On 14 March 2017, Mr Stanley Tipiloura and Ms Viviana Wanambi became the first remote residents and Tiwi Islanders to purchase their own three-bedroom home in Wurrumiyanga under the Northern Territory’s Sale of Public Housing Policy. They joined another 15 Tiwi families who have been able to purchase their own homes since the Wurrumiyanga township lease commenced in 2007. Mr Tipiloura and Ms Wanambi were able to access finance from Indigenous Business Australia to put the required deposit on the house.
While having the chance to buy a home is taken for granted by many Australians, it is an opportunity not available for many Aboriginal people living in remote Northern Territory communities. However under the township lease model, public housing residents can purchase their homes with the land secured through a long term sublease. A long term home ownership sublease allows home owners to invest in their property, potentially increasing its value and providing an asset that can be sold on or handed down to future generations.
Mr Tipiloura said that home ownership was something he had always wanted.
“It’s every father’s dream to be able to own his own home for his family and his future; I am very lucky that this has happened... This will make a big difference to their futures,” Mr Tipiloura said.