Seven families from the small Tiwi Islands community of Milikapiti have moved into new homes provided through the Northern Territory government's remote housing partnership program.
The increased housing supply in Milikapiti comes after the largest remote housing investment in the Northern Territory, a $4 billion Partnership Agreement, which was announced in the remote community last month.
Milikapiti has seen 37 new and upgraded homes become available for the local community since 2016.
The Territory has long suffered from a shortage of suitable housing, with overcrowding and homelessness major ongoing issues.
Northern Territory member for Arafura and Tiwi Islands man, Manuel Brown, commended the housing improvements in remote communities such as Milikapiti, saying more needs to be done to improve housing outcomes for Indigenous Territorians living in remote areas.
"It is wonderful to see the changes to the community housing brings – happy families living in appropriately sized homes, and more work and trade opportunities for locals," Mr Brown said.
"More housing in remote communities is much needed to improve the standard of living of our mob, bring work opportunities in community and improve health and lifestyles of families."
The housing works in Milikapiti engaged 78 Territory businesses, with eight more homes in the community currently under renovation.
Northern Territory Minister for Remote Housing and Homelands, Selena Uibo said the Northern Territory Government has delivered 4000 new and upgraded homes in the last eight years.
"Aboriginal Territorians are living in overcrowded conditions right across the Territory," Ms Uibo said.
Ms Uibo said the government's remote housing partnership has broader benefits in remote Northern Territory communities.
"More housing also means more work for Territory businesses and opportunities for Aboriginal Territorians in remote communities to learn new skills," she said.
"The $4 billion partnership with the Australian and Territory Governments, the four Land Councils and Aboriginal Housing NT will see opportunities for more new homes to be built in Milikapiti and other remote communities with similar stories."
Top End construction company DT Hobbs has employed seven local members of the community to train and work on the construction of the homes.
The housing project is not the first managed by DT Hobbs on the Tiwi Islands, after the firm delivered houses for 14 First Nations families in the Tiwi community of Pirlangimpi in 2022.
DT Hobbs director Julie Hobbs said housing projects in remote parts of the Territory provide valuable employment allowing local workers to develop real construction skills.
"This new announcement allows us to offer ongoing employment and training opportunities for local workers and to continue supporting the many Territory businesses we engage with on a daily basis," Ms Hobbs said.
