Leaders from across Australia will gather in Adelaide this September for the 2025 National First Nations Housing & Homelessness Forum, a landmark event committed to advancing sustainable, culturally safe housing solutions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Hosted by Aventedge, with the support of Aboriginal Hostels Limited and the Wilya Janta Housing Collaboration, the forum will run from 9–11 September 2025 at the InterContinental Adelaide.
Guided by an advisory board of esteemed First Nations leaders, the theme for this year’s gathering is ‘Investing in First Nations Housing Strategy & the Strength of Self-Determination’.
The forum aims to confront the persistent housing and homelessness challenges facing First Nations communities nationwide, with a strong emphasis on community-led approaches that affirm cultural identity and local decision-making.
More than a conference, the event is designed as a collaborative space where government agencies, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), housing providers, financial institutions, social service leaders, and representatives from construction and design sectors can come together to forge solutions.
Among the featured highlights is a keynote address by Chansey Paech MLA, Northern Territory Shadow Minister for Housing, Local Government and Community Development.
Paech will outline a 10-year vision for housing investment across remote NT communities and homelands, examining culturally safe tenancy models and innovative partnership opportunities with ACCOs, such as shared equity and build-to-rent housing initiatives.
Other notable sessions include Cheryl Axleby, Head of Aboriginal Housing at SA Housing Trust, and Mitzy Nam, Chairperson of Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation, who will present the Purrkanaitya Elders Village model.
Their discussion will explore how aging in place strategies can strengthen connections to Country, family, and belonging.
Delegates will also be invited to participate in an On-Country Cultural Workshop with Kaurna Elder Allan Sumner, followed by a Port River Cultural Cruise — experiences designed to deepen understanding of cultural heritage, wellbeing, and housing’s role in maintaining community connection.
Interactive panels and case studies will feature leading voices, including Gail Beck OAM (Ruah Community Services), Michael Hromek (WSP), and Simon Quilty and Jimmy Frank Jupurrurla (Wilya Janta Housing Collaboration), alongside CEOs Dermot Walsh (Aboriginal Hostels Ltd) and Michael Rotumah (Larrakia Nation).
By bringing together diverse expertise and lived experience, the 2025 National First Nations Housing & Homelessness Forum aims to chart pathways toward long-term housing security, autonomy, and dignity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
