will continue to advocate for the removal of housing barriers and for better outcomes.
Closing the Gap
The National Agreement on Closing the Gap Implementation Plans have been developed and delivered by each party to the National Agreement, in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partners.
The National Agreement contains 19 national socio-economic targets across areas that have an impact on life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Targets 9a and 9b are housing related and they are not on track to be achieved.
To improve target achievement, a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Policy Partnership (National HPP) has been established under the National Agreement.
A Queensland HPP will be established shortly and it will be co-chaired by Housing Queensland and the Queensland Government Department of Housing. The Queensland HPP will provide a forum for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to have say in the design and delivery of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing services in Queensland. The Queensland HPP will be focus on delivering ambitious, holistic and long-lasting structural actions to improve housing outcomes across the Queensland housing system, building on the strengths and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and addressing the ongoing and unaddressed impact of colonisation and dispossession.
A Seat at the Table
Housing Queensland has a seat at a number of influential tables where critical decisions are being made to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices on housing challenges and solutions are heard.
Queensland Housing Round Table
The Queensland Housing Round Table brings together leaders from diverse sectors and backgrounds to synergise efforts and build housing solutions for all Queenslanders. A recent focus of the Round Table has been unpacking the Queensland Housing and Homelessness Action Plans 2021–2025.
Housing Queensland is an active member of this Round Table, ensuring that the voices of our members are heard and that our housing expertise is incorporated into housing decisions that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland.
Queensland Ministerial Housing and Homelessness Council
We are recognised as the ‘go-to’ peak body for insights and advice on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing in Queensland. As such, we are often asked to be on Boards and committees.
We are an active member of the Queensland Ministerial Housing and Homelessness Council and have a seat at this table to discuss key priorities to address housing and homelessness challenges across Queensland. Housing Queensland and other current members of the Council continue to build on the work that has been undertaken by other members of the Council and the Queensland Government.
Strategic Partnership Working Group
This meeting between the Queensland Department of Housing and Housing Queensland occurs every second month to formalise the responsibilities under our Service (Funding) Agreement and support meaningful engagement with ICHOs in Queensland.
Through the development of the Housing Queensland Annual Work Plan and other submissions, the Group works together on solutions, policies and programs that respond to the housing experiences and aspirations of First Nations peoples in Queensland.
These activities support commitments in the Queensland Housing Strategy 2017–2027 and the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Action Plan through delivery of governance, reform, growth, capacity building, workforce development, research and analysis activities.