A new report released today by the Australian Institute of
Health and Welfare shows that not only is Indigenous homeownership
increasing, but other areas of Indigenous housing are also showing
improvement.
According to the report, Indigenous housing indicators
2005-06, the number of Indigenous households who owned or were
purchasing their home increased by almost 10,000 from 46,224 in
2001 to 56,027 in 2006, or from 32% to 34% of all Indigenous
households.
'Data indicates that improvements are also being made in
alleviating overcrowding and securing more access to essential
services,' said Ms Helen Johnstone of the Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Health and Welfare Unit.
The proportion of overcrowded Indigenous households fell from
14.7% in 2001 to 12.4% in 2006, and over the same period there was
a decrease in the number and proportion of Indigenous Community
Housing dwellings that had no organised sewerage system or water
supply.
But areas of concern remain. Over one third households in
Indigenous Community Housing were overcrowded in 2006. There were
also 51 dwellings in Indigenous communities that had no organised
sewerage system and 85 that had no organised electricity
supply.
In addition, 30% (6,674) of Indigenous Community Housing
dwellings were in poor condition.
The report also highlights greater access to social housing. The
proportion of Indigenous households in public housing increased
from 5.9% to 6.3%, and the proportion of Indigenous households in
receipt of Commonwealth Rent Assistance increased from 2.4% to
3.2%.
Since 2001 the number of Indigenous housing organisations has
fallen from about 600 to just under 500 in 2006, partly due to
rationalisations.
There were 166,671 Indigenous households in 2006, representing
2.3% of all Australian households. Of these, 34% were home owners
or purchasers, 30% were private or other renters, 20% were renting
from state or territory housing authorities, and 9% were renting
from Indigenous or mainstream community organisations.
18 October 2007
Further information: Ms Helen Johnstone, AIHW,
tel. 02 6244 1259, mob 0418 271 395
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. 61 2 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for the availability of Indigenous housing
indicators 2005-06.