Today, DJAARA proudly launched our new housing entity, MAYAM MAYAM, together with our Mayam Mayam Dja Dja Wurrung Housing Strategy. Mayam Mayam means housing in Dja Dja Wurrung language.
Safe, affordable and secure housing is fundamental to wellbeing. Everyone should be able to enjoy the health and economic wellbeing that a safe home affords.
But Aboriginal Australians are less likely to have adequate housing – and are more likely to be homeless – than non-Indigenous Australians.
And the housing crisis in regional Victoria isn’t helping.
Through MAYAM MAYAM, now a registered housing provider, we will develop social and affordable housing programs that are culturally safe, trauma-informed and accessible to all Dja Dja Wurrung People (Djaara).
MAYAM MAYAM will partner with other housing agencies as we build our capacity as a housing provider. We are also seeking opportunities to build our housing supply.
We are very excited to announce that MAYAM MAYAM has secured funding to build 34 homes in North Bendigo, through the Homes for Aboriginal Victorians round of the Victorian Government’s Big Housing Build – Social Housing Growth Fund.
This will have flow-on benefits for the broader community: as Djaara find housing through MAYAM MAYAM, there will be fewer people in the market competing for other housing stock.
Read Mayam Mayam – Dja Dja Wurrung Housing Strategy
L–R: DJAARA Acting GM Harley Douglas with Homes Victoria’s Santo Richardson; Dja Dja Wurrung Group Interim CEO Cassandra Lewis with Homes Victoria’s Santo Richardson; Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters and City of Greater Bendigo CEO Andrew Cooney with Cassandra Lewis and Harley Douglas; Cassandra Lewis launches Mayam Mayam, Dja Dja Wurrung Housing Strategy.
