Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort, which translates to ‘Every Aboriginal Person has a Home’ in the Gunditjmara dialects, is a framework that lays the foundation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing and homelessness reform in Victoria.
Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort
Every Aboriginal Person Has a Home
The Victorian Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Framework
WHO WE ARE
Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Forum
The Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Forum (AHHF) is a consortium of 38 member groups from across Victoria. We consist of Aboriginal community-controlled Organisations (ACCOs), Traditional Owner groups (TOs) and Aboriginal Trusts with an interest in housing and homelessness.
Building on the objectives of Mana-na Woorn-Tyeen Maar-Takoort, the AHHF focuses on six key evolving areas:
Homelessness
Private rental
Social housing
Rent to buy
Home ownership
Capacity building
RESOURCES
Our publications
Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort
Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort lays the foundation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing and homelessness reform in Victoria. The Framework was developed to reflect the objectives and priorities of the Victorian Aboriginal community and respond to community needs across the housing and homelessness systems.
Read our Framework
The Blueprint
The Blueprint for an Aboriginal Homelessness System in Victoria provides a roadmap for the development of a homelessness service system that is self-determined, community led, culturally safe, and responsive to the needs of Aboriginal Victorians experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. It identifies the key priorities enablers as well as a practical plan on how to implement the new system.
Read the Blueprint
Our Summit Report
In November 2022, the second Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Summit was held to advance the goals of Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort. The 2022 Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Summit Report, brings together the ideas, focus areas and priorities of the Victorian Aboriginal community on how to increase quality safe and secure housing outcomes Aboriginal people in our state.
Read Our Summit ReportPlatform
Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort contains five objectives. These objectives form the basis of our policy platform.
Read more
Position papers
As part of our ongoing advocacy, the AHHF have taken positions on several issues relating to housing and homelessness. These are articulated through position papers endorsed by the AHHF membership.
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Artwork by Bayley Mifsud
This artwork was created in collaboration between Merindah-Gunya and Aboriginal Housing Victoria.
The 6 icons all symbolise the different journeys throughout the AHV support experience. The first icon, Homeless, shows people without a meeting place (home). The next icon, Crisis Housing, shows people surrounding one home, however the people are not in the icon, they are surrounding. The next icon, Social housing, which has multiple meeting places with people surrounding. The next icon, Private Rental, includes one meeting home surrounded by people. The next icon, Rent to Buy, shows two meeting places, one smaller being the home being rented then the larger being the home purchased.The final icon, Home Ownership, shows the complete home, with multiple meeting places inside symbolizing the journey of all of the other symbols put together.
Bayley Mifsud is a proud member of the Peek and Kirrae Whurrong people of the Maar nation from South West Victoria (Warrnambool). Her Aboriginal name is Merindah-Gunya meaning “Beautiful Spirit” in Peek Whurrong language, which was gifted to her through ceremony by her parents and Elders.
Bayley has a passion for community development, diversity and self-determination as well as continuing the gift of storytelling through her artwork . Bayley now lives on Wurundjeri Country in Naarm (Melbourne) and has lived a large portion of her life here. Her great granny Mary Clarke was a Bunurong woman. Bayley was taught Aboriginal art at a very young age, by her Elders at the Brambuk Cultural Centre in the Grampians in Victoria. Learn more about her artistry here.
Media Releases
Our latest Media Releases
Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Forum Chair featured on ABC Mildura-Swan Hill Breakfast Radio
Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Forum Chair and Aboriginal Housing Victoria CEO Darren Smith was featured on ABC Mildura-Swan Hill’s Breakfast Radio on Thursday, March 28th to discuss the recent Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Forum held in Mildura and the ongoing homelessness crisis.
Read MoreThe Federal Government wants your say on the National Housing and Homelessness Plan
On August 7, the first day of Homelessness Week 2023, Housing and Homelessness Minster Julie Collins announced a consultation process would take place on a National Housing and Homelessness Plan.
Read MoreBy delaying reform to Victoria’s retrograde and damaging bail laws, the Victorian Government must take responsibility for putting more Aboriginal Victorians at risk of homelessness.
The Victorian Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Forum (AHHF) and Aboriginal Housing Victoria (AHV) are deeply concerned about reports that reforms to the Victorian Bail Act 1977 will be delayed for another year.
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