Minimum Housing Standards
Minimum Housing Standards
Building Together
The way housing is designed, built, and maintained has a direct impact on the health, wellbeing, and stability of our communities. Too often, housing standards fail to reflect cultural values, community priorities, or the realities of how our people live. This project is working to change that by developing a national set of minimum housing standards that are informed by the sector, led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices, and embedded in cultural and community expectations.
This is more than just setting a minimum benchmark—it is about embedding cultural integrity, community leadership, and accountability into the way housing is designed, delivered, and sustained. The collective work of the sector is establishing a strong foundation, and these standards will remain a guiding framework for housing outcomes now
Safe Home Advisory Members:
- Ivan Simon
- Alison Page
- Patrick Cooke
- Gillian Barlow
- Barry Ingram
- Jeff Standen
- Gary Oliver
Minimum Housing Standards
Developing a national set of minimum housing standards
This work is being shaped by the knowledge, expertise and lived experience of our sector and the communities we serve.
These standards are being informed by the sector and held by NATSIHA. They are not a static document but a living framework that will continue to evolve alongside our communities. They will provide a clear expectation for government and industry to work within, ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing is built to the right standards from the outset and maintained appropriately over time.
What happens next
As we approach the completion of the national engagement sessions in May, we continue to listen to the voices of our people—past and present—to guide the way forward. The knowledge, experiences, and aspirations shared throughout this process will shape the next steps, ensuring that community leadership remains at the heart of the work. Every voice matters, and together, we will develop a Minimum Housing Standards document that reflects our cultural values, deep connection to Country, and the fundamental need for safe, secure, and culturally appropriate homes.
Led by community and the Safe Home Advisory Group, this document will be drafted with cultural considerations at its core. Once complete, it will return to the communities and organisations who contributed, so they can see their voices reflected, recognise the impact of their work, and take pride in the futures that is shaped by and for them.
This is more than just setting a minimum benchmark—it is about embedding cultural integrity, community leadership, and accountability into the way housing is designed, delivered, and sustained. The collective work of the sector is establishing a strong foundation, and these standards will remain a guiding framework for housing outcomes now
This project prioritises
Cultural Empowerment
Housing should support the way we live, not the other way around. It’s important that standards reflect cultural values, family connections, and community ways of living. This means recognising the need for flexible spaces, room for extended family, and designs that respect and strengthen connection to Country. By working together, we can make sure housing reflects what’s important to us.
Community Engagement
Good housing starts with listening. This work is about creating standards in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Housing Organisations and communities to make sure they’re practical and work on the ground. The focus is on working together to shape something that reflects local needs, strengths, and aspirations.
Quality and Safety
Homes need to be safe, strong, and built to last. We’ve talked about the importance of good materials, designs that suit the climate, and ensuring housing stays in good condition over time. By setting clear expectations together, we can work towards housing that supports health, stability, and community wellbeing.
Minimum Housing Standards
Informed by our conversations
During our consultations we gather to talk about what housing means beyond just meeting a standard. We reflected on how housing must be designed, delivered, and maintained in ways that truly support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities—not just as places to live, but as spaces that uphold kinship, cultural obligations, and long-term sustainability.
Across different jurisdictions, we recognised the varied policy and legislative landscapes that shape housing. While there is no single approach that works everywhere, what we know for certain is that housing must be community-led, grounded in respect, and shaped by the people who live in it. It is not just about building houses; it is about strengthening communities, honouring cultural ways of living, and ensuring that housing is designed to last.
The National Minimum Housing Standards Project will continue to be shaped by these conversations, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices leading the way. The path forward is ours to walk together, ensuring that housing solutions truly meet the needs of our communities—now and for generations to come.
Cultural considerations in housing projects
Housing that meets the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities must be designed with culture at the core. This means embedding cultural considerations in every stage of planning, from land allocation and housing design to tenancy management and maintenance.
What we have heard from community
- Land planning must reflect cultural connections – Housing should be developed in a way that keeps families and communities connected. The layout of housing developments should allow for gathering spaces, kinship obligations, and shared resources.
- Housing must be designed for how people live – This includes shared spaces for visitors, culturally appropriate outdoor areas, and flexible designs that allow for multi-generational living.
