‘Ningulangu’ is now officially open and ready to house Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders, providing safe and secure housing for older Canberrans to age peacefully in place.
First Nations elders were welcomed to the third public housing project, opened today, Monday 21 Feburary, with its name meaning ‘belonging to; home, place’.
The homes will provide residents with a connection to country by surrounding the development with native plants, said Minister for Housing and Suburban Development, Yvette Berry.
“The ACT Government is committed to building more and better public housing, because everyone deserves a safe and secure place to call home,” Ms Berry said.
“It’s been great to see the collaboration between the ACT Government and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body to design a culturally appropriate development that meets the needs of tenants.”
The ability for elders to maintain an active and independent lifestyle has been incorporated into the design of the homes, with the location close to shops, public transport, health services, and community facilities.
With a minimum 6-Star energy efficiency rating, the five single-storey homes all feature two bedrooms and are designed with flexibility for any changing household needs.
The ACT Government say they’re committed to developing and providing culturally appropriate housing options for Canberra’s First Nations people, which includes supporting the establishment of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled housing provider and working with the Elected Body.
These homes complete the ACT Government’s 2018-2019 Budget commitment of $4.488 million over two years to provide 10 dedicated and long-term public homes for older Indigenous Canberrans.
Ningulangu follows the Gundji Gindilan in Lyons and Mura Gunya in Kambah projects, with a total of 15 homes being delivered to date across the ACT for Indigenous elders.
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