ACHIA Aboriginal Community Housing Industry Association

ACHIA Aboriginal Community Housing Industry Association ACHIA NSW is the peak representative body for Aboriginal Community Housing Providers (ACHPs) and the Aboriginal housing sector in NSW.

We are a voice to government that is knowledgeable, experienced and connected to ACHPs urban, regional and remote. The Aboriginal Community Housing Industry Association NSW Limited (ACHIA NSW) is the peak body for Aboriginal Community Housing Providers (ACHPs) in NSW. We advocate for all not-for-profit, Aboriginal community-controlled ACHPs, including Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs) and oth

er organisations constituted under law, to provide housing opportunities to Aboriginal families and communities.

Regan Mitchell is a proud Wiradjuri-Ngunnawal woman, the Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy from...
20/08/2026

Regan Mitchell is a proud Wiradjuri-Ngunnawal woman, the Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy from Our Watch and serves on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Steering Committee of DVNSW.

Regan shared with us stories of pain, of struggle and some of the uncomfortable truth of men’s violence. She spoke about how Aboriginal women make impossible choices to protect their families but when help is needed, how few institutions stand up and provide them the help required.

As importantly, Regan proposed ways that the fight for change must continue, with strategies that men can use to back in the truth of women’s experiences. She encouraged men to hold a line of the inherent dignity and respect of the women in their lives, and to be a “tellable person”.

What’s a tellable person?

A man to whom women can disclose to and be believed. A man to whom other men can turn to get help to address their own behaviours and attitudes towards women.

Thoughtful, bold and honest conversations such as the one started by Regan makes our communities stronger.

This morning we were joined by a panel featuring our own Lisa Sampson and Lynne English, alongside Dom Rowe and Paula Co...
20/08/2026

This morning we were joined by a panel featuring our own Lisa Sampson and Lynne English, alongside Dom Rowe and Paula Coghill from Homelessness NSW, and Delia Donovan and Cecilia McKenzie from Domestic Violence NSW.

The conversation centred on moving beyond crisis responses and towards meaningful systemic change. Aboriginal women and children are subjected to a colonial and fragmented system that is often at odds with self-determination and cultural ways of being and doing.

With excellent accountability questions posed by the audience, the panel spoke about the need to create monumental change within our institutions - with those changes being designed and led by Aboriginal women.

Our communities have the solutions. Systems and governments must transform to make way for lasting, dignity-driven and culturally informed change, with funding that reflects the urgency and depth of the response required.

We need to ensure our systems of assistance are anti-racist and trauma-informed, and do not compound the weight and impacts of the experiences our women are already carrying.

We also need greater training, connection and support between our refuges, wrap around services, Aboriginal Community Housing Providers and other partners as they work alongside women navigating the unimaginable experiences of domestic violence, homelessness and housing insecurity.

May we continue walking with women to escape the cycle of violence, build homes filled with hope and dignity, where they and their jarjums (babies/children), can thrive.

Barbara Brennan, Managing Director of Bars Behind Me delivered an inspiring, deeply personal address first up for Day 2 ...
20/08/2026

Barbara Brennan, Managing Director of Bars Behind Me delivered an inspiring, deeply personal address first up for Day 2 of the 2026 ACHIA NSW Aboriginal-led and Managed Women’s and Children’s Refuges Summit.

Barb shared her story and her mission: to create spaces for sisters leaving prison to heal, recover and re-build their lives and futures of their families.

Aboriginal women are over-represented in the justice system. When transitioning out of the justice system, our women are faced with the impossible task of finding their way from their lowest points, without an exit plan and into homelessness.

Bars Behind Me is opening a healing centre in the Illawarra. They’re about to negotiate transitional housing as a key complementary element of the wrap around solution. This has been possible with philanthropic support. Government is playing catch up. Again.

Thank you, Barb, for sharing your story of resilience and strength.

For the final session of Day 1, Kristy Tansey, Principal Solicitor of the NSW/ACT Aboriginal Legal Service joined us to ...
19/08/2026

For the final session of Day 1, Kristy Tansey, Principal Solicitor of the NSW/ACT Aboriginal Legal Service joined us to present on the ongoing reality of Aboriginal families’ overrepresentation in out-of-home care and child protection, and the consequent engagement with the legal system.

The statistics tell a powerful story. In 1997, around 2,785 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were in out-of-home care. By 2015, this had risen to 15,455: 9.5 times the rate of non-Indigenous children. By 2021, around 19,500 of our children were in care.

Kristy explored the systemic challenges behind these numbers, including the over-surveillance of Aboriginal children and families, and the complex legal systems our communities are required to navigate.

Refuges and their staff are often the most trusted parties working with children and families whilst in extremis. They’re at the pointy end of supporting families and children through legal stressful proceedings.

Adroitly outlining some of the central complex legal system, spaces and issues at play, Kristy provided essential guidance on the relationship between Child Protection and Family Law.

This was an in-depth session with a lot of practical suggestions.

Aboriginal led and managed refuges can request a copy of the presentation from ACHIA NSW.

Sherry-Ann Toomey from AbSec, the NSW Child, Family and Community peak body, joined us to present on their work and key ...
19/08/2026

Sherry-Ann Toomey from AbSec, the NSW Child, Family and Community peak body, joined us to present on their work and key projects underway.

Established in 1999, AbSec operates on the principle that our children thrive when connected to family, kinship and community,.

