Day One | Tuesday| 9th September
8:00
Registration and Networking
8:30
Welcome to Country and Acknowledgements
9:00
Keynote: Local Decision Making and The Place Based Approach
“Too often, decisions about housing are made far away from the communities they most affect. I believe empowering local voices to shape housing solutions ensures they are more responsive, culturally appropriate, and sustainable. I’m excited to share how we can strengthen this approach together and learn from others’ experiences.”
Hon. Chansey Paech MLA, Shadow Minister for Housing, Local Government and Community Development, Northern Territory Government
INDIGENOUS HOUSING & THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT
9:35
Country Building: Funding Local Construction and Infrastructure
Existing pathways for accessibility towards funding for development
What policies are needed in skills funding for indigenous builders and laborers (education and accreditation)
Sustainable Funding Models for cyclical maintenance of infrastructure free from the political cycle
Farin Wanganeen, Managing Director, Birubi Australia
Michael Hromek, Technical Executive of Indigenous Architecture, WSP
10:20
Panel: State by State the Regulation Patchwork
Various regulatory schemes of each different state and challenges in registration
Discuss cultural inaccessibility of mainstream government housing services
Solutions to the cycle of overcrowding and evictions, a crisis in need of commonwealth intervention
Grant Cheatham, General Manager, Kabi Kabi Aboriginal Corporation
Stacey Broadbent, CEO, Aboriginal Community Housing Ltd
11:00
Morning Tea
* Attendees can move between the sessions listed under the two streams *
STREAM A: Housing
11:30
Indigenous-Led Sustainable Solutions
Design Solutions to remote & regional infrastructure gaps
Sustainable materials, energy, and land use techniques and examples
Professor John Evans, Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Engagement, Swinburne University
12:00
The Foundation: Operational Outcomes for Direct Community Benefit
How to make sure community and residents feel welcome, comfortable and safe
Challenges Fostering and inclusive culture and workforce to drive safety and success.
Highlighting recent work and outcomes in health, education, and household support.
Michael Rotumah, CEO, Larrakia Nation
Jacinta Mack, A/ General Manager Corporate, Aboriginal Hostels ltd.
Marni Lowe, Aboriginal Hostels ltd.
STREAM B: Homelessness
11:30
Stolen Lands: Cultural Competencies
Cultural competence must be core in management, Ask, don't tell; and leave biases at the door.
Effective approaches to Aboriginal homelessness will be centered around extended families, not just individuals.
Patricia Cotton, CEO, Aboriginal Sobriety Group
12:00
Panel: Ending Homelessness to Save Lives, and Reconnect Community
Challenges faced by harm reduction programs in today’s political climate
Access to rehabilitation and empathy for those suffering addiction
Intersection of Domestic Violence and homelessness
De-Joel Upkett, CEO, Ngwala Willumbong Aboriginal Corporation,
Shannon Thorne, National Manager Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Strategy, Mission Australia
12:40
Networking Lunch
1:30
Panel: Innovative Solutions that are Increasing First Nations Home Ownership
How our empowerment model helps to equalise home ownership outcomes
Collaboration and innovation: simplifying home ownership
Overcoming barriers: home ownership success stories
Stephen Woodlands, Founder and Managing Director, Head Start Homes
Pam Jackson, First Nations Collaboration and Liaison Officer, Head Start Homes
Debbie Avery, Project Manager, Aboriginal Housing Office
Heather Green, Executive Manager, Westpac
2:15
Interactive Yarning Groups
Yarning Circle A: Building community strength through a resilience and risk reduction ecosystem in the face of emergencies and disasters.
Johanna Garnett, Program Manager, SA Fire and Emergency Services Commission
Yarning Circle B: Sharing examples of programs or community-led initiatives that are making a real difference.
Shannon Thorne, National Manager Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Strategy, Mission Australia
Yarning Circle C: Cultural compromise is not collaboration.
Andrea Khan, Manager, InComPro
Yarning Circle D: Head Leasing: How we got housing for our most vulnerable.
Darrien Bromley, CEO, InComPro
3:00
Afternoon Tea
3:30
Wa Karroong House: A Blueprint for Culturally Respectful Housing with the Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative
Community Led Design: Genuine consultation with the Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative as the foundation of Wa Karroong House.
Cultural Respect in Practice: Embedding Wathaurong values, traditions, and community voices throughout the design process.
From Vision to Blueprint: Transforming community aspirations into a model for culturally respectful housing.
Where to from Here: From one project to many — refining the consultation process to enable scalable housing solutions for Indigenous communities across Australia.
Glenn Crawford, General Manger, Harnest Construction, Candice Ng, Director, Plus Studio, Dominic Versac Associate, Plus Studio
ENCOURAGING INDIGENOUS ENTERPRISE
4:00
Expanding Pathways to Home Ownership
Gain a comprehensive understanding of Indigenous Business Australia’s (IBA) tailored home finance products, services, and capacity-building initiatives available to support home ownership aspirations, particularly for low-income households.
Learn how IBA collaborates with organisations to promote economic empowerment and independence through business/organisational support and strategic partnerships.
