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This is a RCIADIC recommendation
323
Funding for homemaker schemes
That:
a) Increased funding be made available to Aboriginal community groups for the implementation of homemaker schemes. Groups that may be appropriate to receive such funding should include women's groups, housing organisations and community councils; and
b) Adult education providers, and particularly Aboriginal community-controlled adult education providers, be encouraged and supported to provide:
i. courses in homemaking and domestic budgeting; and
ii. courses for training Aboriginal persons as community advisers and teachers in homemaking.
These programs build on women’s resilience to navigate everyday stressors in life and work to break down social isolation.
Aboriginal Justice Caucus Assessment
Recommendation 323 intended for governments to fund Aboriginal communities and support Aboriginal education providers to offer courses relevant to household management – planning, budgeting, health and safety and related skills.
The Aboriginal Justice Caucus (AJC) determined that actions taken partly aligned with the intent of this recommendation. While the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing stated that this recommendation was outside their portfolio responsibilities, they noted the Aboriginal Tenancies at Risk and Aboriginal Private Rental Assistance programs which can support individuals and families with housing-related challenges.
The AJC found there was more information available about outputs than outcomes. The response from the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions outlined a range of relevant training modules in health and safety, budgeting and personal financial management as part of Certificates II and III in General Adult Education, but there had been a relatively small number of Aboriginal enrolments between 2018 and 2023. An Introduction to Essential Budgeting Skills course was provided by Worn Gundidj in response to local community needs.
Some aspects of Recommendation 323 were no longer considered relevant. Aboriginal Housing Victoria noted some of the language was outdated and a broader focus on household management and life skills may be more apt. The Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated reflected on the challenges of assessing the relevance and necessity of specific training courses.
Priority for Further Work:
Moderate
Relevance and potential impact | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Low (0-2) | Moderate (3-4) | High (5-6) | |||
Extent of action taken and evidence of outcomes | High (5-6) | ||||
Moderate (3-4) | |||||
Low (0-2) | |||||
Potential Actions for Further Work
Expand the Aboriginal Tenancies at Risk and Aboriginal Private Rental Assistance Programs
Extend initiatives that support Aboriginal tenants with household and financial management skills, so they are available to more people.
Investigate community needs for training related to household management
Investigate Aboriginal community needs for training related to household management – maintenance, planning, budgeting, health and safety, financial management etc – and preferred ways to access it.
Explore opportunities for community-driven courses related to household management
Explore opportunities with Adult Community and Further Education and Learn Locals for community-driven, pre-accredited courses related to household and financial management.
Background
The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC) promoted an 'alternative agenda' that integrated housing considerations into broader community programs, supported by block grants for greater Aboriginal autonomy. The RCIADIC highlighted the need for education on the financial burdens of house occupancy and maintenance. It was envisaged that increasing funding for Aboriginal community-controlled organisations to offer homemaker schemes could assist communities to determine their own housing priorities.
The RCIADIC advocated for Aboriginal adult education providers to be supported to provide courses covering areas such as home maintenance, financial administration and other skills that supported decision-making in relation to housing.
Actions Taken Since Last Review
Response from the Department of Fairness, Families and Housing (Homes Victoria)
Homes Victoria clarified that Recommendation 323 was outside of its portfolio responsibilities and suggested information be requested from the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions. They noted that whilst Homes Victoria does not fund homemaking or domestic budgeting courses, it does have programs in place that support individuals and families to maintain their tenancies:
• The Aboriginal Tenancies at Risk Program uses an intensive case management and support model to assist Aboriginal people living in mainstream, public housing, community housing, or housing provided by Aboriginal Housing Victoria (AHV). Brokerage is provided to support people whose tenancies are at risk due to financial or other difficulties.
• The Aboriginal Private Rental Assistance Program provides support to Aboriginal people experiencing or at risk of homelessness to either maintain their existing private rental tenancy or to secure a new private rental tenancy. Outreach support is provided to households requiring additional help to establish or maintain their housing.
Response from the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industries and Regions
The department acknowledged the importance of empowering Aboriginal communities, promoting self-determination and ensuring autonomy in decision-making about housing and homemaking. The department indicated their commitment to encouraging and supporting adult education providers, particularly in the Aboriginal community-controlled sector, to offer courses of relevance to this recommendation. They noted that Worn Gundidj Aboriginal Co-Operative, an adult education provider based in Warrnambool, was delivering a course called Introduction to Essential Budgeting Skills.
The department identified other relevant government funded courses:
• Certificate II in General Education for Adults which includes modules on investigating Indigenous history, contributing to the health and safety of self and others, developing and using savings plans and developing and using personal budgets.
• Certificate III in General Education for Adults which includes modules on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, history and influence.
• Certificate II in Work Education which includes modules on developing and applying knowledge of personal finances.
As outlined in response to Recommendations 197 and 202, the department also funds courses related to accounting and bookkeeping, subsidised through the Skill First Aboriginal Access Fee Waiver. While not directly related to this recommendation, those courses have the capacity to be accessed by Aboriginal learners to support home making skills and budgeting.
Impact
Outputs
Aboriginal enrolments in relevant courses from 2018 to November 2023:
Course Name; Module; Enrolments (2018-2023)
- Certificate I in Mumgu-dhal tyama-tiyt; Contribute to health and safety of self and others; 23
- Certificate II in General Education for Adults; Contribute to health and safety of self and others; 37
- Certificate II in General Education for Adults; Develop and use a personal budget; 26
- Certificate II in General Education for Adults; Investigate Indigenous history; 49
- Certificate III in General Education for Adults Develop and apply knowledge of personal finances; 3
Outcomes
The Introduction to Essential Budgeting Skills course was developed in response to community need for more education and knowledge around financial management and budgeting identified by people engaged with Worn Gundidj. This course supports learners to develop financial management skills to enhance independence and encourage sustainable money management.
Community Views
Djirra
Djirra noted that in their work with Aboriginal women and children, in addition to providing frontline services for safety, they also develop and deliver early intervention programs – Sisters Day Out, Young Luv and Dilly Bag, which assist women to navigate common challenges:
These programs build on women’s resilience to navigate everyday stressors in life and work to break down social isolation.’
Djirra stressed the need for greater investment in Aboriginal organisations and self-determined solutions.
Aboriginal Housing Victoria
Members of the AJC Project and AHV teams met in July 2024 to discuss RCIADC recommendations related to housing. AHV noted that a broader focus on life skills might more appropriately capture the intent of this recommendation, rather than ‘homemaking’.
Initiatives such as the Aboriginal Private Rental Assistance Program assist Aboriginal tenants with life skills, budgeting and financial management. Expanding these initiatives is necessary to ensure they are available to all renters.
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated
VAEAI commented that Recommendation 323 remains relevant, but it’s challenging to assess the relevance and necessity of specific courses. Further investigation of Aboriginal community needs around budgeting and household management related training would be useful. Additionally, VAEAI suggested exploring opportunities with Adult Community and Further Education and Learn Locals for community-driven, pre-accredited courses in this area
Related Recommendations
- See also
- External Recommendation VIC GOV 2020 5.2