Steps to Reconciliation Statement
The Department of Housing acknowledges the Aboriginal people and the Torres Strait Islander people as the first peoples of Queensland and of the Torres Strait Islands, with unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land and seas.
The department apologises for the suffering, trauma and disadvantages experienced by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Queensland and recognises that the consequences of past policies are still with us.
The department values and respects the diversity of cultures among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Queensland and further recognises that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, spirit and cultures enrich the life of all Queenslanders.
The department acknowledges the range of need and disadvantage among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Queensland and the subsequent variety of solutions required to meet these needs.
The department acknowledges that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Queensland have a right to access affordable, appropriate, safe, well designed and appropriately maintained housing.
The Department of Housing is implementing the Commonwealth and State Housing Ministers’ Ten Year Statement of New Directions for Indigenous Housing, Building a Better Future: Indigenous Housing to 2010, and is guided by the principles for improved housing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples embodied in that statement.
The department recognises better housing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Queensland’s one social housing system come from improved access to the full range of housing products and services. Having a streamlined and cohesive system ensures Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples receive the right type of housing assistance to best meet their needs.
The department acknowledges that achieving the best outcomes in Indigenous housing will require a united effort from all those involved. Therefore, partnerships have been developed and continued between other government agencies and the department and with individuals and communities across the State.
The department affirms its commitment to Reconciliation and will pursue actions that contribute to:
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Nurturing Commitment: Reconciliation can only be achieved through a deep-seated commitment to its goals and processes. The Department of Housing expresses its commitment through strategies designed to bring about important and significant cultural change to the organisation. This will be an ongoing process and the department will support this growth and learning over the long term.
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Transforming Business: a commitment to Reconciliation involves not just gaining a new understanding, but requires action based on that understanding to bring about the healing process of Reconciliation. For the Department of Housing, this means exploring new ways of doing business through its housing programs that match a shared understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander needs.
- Transforming Lives: a commitment to Reconciliation is meaningless if it does not contribute to a change in the lives of the people involved. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, this change will be an improvement in equality of opportunity and quality of life. For non-Indigenous people, this change will be a greater understanding and empathy with the issues facing Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Last updated 9 May 2006
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