# Aboriginal Housing Victoria

Aboriginal Housing Victoria (AHV) is a not-for-profit, registered community housing agency and is the largest Aboriginal housing organisation in the Australian state of Victoria. AHV was the first Aboriginal housing agency to be registered as a housing provider in Victoria and it is also the largest in Australia, and serves as an Aboriginal landlord, providing personalised, culturally sensitive services for over 4000 Aboriginal Victorians through more than 1500 tenancies.

## History

Until the 1951s no government housing was provided for Aboriginal people in Victoria and much of what began to be provided was inadequate, and delivered under an assimilation policy that saw the dislocation of Aboriginal people from traditional lands into accommodation that was often unfit for habitation.
More concerted efforts from the Commonwealth Government in the 1970s saw a major allocation of funds for Aboriginal housing and the establishment of Aboriginal housing organisations. However the major responsibility for Aboriginal controlled housing was transferred to the states, against the wishes of the Aboriginal housing organisations (known as cooperatives in Victoria).
The Aboriginal men and women involved in housing identified a need for a self-managed Aboriginal housing organisation, given continuing frustration with the quality of housing and treatment of Aboriginal tenants in private and social housing. By the late 1970s, the movement for an Aboriginal controlled housing organisation in Victoria had gained momentum, at a time when Aboriginal community leaders across Australia set up their own organisations to address inadequate provision of services such as housing, health, childcare, community services, education and legal services.
At the heart of this movement was the importance of gaining back control – Aboriginal owned and administered housing, and not just the provision of accommodation.
   "All houses transferred to the Housing Commission from the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs should be handed over to the Aboriginal Co-operatives for the purpose of housing Aboriginal people." – Nessie Skuta, National Aboriginal Conference representative for country Victoria, 1978.
It is clear that transfer of housing to Aboriginal organisations was seen by Victoria's Aboriginal community leaders as being about handing back the control that had been removed, about righting a previous wrong.
By 1981, the Aboriginal Housing Board of Victoria was established to oversee the management of properties owned by the Victorian Government for the provision of housing to Victorian Aboriginal people. Originating as a small community organisation representing Victorian Aboriginal communities, a partnership was formed with the Victorian Government as members advocated for the allocation of accessible and appropriate housing for Aboriginal Victorians and for the better treatment of Aboriginal tenants.
The establishment of the AHBV was the culmination of more than two decades of efforts from Victorian Aboriginal community leaders and a major achievement in taking back control and self-management of Aboriginal lives in Victoria. The founding members of the board had a vision that it would one day own the properties it managed, and this has been a driving force for the organisation.
In 2016, the Victorian Government announced it would transfer 1,522 property titles worth A$500 million to AHV over a two-year period.

## Today

Aboriginal Housing Victoria continues to provide culturally sensitive, Aboriginal service delivery as it works towards the goal of self-determination through Aboriginal owned title.

### Vision

"Our vision is that Aboriginal Victorians are able to secure appropriate, affordable housing as a pathway to better lives and stronger communities."

### Services

AHV provides housing to approximately 4,000 low income Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Victorians, representing at least 8% of the Victorian Aboriginal population, in 1,525 properties across metropolitan and regional Victoria. The majority of the properties are owned by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in need of housing can make an application to AHV, and they will be placed on a waiting list until a suitable home in a preferred area becomes available. Applicants may be considered for priority housing if they are deemed to have a more urgent need than general applicants.
Tenants pay subsidised rent to AHV, who manages the properties including maintenance and repairs. AHV achieves above community housing sector standard for maintaining tenancies – 89% in 2014–15.
While provision of housing is core business, the organisation works closely with other Aboriginal service providers to support the needs of its tenants who can have unique and complex disadvantage.
The organisation believes this success is rooted in the notion that Aboriginal owned and controlled organisations are best placed to provide services for Aboriginal people, without interference or patronage from non-Aboriginal organisations or bureaucracies.
But AHV is also a multicultural organisation and sees its strength in the diversity of its people – both Indigenous and non-Indigenous – "working together with mutual respect and co-operation, expertise and knowledge" – Jim Berg, "More Bees With Honey –A History of the Aboriginal Housing Board of Victoria."

