Aboriginal Housing Victoria Limited is a not-for-profit community housing provider and registered charity primarily serving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Victoria, Australia. Established as a company limited by guarantee under the Corporations Act 2001, it operates as Victoria’s largest Aboriginal housing organisation, managing over 1,500 properties and supporting more than 4,000 residents[1][4][5].

History and Governance

AHV became the first Aboriginal housing agency in Victoria to achieve registration as a housing provider under the Housing Act 1983, initially as a Registered Housing Provider (2009–2016) and later as a Registered Housing Association (2016–present)[3]. Its governance structure includes a board of non-executive directors, with a majority required to be Aboriginal Victorians. Directors serve terms concluding at the third annual general meeting following their appointment[1].

Operations and Housing Portfolio

The organisation owns 1,071 properties and leases others from the Victorian Government, focusing on culturally sensitive housing solutions for low-income Aboriginal communities[5]. AHV provides personalised tenancy services, including maintenance support, and adheres to performance standards monitored by the Housing Registrar. Key metrics include re-let times, rent arrears management, and repair completion rates[3].

Compliance and Reporting

As a registered housing agency, AHV must meet compliance ratings under the Housing Act 1983. Performance measures for 2023–24 included urgent repair timelines (within 24 hours), non-urgent repairs (within 14 days), and complaint resolution within 30 days. Tenant satisfaction surveys are conducted biennially, though none were completed in 2023–24[3].

Mission

AHV’s vision emphasizes secure, affordable housing as a pathway to stronger communities and cultural preservation[2][5]. It prioritizes support for those most in need, aiming to reduce housing insecurity while fostering Aboriginal self-determination[1][5].

Personnel

As of 2020, key officeholders included Chair Tim Chatfield, Deputy Chair Ian Hamm, and CEO Darren Smith[1]. The organisation maintains a workforce accredited under the White Ribbon program, reflecting its commitment to workplace safety[5].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aboriginal_Housing_Victoria [2] https://ahvic.org.au [3] https://www.vic.gov.au/aboriginal-housing-victoria-limited [4] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/cd882710-2caf-e811-a963-000d3ad24077/profile [5] https://deadlystory.com/page/service-directory/Support_Aid/aboriginal-housing-victoria