Fifty-eight new social housing homes for Greater Shepparton

The social housing homes are among 348 new homes to be built in Victoria as part of a $153 million investment announced by the Victorian Government as part of its Big Housing Build.

Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative assets and infrastructure executive manager Mick Buckworth said Rumbalara was proud to be part of the major investment.

“This support from Homes Victoria is a big win for our community — helping us respond to the urgent need for safe, culturally strong housing for our people,” he said.

“More than just bricks and mortar, these homes will help keep families together, give our young people stability, and support Elders to live with dignity on Country.”

Mr Buckworth said Rumbalara had long called for Aboriginal-led solutions to Aboriginal housing needs.

“This funding backs that approach — putting control into the hands of local Aboriginal organisations, where it belongs,” he said.

“It gives us the opportunity to not only build homes, but to create jobs, grow skills and strengthen our economic independence.

“We’ll be leading this work from the ground up — designing, delivering and managing these homes in a way that reflects who we are as a community.”

Mr Buckworth thanked the government, Housing and Building Minister Harriet Shing and Homes Victoria for recognising the strength and capability of his people.

“Together, this is a big step forward, and we’re just getting started,” he said.

More than 230 of the 348 homes will be built in regional Victoria, with Greater Shepparton receiving the highest number of any area.

In neighbouring municipalities, five new homes will be built in Echuca, while another three will be built in Seymour.

The other regions to receive large numbers of new homes include 36 in East Gippsland, 29 in Wodonga, 28 in Greater Geelong and 24 in Ballarat.

This funding supports self-determination and builds economic strength through partnerships with Aboriginal organisations, which will design, deliver and manage the homes.

In Greater Shepparton, the new homes will be delivered by Aboriginal Housing Victoria, Aboriginal Community Housing Victoria and Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative.

The funding for this program builds on existing initiatives to support the implementation of the Victorian Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Framework – Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort, Every Aboriginal person has a home – which sets out how to improve Aboriginal housing outcomes in a generation.

Aboriginal Housing Victoria chief executive and Victorian Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Forum chair Darren Smith said safe, secure and sustainable housing was the foundation for better lives and stronger communities.

“This investment is a much-needed boost to housing supply across Victoria — particularly in regional areas where lack of access to culturally appropriate housing is deeply felt,” he said.

“It means more families can stay connected to Country, culture and community, while building the capacity of the Aboriginal housing sector to meet the needs of a growing population.”

State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes also welcomed the build.

“This investment to build homes for Aboriginal Victorians will mean 58 more families in Shepparton have a roof over their heads and a safe and secure place to call home,” she said.

Ms Shing said by working closely with First Nations housing organisations, the government was “making sure homes that get built for Aboriginal Victorians are designed and managed in a way that reflects the needs of their communities”.

Treaty and First Peoples Minister Natalie Hutchins said the investment would help ensure more Aboriginal Victorians had access to safe, secure and culturally appropriate housing that was “designed and delivered by organisations that know their communities best”.