unique training for housing professionals
Noongar Housing First Principles
Mia Keny
The Noongar Housing First Principles (Mia Keny) are embedded in all of NMM’s services, designed and delivered by First Nations people, for First Nations people.
Our Work
The Noongar Housing First Principles have been developed to help housing providers and support service providers to create culturally safe environments and housing & support services for Noongar people experiencing homelessness, their families and communities. The Housing First Principles for Australia (HFPA) was used to guide the Noongar Housing First Principles (NHFP).
The NHFP are grounded in the concept of DOYNTJ-DOYNTJ KOORLINY - Going Along Together - to achieve greater collective impact through meaningful partnerships and strong relationships throughout the journey from homelessness to secure, stable and culturally safe housing.
Working with Noongar people requires an understanding of the importance of culture being embedded into all programs and service delivery. For Housing First interventions to be successful, all service providers must establish culturally safe and secure practices to recognise and respect Noongar culture as a source of great strength to the Noongar people and design & deliver services that meet the needs of “the Noongar community”, and the expectations and rights of individuals, families and communities.
By implementing these principles we can lay the foundation for reducing Aboriginal homelessness, improve Aboriginal health and ensure the well-being of all Noongar and Aboriginal peoples' boordawan – future.
The Noongar Housing First Principles were endorsed by the Telethon Kids Institute Ngulluk Koolunga Ngulluk Koort (Our Children, Our Heart) Elder Researchers on October 20, 2021.
This project was made possible through the generosity of Lotterywest. We would like to acknowledge WA Alliance to End Homelessness, Shelter WA, Wungening, Housing Choices WA and RUAH who supported their employees’ participation in this project.
Read our Introduction to the
Noongar Housing First Principles
[PDF]
NHFP Training for the housing sector
In 2023 NMM developed two NHFP training modules to explain the framework and principles, including case studies developed with staff members. Our team members who deliver the training have extensive experience of supporting community housing tenants and homeless First Nations people, as well as lived experience of housing insecurity and homelessness.
Since then we have trained over 150 housing professionals from over a dozen service providers in Western Australia. We are currently training Specialist Housing Services Providers such as the Salvation Army, RUAH, and MercyCare, in partnership with the Department of Communities.
In addition to the housing sector, we have provided training to community legal service practitioners, and partnered with housing and homelessness service providers on Gadigal and Dharug lands (Sydney) to adapt our Principles to other First Nations contexts.
Testimonials
“I feel it has changed my perspective on a
lot in my everyday life. For example, how
“forcing” someone to live in an area that is
miles away from their roots and their family
can be devastating, which I’m sure we can
all understand.”
“The training emphasised how culture
influences every aspect of life, including
housing choices. It was unique; I haven’t
come across any other training like it.”