Agenda

Day One | Wednesday| 9th September

7:30

Registration Open

8:30

Welcome to Country and Acknowledgements

8:40

Chairpersons address

9:00

Keynote: Embedding Self Determination into Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander housing and homelessness approaches

Role of government in supporting self-determination
Shifting responses to culturally safe, long-term housing outcomes.
Supporting Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to lead housing delivery, with partners working alongside them

Matthew Duggan, Executive Director Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness, Homes Victoria

Moving Beyond the Physical Structure

9:40

Securing Long-Term Political Will: Policy and Funding for Housing and Infrastructure for First Nations Homelands

History of Homelands and Outstations in the Northern Territory
Addressing the urgent need to secure a permanent federal funding commitment
How sustainable infrastructure on homelands directly translates to better health outcomes, cultural maintenance and self-determination
$4 Bill Federal Funding Agreement over 10 years - Analysing the inflation, soaring building costs, and extreme weather events that have slowed the remote housing builds

Leeanne Caton, Chief Executive Officer, Aboriginal Housing Northern Territory

10:10

Panel: What do Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people want from their Homes?

Moving beyond minimum compliance to deliver culturally anchored, high-performing housing assets
Designing scalable housing models that respond to the date of different clan structures and community needs
Ensuring developments create long-term economic participation and stability

Nick Frost, Senior Case Manager, Yangadlitya Indigenous Corporation

Lisa Sampson, CEO, ACHIA NSW

Naomi Anstess, Big Boss, Northern Territory Indigenous Business

Leonie Harris, Acting Chief Operational Officer, Aboriginal Housing Victoria

Luke Issacs, First People Partnership Lead, SEC Victoria

10:50

Morning Tea

11:20

Fireside Chat: Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Renting Reform

Moderator: Brett West, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Aboriginal Housing Victoria

Strengthening fairness & accountability in the renter–landlord relationship
Removing systemic barriers impacting Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander tenants
Improving long-term rental stability & outcomes

Jennifer Beveridge, Chief Executive Officer, Tenants Victoria

Ben Poona, Co-Manager Community Safety & Social Services, Tangentyere

12:00

Housing as a Foundation for Health, Safety and Wellbeing

How housing insecurity and overcrowding impact family stability and health
The role of stable housing in supporting safety and recovery from domestic and family violence
Yarns for Change, a trauma-informed and culturally safe training model

Marnie Davis, Director & Training Lead, Yarning for Change

12:40

Networking Lunch 

Aboriginal Architecture

1:30

Panel: Understanding Design

Reclaiming the aesthetic and functional design of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander homes
Ensuring local sourcing and Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander trades are at the centre of every build to foster community wealth
Prioritise culture in design and space

Andrew Lane, Director, Indijdesign

Sarah Lynn Rees, Associate Principal, Jackson Clement Burrows Architects

Theresa Bower, Director, Burrundi Design Studio

The Intersection of Health and Homelessness

1:30

The Recovery Journey: How stable housing facilitates the transition from addiction to community participation Copy

Strengthening culture promotes harm reduction
How safe spaces reduce stress directly and indirectly associated with historical trauma
Rehabilitation and support: from the floor to and an open door

Scott Wilson, CEO, Aboriginal Drug & Alcohol Council

2:10

Yarning Circles 

A: From displacement to home ownership

Aboriginal Housing Victoria Representative

B: Community-led programmes that make a difference

Corina Dunnachie, Service Lead, Ruah

Taminya Councillor, Support Coordinator, Ruah

C:Building strength and resilience through community and culture

Marnie Davis, Director & Training Lead, Yarning for Change

3:00

Afternoon Tea 

Prioritising Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander ideas

3:30

Bawoorooga: How Community Design is Redefining the Home

Housing shaped by Community for Community
Creating a SuperAdobe home using regional materials.
Embedding skills and resilience with training and maintenance for long-term stability.

