Memorandum of Understanding between the Gumala Aboriginal Corporation and Western Australia

Date: 24 November 2005
Sub Category:Memorandum of Understanding
Place:
State/Country:Western Australia, Australia
Alternative Names:
  • MOU between Western Australian and Gumala Aboriginal Corporation
  • Subject Matter:
    Summary Information:
    The Memorandum of Understanding between the Gumala Aboriginal Corporation and Western Australia ('the MOU') was signed by the Housing and Works Minister of Western Australia, Francis Logan, and representatives of the Gumala Aboriginal Corporation outside the Western Australian Parliament House on 24 November 2005. The MOU is 'designed to help redress the historically low rate of Aboriginal home ownership' - for '[o]nly 27 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Western Australia own their own homes' (DHW 2005). The Minister for Housing and Works has stated that '[w]e would like this initiative to become a model for future cooperation between the Department of Housing and Works and groups such as Gumala - a cooperative approach that will effectively foster increased Aboriginal home ownership.'
    Detailed Information:
    The MOU is designed to: - raise awareness of existing choices in home ownership; - expand the current range of product options; - develop further product options, including perhaps 'shared-equity schemes for Gumala members earning more than the Homeswest maximum income limit' and 'cooperative marketing of the existing [Department of Housing and Works] loan schemes and future initiatives under [the] MOU'. The last two points especially aim to enable Gumala members 'to overcome the obstacles of housing affordability and existing debts'. Gumala members live mainly in Tom Price as well as in South Hedland, Perth and other parts of Western Australia. It is planned that the MOU will build upon existing programs, such as the Aboriginal Home Ownership Scheme (AHOS) and Keystart schemes. As at 20 June 2006, a 'new shared equity loan arrangement to improve access to home ownership' was being developed for members of the Gumala Aboriginal Corporation. Loan packages had been sent to members of the Corporation for their consideration (Hon Kate Doust, Hansard 2006). The MOU is to be tabled in the Western Australian Parliament (Hon Kate Doust, Parliamentary Question 2005).

    Related Entries

    Organisation
  • Gumala Aboriginal Corporation - Signatory
  • State of Western Australia - Signatory

  • References

    Aboriginal Housing and Infrastructure, Western Australia (2006) Signed, sealed, delivered: better housing outcomes for Aboriginal people to flow from Gumala MOU signing
    Media Release
    Department of Housing and Works, Western Australia (2005) Signing to open doors for Aboriginal home ownership
    Resource
    Mr FM Logan, Minister for Housing and Works, Western Australia (2005) Gumala Aboriginal Corporation, Memorandum of Understanding (Statement by Minister for Housing and Works)
    Hon Kate Doust, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Housing and Works, Western Australia (2006) Affordable Housing Initiatives (Response to Parliamentary Question)

    Glossary

    Memorandum of Understanding