The Coolamon Project

Activities have been designed to address priority areas of growth and development across eighteen (18) business domains crucial to ACHPs’ success, with Closing the Gap principles providing an overarching lens to guide and shape ongoing actions.

ACHIA NSW actively fosters a consistent cycle of feedback to evolve The Coolamon Project’s offerings through regular engagement with the ACHP sector, tracking the type and volume of issues and opportunities arising in relation to each Domain through fortnightly NRSCH registered CEO Forums, monthly Owning Provider CEO Forums, our annual Aboriginal Housing Caucus and customised engagements/consultations.

ACHIA NSW Members get access to The Coolamon Project’s entire resource bank.

Access the Member’s Portal.

If you’re not an ACHIA Member, apply for Membership today.

Core and Cluster

Core and Cluster is a NSW government program delivered by the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) to establish transitional accommodation and support facilities around NSW for women and children leaving domestic and family violence, supporting them to transition through to the next stage of life. Core and Cluster is an innovative model that allows for independent living and privacy while also providing access to supports, many of which are on-site.

ACHIA NSW’s Core and Cluster Sector Capacity and Capability Building Program prioritises Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, regionally based projects, and smaller organisations with less than $5 million in revenue each year to assess readiness and participate, as appropriate, in Core and Cluster procurement which rolled out in three (3) tranches.

To enable this, ACHIA NSW worked in partnership with Homelessness NSW (HNSW) and Domestic Violence NSW (DVNSW) to deliver these resources during the procurement stages:

• Grants up to $20,000 available for organisations who require one-off financial support
• Targeted resources, factsheets, tools and information
• Dedicated webinars and events

ACHIA NSW’s work doesn’t stop at procurement assistance. We’ve been following up with ACCOs commissioned to provide Core and Cluster services through the establishment and early life-cycle period. ACHIA NSW provides support, information sharing, training, consultation, resource development, and access to a Community of Practice to ACHPs and other ACCOs that applied and were successful through the 3 Core and Cluster procurement tranches. As our Members and their portfolio types grow, ACHIA will continue to use The Coolamon Project to address priority areas of growth and development.

For more information about Core and Cluster for ACHPs in NSW, contact Eleanor McCall, Manager – Domestic & Family Violence Services, at eleanor.m@achiansw.org.au.

Networking and Collaborating

Some of our major networking and collaboration events are:

• ACHIA NSW Aboriginal Housing Caucus – The ACHIA NSW Aboriginal Housing Caucus is a pivotal multi-day event held annually since 2019 for all Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations that provide housing to mob in NSW. Caucus keeps ACHPs connected, builds relationships with key stakeholders that support and advance our work, and affords us the chance to network together and co-design solutions to the housing issues that affect Aboriginal people.
• Deadly Housing Summits – ACHIA NSW held its inaugural Deadly Housing Summit in May 2024. Deadly Housing Summits offer the opportunity to NRSCH Registered Members of ACHIA NSW to hear from, connect with and have ‘speed relating sessions’ with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).
• CEO Forums – ACHIA NSW host two CEO Forums series: for NRSCH registered ACHPs and ACHPs (LALCs and Aboriginal Corporations) that own and operate other Aboriginal community housing. Forums provide a platform for ACHPs to connect with each other, keep up to date, share experiences, and build professional relationships that can ultimately lead to collaboration, understanding and opportunities.
• ACHP One-Off or Consultation Series – Whenever a significant issue affects the ACHP sector, ACHIA facilitate consultation with the sector. It enables the ACHPs voices to guide the tenor of our advocacy to government and other influential stakeholders, with the ultimate aim of opening up new opportunities. ACHIA have held special consultation events as part of a sector strengthening response to COVID-19, the launch of a new government housing initiative and the introduction of sector-wide contractual changes.
• Government Committees – ACHIA NSW participates in Government Committees, Working Groups and Forums to build relationships and advocate for ACHPs. Across a range of Government Agencies, using the valued contribution of Members, ACHIA NSW seeks to ensure the Sector’s growth and influence decision-making to build a stronger and viable Sector that can continue to meet the housing needs of its communities.

Capacity and Capability Uplift