Mark Anderson, CEO, Foundations for Indigenous Sustainable Health (FISH)

4:00

Housing designed for First Nations people by First Nations hands

The practical meaning of "culturally responsive" design and transitioning from consultation to integrated co-design
What polices need to be put in place to ensure Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander voices are heard at the centre of the build?
Locally sourcing allowing for community growth and ownership
Embedding Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders procurement and design intelligence from project inception

Dr. Jefa Greenaway, Director, Greenaway Architects (GA)

4:30

Redesigning the System, Not Just the Homes

Why one-size-fits-all housing policy and lending models fail
Moving beyond compliance KPIs to measure cultural, governance and community impact
Aligning credit frameworks with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander housing realities and building balance sheets, not dependency
Unblocking land transfers and embedding ACCO authority in funding decisions

Nicola Lemon, Head of Housing Strategy, Westpac

5:00

Chairperson’s Closing Address 

5:10

Community Social Gathering

Day Two | Thursday | 10th September

8:00

Registrations Open

8:50

Chairpersons address

Economic Independence and Housing Security

9:00

Keynote: Expanding Pathways to First Nations Home Ownership

Supporting First Nations households to move from social housing and private rentals into appropriate, sustainable home ownership
Addressing structural barriers through culturally informed financial capability, savings readiness, deposit solutions and long‑term support
The role of government, Aboriginal organisations and lenders working in partnership to unlock scalable and sustainable pathways
Introducing our new and emerging models, including Affordable Rent‑to‑Buy, that bridge the gap between renting and home ownership

Stephen Woodlands, Founder and Managing Director, Head Start Homes

Pam Jackson, Executive Director - First Nations Collaboration, Head Start Homes

Debbie Avery, Manager Home Ownership, Policy and Evidence, Aboriginal Housing Office NSW

9:30

From Partnership to Pipeline: Delivering Aboriginal Housing at Scale

Moving beyond consultation to genuine shared decision-making with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partners
Turning partnerships into delivery through aligned funding, governance, and clear accountability
Scaling community-led housing pipelines with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations at the centre

Brett West, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Aboriginal Housing Victoria

Lelaini Frew, Chief Executive Officer, Housing Choices Australia

10:00

Economic Independence & Housing Security to Avoid Homelessness

Focus on HAFF supply and housing funding streams and their impact on housing outcomes
Education-to-ownership pathways supporting long-term housing stability
Leveraging shared equity & community land trust models

Voula Moustos, Executive Leader NHIF CT, Housing Australia

10:30

Morning Tea

Attendees can move between the sessions listed under the two streams

Regional Living

11:00

The Djarindjin Way: Regional Roots, Culture, and Community-Led Growth

What does genuine economic self-determination look like
How does anchoring Aboriginal corporations in cultural values strengthen their wellbeing, resilience, and long-term sustainability?
Developing regional, community-owned infrastructure and renewable energy to support local prosperity

Desarae Sibosado, COO, Djarindjin Aboriginal Corporation

11:30

Making local communities the loudest voice

A house is home to one's culture & one's heritage; building a home should be orchestrated by those inhabiting it
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander homes must be made & backed by Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander corporations
Embedding community voice in every stage of design, delivery, and decision-making

Harley Douglas, A/General Manger,DJAARA

David Allen, Housing Development Manager, DJAARA

12:00

Panel: Closing the Gap with Better Data for Smarter Responses

Strengthening Closing the Gap accountability through improved data on Aboriginal housing access, homelessness, & service use
Creating new data frameworks to reflect capacity & improve measurement of housing service outcomes
Using homelessness & housing data to improve pathways from crisis services into long-term housing

Suzanne Naden, Chief Executive Officer, Bungree Aboriginal Association Ltd

Stacey Broadbent, Chief Executive Officer, Aboriginal Community Housing LTD

Chris Leishman, Professor of Property and Housing Economics, University of Adelaide

Voula Moustos, Executive Leader NHIF CT, Housing Australia

Dan Little, Relationship First Nations, Concierge Service, Housing Australia

Metropolitan living

11:00

Building culturally appropriate homes in the city

Combating cultural issues associated with space
Adopting new ways to have shared community space that are not just parks

