Aims: 
The purpose of this project is to investigate options for increasing Aboriginal-controlled governance of the remote housing in the Northern Territory. 
 
Background and Objectives:
The NT Intervention led to the establishment of a public housing system for remote communities. Commissioned by the peak body Aboriginal Housing NT, this project investigated options for Aboriginal-controlled governance for the remote housing system. It did so through extensive consultation with key stakeholders throughout the sector: such as Aboriginal community controlled housing organisations, including NRSCH-registered community housing providers; parties to Local Decision Making (LDM) Agreements; senior public servants at both the NT and Australian Governments; regional councils; NRSCH-registrars; and others. The Discussion Paper is the key output of Phase 1 of the project and aims to set up work to investigate options for legal reforms and financial modelling in the system. 
 
Summary: 
The key outputs of this project are a Background Paper and a Discussion Paper. This work constitutes Phase 1 of a larger project proposed by Aboriginal Housing NT. The Background Paper attempts to ground those subsequent phases in a thorough understanding of the remote housing system in the NT, including past work to develop models for system change. The Discussion Paper represents the results of extensive sector consultation in the form of interviews, written submissions, and presentations. It includes four Topic Analyses focused on the Joint Steering Committee for Remote Housing NT (JSC-RHNT); Local Decision Making; the National Regulatory System for Community Housing (NRSCH); and Aboriginal control of remote housing funding and finance. These close analyses of existing mechanisms and policies inform the options for system reform presented to members of the JSC-RHNT and the wider sector for their consideration.
 
The Background Paper and Discussion Paper, can be accessed via the resources tab.
 
Implications for policy and practice: 
In the short-term, the project provides recommendations to improve existing mechanisms, policies, and regulatory systems that already involve Aboriginal representative organisations. In the medium-term, the project provides options for system reform to be considered by members of the JSC-RHNT and the Aboriginal housing sector.
 
Chief Investigator:
Dr Liam Grealy
Project Manager:

Dr Liam Grealy

Contact information:

liam.grealy@menzies.edu.au

Project dates:

February - December 2024

Funders
Collaborators

Discussion Paper co-authors: Megan Moskos; Richard Benedict
The project was approved by the Joint Steering Committee for Remote Housing Northern Territory (JSC-RHNT). Project leads were Aboriginal Housing NT and the Central Land Council. A Project Advisory Group governed the project, which included the following members: Aboriginal Housing NT, the Central Land Council, the Northern Land Council, Tiwi Land Council, Anindilyakwa Land Council, the NT Government, and the Australian Government. 

Aboriginal-Controlled Governance for the Remote Housing System in Northern Territory
 

Published May 2025
Download the Background Paper
Download the Discussion Paper

Publication of the Discussion Paper concludes Phase 1 of a proposed larger project and sets the stage for further action to improve Aboriginal involvement in remote housing governance.

Insights from Aboriginal Housing Northern Territory (AHNT) CEO, Leeanne Caton:
“Aboriginal-led governance and decision-making is central to driving long-term solutions to remote housing in the Northern Territory. Dr Grealy’s Discussion Paper outlines the most comprehensive and structured analysis to date of the Northern Territory’s remote housing system and the arrangements under which it is governed.
The Discussion Paper provides clear options for consideration of the JSC-RHNT to enable, strengthen and grow the agency and decision-making of the Aboriginal community-controlled sector.”
- Leeanne Caton, AHNT CEO

 

Key Highlights of the Discussion Paper:
  • Research Findings: Building on a related Background Paper, the Discussion Paper provides a detailed examination of existing Aboriginal-controlled governance mechanisms for remote housing, with an eye towards creating new models that integrate Aboriginal representative organisations, Aboriginal community-controlled organisations (ACCOs), and remote householders into decision-making processes.
  • 40 Recommendations for Reform: Key recommendations are made across several areas, including relating to the Joint Steering Committee for Remote Housing NT, greater support for ACCOs involved in housing design, construction and provision, better alignment between the National Regulatory System for Community Housing (NRSCH) and NT policy, and increasing Aboriginal control over housing funding, procurement and finance.
  • Four Governance Models: The Discussion Paper outlines four models for governance reform, including the Public Housing Model, the Government and Aboriginal Sector Partnership Model, the Government Aboriginal Housing Authority (GAHA) Model, and the Non-Government Aboriginal Housing Agency (NGAHA) Model.
  • Engagement: A total 50 interviews were completed involving 66 people across the remote housing sector in the NT, supplemented by a range of other informal consultation mechanisms. The project engaged extensively with the NT ACCO sector, public servants, and relevant ACCO, government, and other representatives across Australian state and territory jurisdictions.