## Governance

Aboriginal Housing Victoria is:
* A company limited by guarantee and established under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth);
* A registered housing agency under the Housing Act 1983 (Vic); and
* A registered charity under the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 (Cth) and a public benevolent institution, entitled to tax concessions under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth)
AHV is governed by a board composed of non-executive directors. The chairperson is elected by the full board. In accordance with the AHV constitution, there are no less than 5 and no more than 7 directors on the board, and the majority must be Aboriginal.
Directors hold office for a term commencing on the date from which he or she is appointed and concluding at the expiry of the third annual general meeting of the company following appointment.
All directors must live in Victoria and a majority must be Aboriginal.

### Key officeholders

As of 2020, key officeholders are:
* Chair – Tim Chatfield
* Deputy Chair – Ian Hamm
* CEO – Darren Smith

## Timeline
### More Bees With Honey: A History of the Aboriginal Housing Board of Victoria 1981 – 2004

| 1972 | Federal Government federalised Aboriginal Affairs in accordance with the vote of the Australian people in the referendum of 1967 |
| December 1974 | Transfer of Functions Bill passed and State Government agencies assume responsibility for Aboriginal Affairs within their specific areas, i.e. Aboriginal Housing to Housing Commission of Victoria (State Housing Authority) |
| June 1978 | First State Aboriginal Housing meeting held in Collingwood where decision made to establish a steering committee |
| 1979–1980 | State Aboriginal Housing Steering Committee meetings held during this time |
| October 1980 | State Cabinet ratifies constitution of Board |
| February 1981 | First statewide elections held for all board member positions |
| April 1981 | Inaugural meeting of the Aboriginal Housing Board of Victoria in Melbourne |
| June 1981 | Office established at 108 Smith Street, Collingwood |
| May 1982 | First Policy and Procedures Document on Aboriginal Housing accepted by the Board |
| September 1982 | First Annual General Meeting held in Northcote and first Annual Report produced and circulated |
| December 1982 | Board's proposal on Aboriginal Housing Liaison Officers receives approval by the State |
| December 1982 | Accommodation Standards accepted by the Board |
| October 1983 | Board's registration as public company limited by guarantee finalised |
| February 1985 | First Statewide Aboriginal Housing Conference held at Camp Jungai |
| February 1987 | Board transfers to new office premises in Gertrude Street, Fitzroy |
| 1988 | Community protest about evictions |
| March 1988 | Community meetings held after each monthly Board meeting in Mooroopna, Morwell, Dandenong, Mildura, Ballarat, Warrnambool and Melbourne |
| July 1988 | Statewide Rental Arrears Strategy Meeting held in Echuca |
| November 1988 | Second Statewide Housing Conference held in Mildura. Feasibility Study on Future Ownership of the Aboriginal Housing Program tabled at Conference where endorsement received |
| May 1989 | Consultant appointed and Feasibility Study commences |
| July 1989 | Consultant talks with communities about Future Ownership of the Aboriginal Housing Program. First Board Newsletter produced providing information about the Forward Plan |
| September 1989 | Board adopts amendments to its constitution at AGM held in Echuca |
| February 1990 | Feasibility Study completed |
| August 1990 | Workshop on Feasibility Study report held in Melbourne And Forward Plan developed from results of discussion Board formally adopts Forward Pan at August 1990 meeting |
| April 1991 | First Workshop on Implementation of Forward Plan held in Melbourne |
| August 1993 | Board receives ownership of 4 rental properties purchased out of ATSIC funds Properties leased to the Office of Housing and managed and administered under the Victorian Aboriginal Rental Housing Program |
| 1991–1993 | Implementation of Forward Plan proceeds throughout the next three years |
| April 1994 | Board adopts amendments to its constitution at meeting |
| May 1994 | Second Forward Plan Workshop held in Melbourne |
| 1994–1995 | Implementation of Forward Plan continues |
| February 1995 | Board transfers to new office premises at Scotchmer Street, North Fitzroy |
