Testimonials and achievements

The Homelands Housing and Infrastructure Program (HHIP) has marked a major milestone with the completion of the Utopia Cluster project. Commencing in June 2023 at Atheley homeland, works were conducted throughout an addition 4 homelands, with works officially completed on 17 September 2025 with the handover of upgraded dwellings in Arlparra homeland.

Over two years, the project delivered essential infrastructure across six homelands, benefitting 42 dwellings in the process. These upgrades included the addition of new bedrooms, cooling equipment such as air conditioning and fans, wind breaks, and essential safety and maintenance works – bringing lasting improvements to health, comfort and wellbeing of residents.

Arlparra resident Ms Ruby Moreton, who lives with her children and grandchildren, expressed deep appreciation for the upgrades:

“We are very excited to receive the keys to our home with all the upgrades. This is the first time major works have been done to our family home, where I have raised my children and grandchildren. It gets very hot in the summer, and we didn’t have any aircon or fans before these works, so we really love all the work done to cool our home with aircons in the bedrooms and the fans on the front veranda.”

The project was delivered by contractors Aboriginal Enterprises Australia NT, who were proud to support the Utopia region through this program.

Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Tawhai Carter said:

“Aboriginal Enterprises Australia NT feel truly honoured and privileged to have had the opportunity to partner with NTG via the Homelands Housing and Infrastructure Program to deliver much needed housing and infrastructure upgrade works for the residents of the Utopia Homelands region. The knowledge that these families now have safer, improved functionality and living conditions within in their own homes is so rewarding.”

Tucked away 244 km north of Alice Springs, 10 Mile Outstation is a tiny homeland made up of just 2 homes – one for a mother, and the other for her daughter and partner.

Recently, these homes were given a fresh start thanks to the Homelands Housing and Infrastructure Program. Works started in late 2024 and were completed in June 2025, providing the family with more secure and sustainable properties on their country.

These upgrades included enhanced outdoor spaces, which saw the daughter’s yard cleared and turned into a garden she is proud of.

She spoke with excitement about utilising the space for visitors and heading to Bunnings to pick up more plants. Having their home and yard upgraded on land that holds deep significance was a meaningful experience for the family.

‘This homeland is a very special place for myself and my mother.’

The improvements were delivered by Yapa-Kurlangu Aboriginal Corporation in partnership with Atyunpe Constructions, an Aboriginal owned business. The works at 10 Mile, along with projects at Arrunge and Pulardi outstations, were the first delivered by the new company – a significant milestone for the business.

These upgrades support our goals to help Aboriginal families stay connected to country, with homes they feel comfortable and proud to live in.

A family living in the remote homeland of Dons Bore, 301km north of Alice Springs, has received the first completed housing upgrade under the 2024 - 2027 Homelands Housing and Infrastructure Program funding agreement; an extension of the 2022 - 2024 program.

The small community with a single dwelling is home to a close-knit family of 7 - a mother, her niece, her son and his wife, and their three young children.

Yapa-Kurlangu Aboriginal Corporation worked in partnership with Elevate Construction Solutions to carry out essential repairs and housing improvements.

These included:

• an upgraded kitchen
• new enclosed laundry and bathroom
• doors and windows secured for a greater safety
• brand new solar and battery system, providing sustainable and reliable power to the household.

Construction began in March 2025 and was completed in June, with the upgraded home officially handed back to the family shortly after.

For the primary resident – a mother and long-time member of the community – the upgrade means more than improved infrastructure; it represents a chance to return to country and raise her family in a safer, stronger and more suitable home.

As the program continues, more families across the Territory will benefit from upgrades that not only improve living standards but strengthen their connection to homeland and culture.

Mungkarta homeland, about a one-hour drive south of Tennant Creek and home to 55 locals, is celebrating the completion of all scheduled housing upgrades under the Homelands Housing and Infrastructure program (HHIP), a partnership between the Northern Territory (NT) and Australian Government to deliver urgent housing upgrades in remote areas.

With $3.6M allocated to support Munakata, the program saw 13 homes upgraded to enhance the health, safety, and wellbeing of residents. Following 9 Healthy Living Practices, based on HealthHabitat Housing for Health website, many families received improvements to their washing and food storage facilities, temperature control systems, and support to reduce dust exposure and overcrowding, among other health hardware.

Our team worked closely with Barkly Plumbing Services, who was awarded the contract to complete the renovations after a competitive application process in November 2023.

Barkly Plumbing Services manager Sam Cuzner said his team enjoyed working alongside the community.

‘I would like to say thank you for having us here. All the workers said the people of Mungkarta are beautiful people and looked after us and kept us safe, which made it very easy for us to be able to do our work on your homes.’

Mungkarta Traditional Owner Mr John Dougie expressed gratitude for the improvements.

‘Houses look great. I am happy with all the houses. Barkly Plumbing Services did a good job and were good with the community. We especially love the new verandas. We thank you mob for making these houses for us.’

Since 2023, the Australian Government has invested $220 million in HHIP, while the NT government has contributed $40 million annually to support essential services in Aboriginal homelands. So far, 151 out of 298 scheduled homes have been completed.

Learn more about HHIP and follow the journey.

The Birany Birany homeland in the East Arnhem region, approximately 2 hours from Nhulunbuy, has welcomed a new solar Bushlight system which is delivering continuous, reliable power to 6 housing dwellings, replacing a diesel generator the community had previously relied on.

The new system has cut power costs, reduced environmental impact and brought a more sustainable energy solution to the community.

This project is part of a major investment through the Homelands Housing and Infrastructure Program (HHIP), which is delivering major power upgrades across homelands in Northern Territory (NT). The project was completed in collaboration with the Outback Power Program, which receives funding from the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) to deliver repairs and maintenance to select community-owned power systems. Read more about the NT Wide Program.

In October 2022, the NT Government and Australian Government entered into a $100 million homeland grant agreement to roll out urgent repairs and infrastructure upgrades in remote homelands, across a 2‑year period. Then, in 2024, both governments agreed to invest a further $120 million, across 3 years, to continue critical repairs, maintenance, and infrastructure projects under HHIP.

As part of this commitment, $2 million per year, from 2024 through to 2027, has been allocated to the NT Wide Program, which focuses on improving access to essential services such as water, power, and sanitation across NT homelands. By September 2025, 15 homelands will have received infrastructure upgrades through allocations the2024 to 2025 program.

The Homelands services provider for this homeland, Deltareef, continues to play a vital role in delivering housing, municipal and essential services in the community. To find more about the provider, go to the Deltareef website.

This latest upgrade is part of a broader push to ensure that homelands across the NT are not only maintained but improved, providing a stronger foundation for residents to live safely, healthily and with dignity.

The winners of the 2024 Chief Minister’s Awards for Excellence in the Public Sector were announced on Friday 8 November 2024 at the Public Sector Gala Dinner.

The Homelands Housing and Infrastructure Program (HHIP), proudly won the Advancing Aboriginal and Community Development category.

The Homelands Housing and Infrastructure Program (HHIP) invests $40 million per annum over 3 years to continue urgent repairs and upgrades in homelands throughout the Northern Territory.

It’s an incredibly important program that ensures Aboriginal people and their families living in some of the most remote parts of the Territory have the housing they need.

HHIP works closely with Aboriginal community members and land councils to ensure that local decision making informs the program and regional work plans.