WA government ‘pathway’ toasts Indigenous FHB success

The initial success of Western Australia’s first four Aboriginal families buying their own homes through a program called “Jalbi Jiya” — which means “your home” in the language of the Yawuru people — is “transformative” and “life-changing”, the McGowan state government has described.

The Jalbi Jiya program was established in 2020 and provides a pathway to home ownership for Aboriginal families and is funded through the McGowan government’s $200 million North West Aboriginal Housing Fund (NWAHF).

The $9.7 million program is delivered and co-designed by Nyamba Buru Yawuru Limited.

An interim evaluation of Jalbi Jiya undertaken in mid-2022 found the program to be delivering “positive life outcomes” for participants just 12 months after its inception, it added.

According to the government, since entering the program 32.4 per cent of participants have reported an increase in net wealth; with 40 per cent and 33 per cent supported to achieve their employment and training goals, respectively.

There are 25 houses in the program, acquired with $9.7 million of NWAHF funding provided in 2020, of which 14 are occupied by families looking to purchase their own home, it confirmed.

Currently, eight homes are being used as long-term rentals to provide stable and affordable rental accommodation for families, many of whom are “contemplating home ownership” in the future, while another three have been purchased by program participants, it said.

The program also supports culturally informed support services, along with property and tenancy management services.

Four Aboriginal families in Broome have now become first home owners via the Jalbi Jiya housing program.

Mortgage lending helped drive success

Subiaco-based lender Keystart provided finance to the first family — Mervyn and Cathryn — to become home owners via the Jalbi Jiya program, purchasing an eight-year-old home in Broome.

Keystart highlights that: “We want to set our customers up for success. We take our responsible lending obligations seriously as we want to provide our customers with the required level of financial comfort when meeting home loan repayments.”

“We check every applicant’s situation carefully to ensure that our customers will be able to afford home loan repayments without getting into financial difficulty.”

According to Keystart, it funds the home loans it provides “from a number of sources”.

It explained: “Predominately this is through the Western Australian Treasury Corporation, which is the state government’s central financial services provider, working with its clients to assist them to achieve sound financial risk management outcomes.”

“Other sources of funding include private sector financial institutions.

“In 2016, Keystart partnered with Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, who acquired part of Keystart’s loan portfolio via equitable assignment.”

As explained, the entity began in 1989 as an initiative of the WA state government. The relationship has continued over time with “ongoing support from successive state governments”, it confirmed.

“We are a private organisation with one shareholder, the Housing Authority.”

Not just housing confidence

The Jalbi Jiya program is just part of an overall objective of the North-West Aboriginal Housing Fund.

As the government explained, the fund is expected to achieve increased school attendance for Aboriginal children; increased participation in jobs and training; apprenticeships for young people; eventual home ownership for some families; and significant services and construction contracts for Aboriginal organisations.

In terms of the area covered, it aims to “create pathways” towards “social and economic independence and wellbeing” for Aboriginal people in the Pilbara and Kimberley areas of WA.

The fund invests in projects that “empower Aboriginal people and communities” by increasing opportunities for suitable and stable housing options for Aboriginal people outside of the public housing system; employment and training; educational attainment; economic development and capacity building for Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and businesses, it outlined.

Connection to community

WA Housing Minister John Carey commented: “Jalbi Jiya means ‘your home’ in the language of the Yawuru people, the Traditional Owners of Broome.”

“The McGowan government is deeply proud to be partnering with Nyamba Buru Yawuru in delivering the Jalbi Jiya program.

“After 12 months of operation, the Jalbi Jiya program delivered by Nyamba Buru Yawuru is proving to be a successful model in improving the lives of Aboriginal families.

“Our Government is focused on delivering a Housing First Approach as providing someone with a home can be transformative and life-changing.

“A home provides stability, safety, connection to community and is at the core of improving a person’s overall wellbeing."

Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna added: “With four Aboriginal families becoming proud new homeowners just two years into the program, I’m proud to see the Jalbi Jiya program is making a positive difference.”

“I commend Nyamba Buru Yawuru for their commitment to continuous improvement and their firm focus on the needs and goals of individuals in the program,” she explained

[Related: Homes for Homes opens funding to NSW, WA]