Shelter WA supports the Voice to Parliament
Shelter WA is proud to join our partners in Western Australia and across the country advocating for a Yes Vote in the Voice to Parliament referendum taking place on Saturday, October 14 2023.
The importance of place has always been a source of strength for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, however all the statistics show that Aboriginal people are marginalised by housing markets are over-represented among the homeless population and are more likely than other Australians to have unmet housing needs.
Specialist Homelessness Services
In WA, while Aboriginal people represent 3.3 per cent of the WA population, they represented 50.5 percent of Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) clients in 2020-21. (1) These figures have been worsening over the last five years.
Shelter WA’s vision is for all Aboriginal people to have access to a safe, affordable and appropriate home that enables them to thrive. We believe that the principle of self-determination must underpin the delivery of housing and homelessness services for Aboriginal people making the Voice to Parliament essential.
Critically Important
Acting CEO Paula O’Leary says the Voice to Parliament will ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices are heard on matters that are critically important, especially when it comes to resourcing for housing.
“Shelter WA remains worried about the prevalence of overcrowding, poor living conditions and homelessness affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities,” Paula said. “The Voice provides long overdue constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It will ensure there is a platform for people to provide advice to Parliament and government on policy issues that impact their lives, including helping to Close the Gap in housing outcomes.”
“The Voice provides long overdue constitutional recognition”
Shelter WA are privileged to work alongside the Aboriginal community housing and homelessness sectors, and much of our work is guided by their cultural knowledge, and lived experience. We currently have two projects working to support Aboriginal people.
Capacity Building Project
The ACHO (Aboriginal Community Housing Organisation) Capacity Building Project supported by the Sisters of St John of God involves four ACHOs: Noongar Mia Mia (Perth), Murchison Region Aboriginal Corporation (Geraldton), Goldfields Indigenous Housing Organisation (Kalgoorlie) and Southern Aboriginal Corporation (Albany). Shelter WA is working with these organisations to support them to build on their strengths and facilitating a collective capability supported by the technical expertise shared across the organisations. A major goal of the project is for the ACHOs to achieve and maintain registration as a community housing organisation.
Secondly, the ACHO (Aboriginal Community Housing Organisation) Sector Strengthening Project supported by the Department of Communities aims to bring the entire ACHO sector together through peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, resource exchange and relationship building, which will lay the foundations for a stronger and more resilient sector.
Shelter WA believes that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must be recognised in the Australian Constitution and deserve a say in the policy decisions that affect their lives. We support the Voice to Parliament, to advance the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Campaign Resources
Shelter WA encourage our members and supporters to support the Yes campaign. For more information, sign up to Yes23 and get a call back about how to be involved. You can also sign up to events via the Yes23 website and attend training, door-knocking, flyering and general awareness events about how you can support the campaign.
WACOSS Door-knocking
A really strong way to show your support and help the Yes campaign is to go doorknocking! WACOSS have been helping coordinate doorknocking teams and have identified the following areas where undecided voters are receptive and great conversations are happening.
Training is provided on the day and you’ll be part of a team making a huge difference.
| Suburb | Date | Time | RSVP Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brabham | Saturday 30 | 10:00am | RSVP Here. |
| Pearsall | Saturday 30 | 2:00pm | RSVP Here. |
| Armadale | Sunday 1 | 10:00am | RSVP Here. |
| Orelia | Sunday 1 | 2:30pm | RSVP Here. |
| Bertram | Sunday 8 | 12:00pm | RSVP Here. |
(1) Productivity Commission (2022) Report on Government Services. Part G: Housing and Homelessness. Table 19A.4.