| July 1995 | Aboriginal Housing Section, DPD transformed into Aboriginal Housing Services Unit, DPD and fee for service arrangement continues |
| October 1995 | Workshop and consultations held to develop State Plan and Corporate Plan at Melbourne |
| December 1995 | State Plan and Corporate Plan endorsed by Board |
| February 1996 | Statewide Elections for board members |
| March 1996 | First Corporate Plan Workshop at Melbourne |
| June 1996 | First Policies and Procedures Workshop at Marysville |
| July 1996 | Commencement of Service Agreement |
| September 1996 | Start of statewide tour of Ellimatta Historical Photographic Exhibition |
| October 1997 | Team Building Workshop held in Melbourne ATSIC consultancy on future housing arrangements for Victoria commences |
| December 1997 | ATSIC Housing conference on future housing arrangements for Victoria held at Camp Jungai |
| February 1998 | Launch of Ellimatta Historical Photographic Exhibition Catalogue Book during Housing Week Paper on Proposed Bilateral Agreement – Options for Aboriginal Housing in Victoria presented to Board meeting for discussion |
| May 1998 | Planning Workshop held at Marysville |
| February 1999 | Launch of Elders poster during Housing Week held in Melbourne Statewide Elections for all board member positions Board adopts amendments to its constitution at Special General Meeting held in Melbourne |
| July 1999 | Forward Plan Strategy Workshop held at Mansfield |
| October 1999 | Second Policies and Procedures Workshop held at Thornbury |
| December 1999 | Consultant and Project Officer present Forward Plan 'Where We Are Now Report" to the Board |
| April 2000 | Board celebrates 1000th property purchase in Shepparton Myrtle Muir receives Frances Pennington Aware from Minister for Housing at Parliament House, Victoria |
| July 2000 | Strategic Plan developed Aboriginal Housing Services Unit, Department of Human Services, relocated to the Board office in North Fitzroy as first step in Strategic Plan implementation |
| August 2000 | Board appoints first chief executive officer |
| February 2001 | Board appoints first Property Manager and Research & Policy Manager Board commences celebration of 20th Anniversary at 20th year Board meeting |
| April 2001 | Board holds 20th Anniversary Dinner and Presentation Evening event |
| May 2001 | Board presented with Reconciliation Week plaque by Victorian Government in recognition of 20th Anniversary |
| June 2001 | Board holds 3rd Strategic Plan Workshop |
| October 2001 | Launch of board member Photographic Display in Board's conference room |
| May 2002 | Launch of 21st Anniversary Commemorative artwork at Board office (Shelter 2, by Lyn Thorpe commissioned by City of Yarra Community Grants –"Mother Earth is our Shelter. She provides for us and nurtures our physical needs. She sustains Identity, Spirituality and Connection to Country. She is our Shelter and in 'Our Special Place' her healing spirit empowers us to be True to Ourselves, Our Families and Our Heritage." ) |
| June 2002 | Board appoints first Finance Manager Board holds 4th Strategic Plan Workshop Board receives title to the nine ex-Victorian Aboriginal Co-operative Limited Properties located in Melbourne. Board now has title to, and owns 13 rental housing properties |
| July 2002 | First tour of Aboriginal Housing Office NSW, by Board Chairperson and staff |
| November 2002 | Third Policy Workshop held at Aborigines Advancement League, Thornbury |
| December 2002 | Joint Meeting between AHBV and Aboriginal Housing Office, at Albury NSW |
| February 2003 | New version of AHBV Housing Standards printed and provided to Board meeting |
| March 2003 | National Indigenous Homelessness Forum held in Melbourne |
| May 2003 | Launch of Multi Cultural Events Calendar |
| June 2003 | Board holds 5th Strategic Planning Workshop in Morwell |
| November 2003 | Fourth Policy Workshop held at Halls Gap |
| June 2004 | Board holds fourth Planning Workshop at Warrnambool Launch of Housing Week Calendar |
| August 2004 | Board signs off on first Service Agreement – Tenancy which replaces previous funding agreements Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Board and the Director of Housing setting out the agreed tasks to be achieved under the Strategic Plan |
| November 2004 | Board holds fifth Policy Workshop in Lakes Entrance |

