Elders’ Meeting

During Homelessness Week 2020 the Ngulluk Koolunga Ngulluk Koort Elder Co-researchers took the opportunity to speak on housing and homelessness issues to the Hon. Simone McGurk Minister for Child Protection; Women’s Interests; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; Community Services.

Facilitating the conversation between the Elders and the Minister was Shelter WA Board Member and Chair of Noongar Mia Mia Mr Gordon Cole who reflected on the solutions needed to increase housing supply and end homelessness for Aboriginal people.

Future of Aboriginal Children

Housing has been articulated as a key concern in virtually all community consultations around the Noongar Native Title Settlement process and in a major research project undertaken by the Telethon Kids Institute. The Elders Co-researchers are accountable to the broader Perth Aboriginal community and more specifically, have a cultural responsibility to secure a better future for all Aboriginal children. It is hard to have a bright future if you don’t have a safe, secure and affordable place to call home that meets your cultural needs and family obligations.

The conversations highlighted the continual challenges facing Aboriginal people in obtaining suitable housing. These issues were highlighted in the Shelter WA Metropolitan Aboriginal Housing Forum.

Further Meetings

The Minister gave a commitment to ongoing engagement with the Elders in partnership with and the Hon Peter Tinley AM MLA the Minister for Housing.

These discussions will progress the actions needed to end homelessness for Aboriginal peoples by harnessing the strengths and capabilities of Aboriginal people and the Aboriginal Community Controlled sector ensuring the that housing and homelessness solutions are culturally designed and culturally lead by First Nations people in WA.