- The use of local, natural, and durable materials is important – There is a need for quality assurance to ensure homes are built to last.
- Accessibility is a key priority – This includes appropriate flooring, wider doorways, and other features that support the needs of Elders and people with disabilities.
- Contracts must embed cultural requirements – Housing projects must account for cultural protocols, including flexible timelines that respect sorry business and natural weather events.
- Succession planning is critical – Housing agreements should ensure that homes remain within families and communities.
- Community-led and co-designed housing delivers stronger, sustainable outcomes—when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities lead from the outset, housing solutions are culturally responsive, well-maintained, and built to last. True partnerships ensure that communities are not just consulted but have decision making power at every stage.
Effective engagement with First Nations communities
We heard clearly that genuine engagement must be a priority, not an afterthought. Engagement that is rushed, tokenistic, or not culturally appropriate leads to poor outcomes and a breakdown of trust.
Key understanding from your feedback:
- Engagement must be community-led – This means working with ATSICCHOs to understand and respect local governance structures.
- Clear, accessible, and locally relevant communication is essential— information must be free of jargon, culturally appropriate, and delivered in language that resonates with each community. Housing solutions are only effective when communities fully understand, engage with, and drive the process on their terms.
- Engagement must be flexible and allow time for meaningful input – Consultations need to be scheduled around community priorities, obligations, and events.
- Communities must lead decision-making from the start—housing solutions cannot be imposed from the top down. When our
- communities drive the process, housing is designed, built, and maintained to meet real needs, ensuring long-term success. Anything less risks failure.
- Follow-through is critical – Engagement must be backed up with action. Communities need to see commitments being honoured, with clear timelines and accountability mechanisms in place.
- To do engagement properly, we heard that there must be adequate resources and investment, ensuring that consultations are well-planned, inclusive, and respectful of local cultural considerations.
Identifying barriers and finding solutions
You shared the key challenges that communities face when it comes to housing, many of which are shaped by government processes and policy barriers.
Barriers:
- Bureaucratic red tape and changing policies – Government processes can be slow, rigid, and difficult to navigate, delaying housing projects and limiting community input.
- Lack of direct funding to ATSICCHOs – Too often, funds are directed through intermediaries instead of directly to community-controlled organisations.
- Poor consultation and engagement – Many housing projects are developed without properly consulting communities, leading to inappropriate designs and policies.
- Housing that is expensive to maintain – The use of poor-quality materials leads to high ongoing costs for repairs and maintenance.
- The need for culturally appropriate tenancy models – Many tenancy policies do not account for kinship structures, cultural obligations, and the realities of community life.
Solutions:
- Direct funding for community-controlled organisations – Cutting out intermediaries allows ATSICCHOs to take the lead in housing projects.
- Cultural considerations embedded in policies – Government and industry must work with communities to ensure housing policies reflect cultural and local realities.
- Investment in quality housing that lasts – Using durable materials and designing homes that are suited to the local climate will save costs in the long run.
- Exploring off-grid housing solutions – Energy-efficient and self sustaining housing can help reduce the cost of living for tenants.
What is working well
Despite the challenges, we also heard about what is making a positive impact in housing across different communities.
Some of the key successes you shared:
- Strong tenancy support programs – Community-led advocacy and education programs help tenants understand their rights and responsibilities.
- The role of ATSICCHOs in leading housing initiatives – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations are successfully delivering housing services, policy advice, and governance support.
- Engagement with ACHIA, AHO, and other key housing organisations – These organisations are providing critical funding pathways, policy guidance, and networking opportunities for the sector.
- A growing recognition of the importance of cultural design – More housing projects are starting to incorporate culturally appropriate features, although more work is needed.
- WHAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS NEEDED FOR BUILDING SAFE HOMES? You also told us about the critical infrastructure needed to support safe, sustainable, and culturally appropriate housing.
- Key priorities include:
- Access to affordable, high-quality materials – Ensuring that homes are built to last and are easy to maintain.
- Essential safety features – Secure power-boxes, safety switches, and strong security features like window and door screens.
- Reliable access to essential services – Including roads, street lighting, and communications infrastructure.
- Investment in renewable energy solutions – Solar and off-grid housing solutions should be prioritised to reduce the long-term cost of living.