Jenny Pepper, Senior Manager Business Development, IBA
4:30
Mainstream Partnerships and Supply for Sustainable Indigenous Housing
Importance of distributed support in housing supply and maintenance
Processes and documentation e.g. MOU’s
Mainstream housing provider partnerships
Paul Coe, CEO, Biribee Housing
5:10
Chairperson’s Closing Address
5:15
Networking and End of Day One
Day Two | Wednesday | 10th September
8:30
Welcome to Country and Acknowledgements
FIRST NATIONS-LED SOLUTIONS
9:00
Keynote: First Nations Aging in Place
The Purrkanaitya Elders Village is collaborative effort between ACHL, Housing Australia, the South Australian Housing Authority
The importance of being home on country, being home with each other and family and being home in a place of belonging
Cheryl Axleby, Head of Aboriginal Housing, SA Housing Trust, Mitzy Nam, Chairperson, Kaurna Yerta, Aboriginal Corporation
9:40
The Djarindjin Way: Breaking Free from the System.
What does it mean to be economically independent?
The benefits of standing on cultural principles for the health, mindset and strength of aboriginal corporations?
Nathan Mcivor, CEO, Djarindjin Aboriginal Corporation
10:15
Morning Tea
* Attendees can move between the sessions listed under the two streams *
STREAM A: Housing & Infrastructure Development
10:45
Approach to Indigenous Collaboration and Development: Barpa Case Study
Barpa’s focus to improve the health, wellbeing, and prosperity of Indigenous Australians.
Tips for engaging in Local Partnerships for supply and collaborating with local Indigenous Business
Jordan Falla, Indigenous Co-Ordinator, Barpa Construction Services
11:15
Housing Fit for Culture: Development Challenges
How can Indigenous knowledge and cultural narratives shape housing that strengthens identity, community, and connection to place?
What models support communal living and cultural needs whilst remaining viable for needed capacity?
Sarah Lynn Rees, Associate Principal , Jackson Clements Burrows (JCB)
11:50
Panel: From the Ground: Environmental Concerns
Address increasing disadvantage due to severe weather events
the impacts of building materials, energy consumption, and urban sprawl, leading to habitat loss, increased emissions, and potential health risks
Simon Quilty, CEO, Wilya Janta Housing Collaboration
Jimmy Frank Jupurrurla, Chief Cultural Officer, Wilya Janta Housing Collaboration
Barry Williams, Lecturer in Cultural Landscapes, University of Newcastle
STREAM B: Community Housing
10:45
Improving community assets around the neighbourhood to reduce disadvantage
Ensuring that policy settings mandate equitable access to health, transportation, and community infrastructure as part of urban renewal and social housing development.
Meeting First Nations peoples where they are by embedding cultural safety and place-specific strategies that reflect community leadership, identity, and lived realities.
Expertise on disability housing, access, and the NDIS to support evidence-based decision-making and policy development.
Jeramy Hope, CEO, SDA Alliance
11:15
Strengthening Aboriginal Housing Futures: Navigating Accreditation and Compliance in 2025
Leveraging multiple accreditations to unlock funding and growth opportunities
Balancing regulatory demands with the values of self-determination and cultural integrity
John Stott, Project Director, Housing Action Network
11:50
Panel: Ready for the transition: the role of community housing
Discuss the various jobs of a community housing provider: Carers, trusted consults, labourers, landlords, Community organisers
Appropriate support is essential for the transition to culturally appropriate housing tenure
Suzanne Naden, CEO, Bungree Aboriginal Association
Matthew Duggan Executive Director Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness, Homes Victoria
Asha Bhat, CEO, Southern Aboriginal Corporation
12:45
Networking Lunch
DATA FOR STRATEGY AND STRATEGY FOR DATA
1:45
Data for Strategy & Maintaining Data Sovereignty
What is the data and KPI’s required to show need for and start ACCHO in a community
What Partnerships can be formed to access data?
What are data safety practices and data brokerage?
Dr Jacob Prehn, Director of Research, Evaluation and Data Governance Treaty Authority
Professor Megan Moskos, Associate Dean of Research Engagement, University of Adelaide
2:30
Justice Reform for Housing and Belonging
The systemic failures in the housing system identified by the Commission and how they disproportionately impact First Nations peoples, particularly women and families.
The practical role that community-controlled organisations and non-Indigenous service providers must play in driving this change on the ground.
Shaun Middlebrook, CEO, Woor-Dungin
3:00
Afternoon Tea
3:30
Housing for a Fair-go: Interim housing
The importance of location in terms of education & economic advantage in breaking the cycle of homelessness
What are the specific needs for interim housing?
Dermot Walsh, CEO, Aboriginal Hostels Ltd.
STORY OF FIRST NATIONS CREATION
4:00
Bringing the conversation to local communities
1 home may house 100 families over its lifetime, the goals of housing are fundamental to heritage
Decisions made by Aboriginal corporations must be backed completely for the growth of the cultural mindset
What must the communication be for the realistic visions of the future of housing, that will be supported by Indigenous communities but also the Australian public
Gail Beck OAM, Executive Manager Cultural Integration, Ruah Community Services