🏡 Head Start Homes at the Housing Policy Partnership

Last week we were honoured to be invited to present at the August 2025 Housing Policy Partnership (HPP) Meeting, held on Wurundjeri Country, part of the Kulin Nation in Naarm (Melbourne), at the historic Aborigines Advancement League, alongside First Nations leaders, government representatives, and housing experts from across the country. 🖤💛❤️

Led by our First Nations Collaboration and Liaison Officer, Pam Jackson, and Founder and Managing Director, Stephen Woodlands, our team shared how Head Start Homes is creating inclusive home ownership pathways that put people before property-a message that deeply resonated with leaders in the room.

We spoke about the power and necessity of empowering people before providing home ownership, the importance of tailored pathways, and how we never profit from our clients. These principles are not just words—they’re the foundation of our movement. Every homeownership outcome we achieve is co-designed with our client at the centre, ensuring empowerment, dignity, and long-term success- because we understand that home ownership is one of the most powerful ways to help end intergenerational poverty.

We also shared how Head Start Homes works in partnership with organisations like Westpac, Stockland, and Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO) to improve First Nations housing outcomes. These collaborations are built on shared value which aligns our purpose with their strategic goals to deliver real, measurable impact that put people before property.

💚 A heartfelt thank you to Zachariah Matysek and the amazing NATSIHA team including Casey Da Silva, Tanaya Edwards, and all the inspiring leaders who welcomed us so warmly. We’re excited to continue collaborating to increase home ownership outcomes for First Nations families.

Special shoutout to Kerren Crosthwaite and our incredible team: Pam Jackson, Kate Fenton, Jo Formosa, Karen Walsh and Natasha Kahn—your passion and dedication as advocates continue to drive our movement forward.

Together, we’re changing the housing system so that it puts people before property—the way it’s meant to be. 💚🏡

🤝 What is the Housing Policy Partnership (HPP)?

The HPP is a national policy forum established to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a genuine say in the design and delivery of housing services. It is co-chaired by Zachariah Matysek, CEO of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Association (NATSIHA), and Kerren Crosthwaite, First Assistant Secretary of the Housing Division at the Commonwealth Treasury.

It brings together:

Representatives from federal, state and territory governments
Members of the Coalition of Peaks
Independent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives

One of the HPP’s key roles is to make recommendations to the Joint Council on improving housing outcomes and preventing homelessness for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people—supporting Outcome 9 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap: ensuring access to appropriate, affordable housing that meets community needs and priorities.

#ClosingTheGap #InclusiveHomeOwnership #HousingPolicyPartnership #FirstNationsHousing #PeopleBeforeProperty #HeadStartHomes #WurundjeriCountry #KulinNation #NATSIHA #CommonwealthTreasury #StephenWoodlands #PamJackson #ZachariahMatysek