5/04/2022
New housing partnership with Haven Home Safe
Positive step toward self-determination for local Aboriginal people.
A NEW partnership between northern Victoria’s largest Aboriginal health service and an
experienced community housing provider is being hailed as a positive step toward self-
determination for local Aboriginal people.
Mallee District Aboriginal Services (MDAS) has formed a new partnership with Haven
Home Safe (HHS), which will see HHS provide tenancy and maintenance management
for MDAS.
“This partnership is an exciting and practical step toward self-determination for
Aboriginal people by improving housing services and support for people living in MDAS
properties,” MDAS Chief Executive Officer Jacki Turfrey said.
“This is about our shared commitment to bring about meaningful and positive change
and enabling self-determination for Aboriginal people. Self-determination is about
people having the right to define who they are, what they want, and what is best for
themselves, their families, and their communities.”
MDAS currently has 46 properties across Mildura, Swan Hill and Kerang.
Real estate companies have been provided housing services to MDAS in the past.
“The new partnership with HHS will be better tailored to Aboriginal people by offering
culturally-appropriate services and wrap-around support to our tenants who are our
community members,” Ms Turfrey said.
HHS is a homelessness organisation that has specialised in housing solutions across
the Mallee region for about 25 years. The organisation provides tenancy and property
management services to approximately 180 homes and support services across the
Mallee.
Both MDAS and HHS are committed to working closely with tenants to deliver safe and
well-maintained social housing. Discussions with tenants began last week and
community events are being held in Mildura, Swan Hill and Kerang throughout the week
to further yarn about the partnership and help tenants meet HHS team members.
“I am very hopeful Community will be very positive about this new partnership and what
it will deliver in terms of better housing outcomes for our Mob,” Ms Turfrey said.
The new partnership between MDAS and HHS also involves the organisations working
together to attract more funding to build new culturally appropriate, modern and energy-
efficient homes in the region through the State Government’s Big Housing Build
Initiative.
“We are excited to be working in partnership with MDAS to provide tenancy and
property management across the Mallee region and jointly tender to increase the
availability of housing for the MDAS community via the Victorian Government’s Big
Housing Build, Homes for Aboriginal Victorians funding round,” HHS General Manager
Mallee Trevor Gibbs said.
Ms Turfrey said the partnership with HHS, which is a registered housing provider, would
help MDAS access resources and funding that may otherwise not be available.
“The priority for both MDAS and HHS is to provide safe and secure housing and more of
it. We will be talking to our tenants about their needs and will work with them to deliver
better housing outcomes for our Community,” she said.
More information on the new housing partnership and what it means for local people is
available from MDAS on 5018 4100 or by contacting HHS on 1300 428 364 or
mildurahousing@hhs.org.au