AbSec’s remit and key projects cover:

🪴 Policy & Advocacy

🪴 Strong Families, Our Way

🪴 AbSec Carer Support

🪴 Aboriginal-led Commissioning

Go to their informative website for more information.

Through its Registered Training Organisation, AbSec provides high quality, accredited training for staff working in the out-of-home care and family support space.

AbSec contributed to the Draft Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Plan, calling for Aboriginal-led reform that keeps families together, strengthens cultural connection, improves accountability and shifts the focus from crisis to prevention, healing and family preservation.

Thank you Sherry-Anne for your time. Our peak partners are key parties that elevate the voices of those on the ground - organisations at the coalface and families with lived experience.

This afternoon, Keira Edwards from We Al-li, explored the many forms of trauma we experience and the ways our brains and...
19/08/2026

This afternoon, Keira Edwards from We Al-li, explored the many forms of trauma we experience and the ways our brains and bodies respond.

Trauma can put our brain into survival mode; ongoing exposure to stress can have lasting impacts. Keira guided us through the 6 stages of healing.

For those working with vicarious trauma, caring for ourselves cannot be an afterthought. We need to find ways to lighten the weight — and how we carry it.

Part of that weight can be cultural load: the additional responsibilities and expectations placed on our people because of our cultural identity, knowledge, relationships and community obligations. Alongside this is colonial load — the ongoing burden created by the impacts of colonisation and the systems and inequalities we continue to navigate.

Exposure to consistent and severe stress can increase our risk of chronic illness and disease. A powerful reminder that caring for ourselves is part of the work, not separate from it.

Thank you, Keira, for a session we’ll take with us and integrate into the ways we work.

1 in 6 Australian women have experienced financial abuse by a current or former partner.Tiffani Seaton from First Nation...
19/08/2026

1 in 6 Australian women have experienced financial abuse by a current or former partner.

Tiffani Seaton from First Nations Foundation led a wonderful interactive session exploring our stories and experiences of money and the challenges mob navigate.

In 1999, First Nations Foundation began as a credit union based in Shepparton, VIC. Financial institutions were not built with our ways in mind.

First Nations Foundation have a range of free resources and programs designed to provide education and support - which builds choice and empowerment. These include;

💙 My Money Dream — Self-paced free online training for individuals

💙 Financial Fitness — Builds on the modules and is delivered by the First Nations Foundation team or empower your organisation

💙 Financial Fitness Youth — training developed for our young ones, age 14-24), enabling them to start their journeys the right way

💙 Train-the-Trainer — A 2 day workshop designed to put the tools in the hands of the people who know their communities best.

💙 Rich Blak Women — Is a free to access program designed to empower our women

Aboriginal led and managed Refuges, as well as Core and Cluster services, can access the informative PDF of the slideshow (including excellent QR codes linking to tools) through ACHIA NSW.

Learn more about the First Nations Foundation’s programs on their website below.

https://firstnationsfoundation.org.au/programs

Penni Wildi and Natasha Cowan from Waminda - South Coast Women's Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Corp., an Aboriginal wome...
19/08/2026

Penni Wildi and Natasha Cowan from Waminda - South Coast Women's Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Corp., an Aboriginal women-led community organisation in South East NSW, presented. Waminda delivers through a shared leadership model. Its pillars?

Culture
Respect
Boldness
Accountability

Waminda’s workforce comprises 250 employees, approximately 80% of whom are Aboriginal people. The other 20% are “Imperfect Allies” - a key element that embraces introspection and commitment by non-Aboriginal staff, supporting them to hold themselves to account under the guidance of culturally authorised leadership.

Trauma informed holistic care provided by Waminda includes culturally safe birthing on country, health and wellbeing, crisis accommodation, justice and rehabilitation services. These empower healing and reconnect women with cultural and women’s business.

Mudgingaal Balaang (Spirit Protector), is Waminda’s women and children’s refuge. It provide culturally safe crisis accommodation and support for Aboriginal women and children experiencing violence or homelessness — creating a safe space to heal, reconnect and move forward.

Yatungka Gordon presented on the Breaking Silent Codes campaign. It launched at UNSW in 2018 and has since evolved into ...
19/08/2026

Yatungka Gordon presented on the Breaking Silent Codes campaign. It launched at UNSW in 2018 and has since evolved into a public movement.

Breaking Silent Codes elevates and supports women, breaking the shame connected to domestic, family and sexual violence. It was built on the vision to form a culturally safe space that uplifts women and their stories for change exploring the impacts of colonisation, dispossession, cultural disruption and systemic disadvantage our women, affecting access to safety for our women. Through reestablishing these connections we can help our women heal and recover from trauma and reclaim their power.

Being believed is where healing can begin. You are not alone. We are not meant to heal in isolation - connection to culture, community and one another helps us reclaim our strength, our voice and our path forward.

Together we can form a pathway between healing, justice and change.

Proud Palawa woman, Associate Professor Kyllie Cripps, working with the Indigenous Studies Centre at Monash University d...
19/08/2026

Proud Palawa woman, Associate Professor Kyllie Cripps, working with the Indigenous Studies Centre at Monash University delivered the keynote address:

We Listen: What Aboriginal Women Have Been Telling Us About Safety, Healing & Refuge Responses

Kyllie shared research insights as well as a powerful poem she wrote. Respect for the lived experiences of women was central to her message.

Address

Suite 5, 619 Elizabeth Street, Redfern
Sydney, NSW
2016

Opening Hours

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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+61438038269

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