### Appendix 1A – Additional History Timeline 2004 – ongoing

| 2005 | The path to transition to ownership continues |
| 2006 | Aboriginal Affairs Victoria provided funding for office renovations and AHV history book grant |
| April 2006 | "More History Than Bees" – AHV history book launched by the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, The Hon. Gavin Jennings MP |
| 2006 | The Aboriginal Housing Board of Victoria formally changed its name to Aboriginal Housing Victoria and saw the adoption of a new constitution. |
| 2006 | As part of its ongoing commitment to providing safe, secure and affordable housing for indigenous Victorians, the Victorian Government allocated significant Commonwealth State Housing Agreement untied funds to the Aboriginal Rental Housing Program (ARHP), in addition to funds designated for Aboriginal Housing. Bringing the total number of properties to 1,337. |
| 2007 | Annual Report artwork was prepared by Megan Solomon, a 15-year-old student currently doing year 10 at Orbost Secondary College in East Gippsland. The painting came about through the "Big Brother Mentor Program" art class and got the idea from breaking up the words "Aboriginal Housing Victoria" |
| 2008 | State Government's "Transition to Independence" initiative provided AHV with impetus to transform our management structure to a total independent not-for-profit company |
| 2008 | New model for Corporate Governance with a focus on structuring the Board to add value to AHV, laying solid foundations for management and oversight |
| 2008 | Annual Report artwork designed by Colleen Howell, a passionate Victoria artist from the Barwon South-West region. The artwork represents the freedom of our people coming home. The background resembles the land, 'our land', the footprints resembles the people, 'our people' and the house resembles home, 'our home'. |
| 2010 | Aunty Merle Bamblett awarded the Frances Penington Award for contributions to society |
| 2012 | New Constitution for AHV developed |
| 2012 | Kate Oates, a Wiradjuri artist, was commissioned to prepare the artwork for2011/12 Annual Report – entitled "The Empowerment of our people" to depict home as a safe place, where the impossible becomes possible |
| 2013 | Kate Oates, a Wiradjuri artist, was commissioned to prepare the artwork for 2012/13 Annual Report – entitled "The Empowerment of our people" to show the continuing commitment to housing for indigenous Victorian people. |
| December 2013 | AHV undertook a significant organisational restructure with the recruitment of a new CEO and Executive Management Group |
| 2014 | AHV Boardroom table artwork commissioned by the former CEO of Aboriginal Housing Victoria Bev Murray, design and artwork prepared by Lyn Thorpe, with the central circle representing the heart of the AHV and workforce and the sun depicting the strength and sustainability needed to enable the ongoing provision of quality housing. |
| July 2014 | NAIDOC Week – 15 years celebration at Collingwood Children's Farm |
| October 2014 | Board endorses AHV Communications Strategy |
| February 2015 | Board signs off on AHV's long term Strategic Plan 2014–2025 |
| May 2015 | AHV made a submission to the Royal Commission into Family Violence |
| July 2015 | Board approve AHV's Community Engagement Strategy Board approve the Life Skills Program, a client centred, outcome focused program to empower tenants to live independently and sustain their tenancies and identify their goals and aspirations AHV made a commitment to become a White Ribbon Accredited Workplace |
| August 2015 | Board approve Governance Policy, Governance Committee Terms of Reference, AHV Board Charter and Board Code of Conduct |
| September 2015 | Board signs off on AHV's long term Asset Management Plan, Asset Management Strategy and Asset Management Policy |
| October 2015 | AHV Submission to the Department of Health & Human Services Housing Registrar to become a Housing Association |
| November 2015 | AHV celebrates White Ribbon Day and starts participating in the 1 million stars to end violence project, with a commitment to weave 10,000 stars in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flag colours |
| January 2016 | Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll honours Aunty Patricia (Pat) Ockwell, a former AHV Chairperson of AHV from 1996 to 2004 and strong advocate for social justice and equality, along with Aunty Georgina Lovett-Williams, a former AHV board member and Representative committee member for Northern and Eastern metro region and a tenacious campaigner for land rights and social justice; and long standing AHV tenant, Aunty Cath Solomon who has made significant contributions to the Gippsland community. |
| March 2016 | AHV made a submission to the Victorian Government's Gender Equality Strategy |
| April 2016 | Board approved a new Child Safe Policy Board approved amendments to the Code of Conduct for AHV staff and Board to incorporate changes to comply with new Child Safety Standards and AHV's organisational commitment to zero tolerance towards violence as part of White Ribbon Workplace Accreditation |
September 2017 – In a significant step toward self-determination, the Victorian Government announces transfer of ownership of over 500 metropolitan houses to AHV, with non-metropolitan houses to be transferred in two tranches over the following two years. This realises AHV's long held aspiration to own the rental properties it manages on behalf of Government and lays the foundation for future growth.