NATSIHA 2025-26 Budget Submission

Pre-Budget Submission

    Read the full submission here

Our submission presents a pathway to close the housing gap by influencing and supporting the transformation of government, unlocking housing, creating jobs, and building the capacity of the community-controlled sector to lead housing delivery.

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROPOSALS

The 2025-26 Federal Budget should deliver:

1. Equitable Funding Aligned with Relative Need for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing All Australian Governments commit to upholding and enacting Clauses55a and 55b of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and allocate a significant and meaningful proportion of mainstream housing funding, aligned with relative need, to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Housing Sector across all housing and homelessness policies, strategies, and funding initiatives.

2. Strong National Leadership in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing $8.3 million over five years, indexed to CPI for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Association to continue to operate as the national peak body for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing and the sector.

3. Ensuring the right to housing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait IslanderPeople $11.8 million over four years to establish an inaugural National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Commissioner.

4. Innovation in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Supply $200 million over two years to deliver 440 new houses for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through an innovative tripartite agreement and Supply Program Pilot (Pilot) between the government, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing sector and industry.

   PRIORITY REFORM 1 (Formal Partnerships and Shared Decision Making)

5. $9.2 million over three years to continue core funding for the HousingPolicy Partnership established under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

   PRIORITY REFORM 2 (Building the Community Controlled Sector)

6. $25 million over two years to establish a targeted repairs and upgradesprogram to restore 100-150 uninhabitable ATSICCHO-managed homes to a safe, liveable standard.

7. $10.9 million over two years to develop and implement a nationalAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing workforce development program.

8. 3.6 million over two years for a dedicated program to support and strengthen the capacity of ATSICCHO’s to respond to and access investment facilities under the management of Housing Australia.

9. $4.6 million over two years to strengthen Board and leadership governance capabilities in the ATSICCHO sector.

10. $6.2 million over three years from 2025-26 (including state and territory government contributions) to develop and pilot a best practice trauma-informed and culturally safe and responsive wellbeing framework and toolkit to support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing workforce and the ATSICCHO sector.

11. Endorsement of the Foyer Foundation’s request to establish 10 YouthFoyers across Australia, these foyers will provide housing with wrap-around support, addressing the disproportionately high rates of homelessness among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and build long-term capacity within the sector to deliver outcomes.

    PRIORITY REFORM 3 (Transforming Government Organisations)

12. $11.0 million over two years to enhance the cultural capability of mainstream government departments and housing services to ensurethat they are culturally capable, safe and responsive to the needs ofAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

    PRIORITY REFORM 4 (Shared Access to data at a regional level)

13. $26.3 million over 4 years to establish a National Data System (including collection analysis and dissemination) for the Aboriginal and TorresStrait Islander Community Controlled Housing Sector.