Alisi Tutuila, Chairperson, Aboriginal Housing Company

11:30

Addressing the Physical Toll of Rough Sleeping:

Examining how prolonged homelessness rapidly accelerates health deterioration
Practical insights into supporting street-present individuals dealing with acute medical needs, severe environmental exposure & extreme weather impacts
Breaking down how tailored disability support can break the cycle of chronic homelessness and protect health over time

Corina Dunnachie, Service lead, Ruah

Taminya Councillor, Support Coordinator, Ruah

12:00

Panel: Can there be culturally appropriate and affordable city dwellings

Is there a desire for distinct Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities?
Dismantling the racist ideologies in renting
Would an increase in culturally safe developments help to reduce Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from homelessness?

April Lawrie, Interim Chief Executive Officer, SA Aboriginal Housing Peak Body

Ari Soemardi, Director Project Enablement, Hunter Boorn

Glenn Pellegrin, Non-Executive Director, Connecting Homes & Senior Manager – First Peoples, South East Water

Francoise Lane, Director, Indijdesign

Mark Anderson, Chief Executive Officer, Foundation for Indigenous Sustainable Health (FISH)

12:40

Networking Lunch 

Centring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voices

1:40

Panel: What policies are needed for housing growth

What polices need to be put in place to continue to clear the backlog & continue the steady flow of housing
A collaborative session on creating a new "Housing Constitution" that views a house as more than just a roof
The role of long-term funding, land access, & community-controlled housing providers in creating stable pathways out of homelessness

Marie Mitchell, Director of Community Justice Program, Victorian Aboriginal Legal Services

Matt Harris, Acting Property Director, Housing Choices Australia

Shaz McCullough, Statewide Program Manager, Aboriginal Housing Office

Megan Moskos, Associate Professor, Adelaide University

Shaun Middlebrook, Principal First Nations Advisor, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute

2:30

Creating Global Pathways & Making Local Impact

Rethinking housing as a human right in a changing global landscape
Exploring new models and partnerships shaping the future of housing delivery
What emerging innovation means for long-term, community-led housing outcomes in Australia

Jesse Martin, Chairman, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander International Engagement Organisation

3:00

Afternoon Tea 

3:20

A New Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing in Australia

Scale of unmet housing need among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households
Strengthening Aboriginal community-controlled housing organisations and governance
Long term investment and a framework for a future Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Strategy

Megan Moskos, Associate Professor, Adelaide University

4:00

Chairperson’s Closing Remarks 

DOWNLOAD THE BROCHURE

Agenda

Day One | Wednesday| 9th September

​

​

​

7:30

Registration Open

​

8:30

Welcome to Country and Acknowledgements

​

8:40

Chairpersons address

​

9:00

Keynote: Embedding Self Determination into Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander housing and homelessness approaches

Moving Beyond the Physical Structure

​

​

​

9:40

Securing Long-Term Political Will: Policy and Funding for Housing and Infrastructure for First Nations Homelands

​

10:10

Panel: What do Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people want from their Homes?

​

10:50

Morning Tea

​

11:20

Fireside Chat: Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Renting Reform

​

12:00

Housing as a Foundation for Health, Safety and Wellbeing

​

12:40

Networking Lunch

Aboriginal Architecture

​

​

​

1:30

Panel: Understanding Design

​

2:10

Yarning Circles

​

3:00

Afternoon Tea

Prioritising Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander ideas

​

​

​

3:30

Bawoorooga: How Community Design is Redefining the Home

​

4:00

Housing designed for First Nations people by First Nations hands

​

4:30

Redesigning the System, Not Just the Homes

​

5:00

Chairperson’s Closing Address

​

5:10

Community Social Gathering

Metropolitan living

​

​

​

11:00

Building culturally appropriate homes in the city

​

11:30

Addressing the Physical Toll of Rough Sleeping:

​

12:00

Panel: Can there be culturally appropriate and affordable city dwellings

Official Media Partner

Networking Lunch 

Yarning Circles 

Afternoon Tea 

Chairperson’s Closing Address 