First Nations Housing Design Guideline

The Queensland First Nations Housing Design Guideline is a First Nations-led project transforming how we think about housing in Queensland.

This guideline will establish the overarching principles, guidance and processes for culturally responsive and appropriate First Nations housing across Queensland in remote, rural, regional and urban areas.

The guideline will complement existing departmental policies, standards and guidance, including:

The First Nations Housing Design Guideline is due to be released in December 2026.

Consultation

First Nations design consultancy, Burrundi Design Studio is undertaking engagement to understand the diverse experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the state.

Consultation will include:

  • statewide online surveys
  • in-person workshops
  • one on one interviews.

This will build upon engagement activities undertaken by the department.

Have your say

Burrundi Design Studio is seeking insights from people with experience living in First Nations housing, and from people researching, delivering, or managing First Nations housing.

About Burrundi Design Studio and the team

Burrundi Design Studio brings a First Nations way of knowing and being along with an approach that recognises the deep interconnected knowledge system of Country.

Burrundi Design Studio will ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices, knowledge and lived experience are embedded in the governance, engagement, interpretation, and production of the First Nations Housing Design Guideline.

Meet the team

Theresa Bower is a proud Wiradjuri woman and director of Burrundi Design Studio, based on the Gold Coast in southern Queensland. Her work pushes the boundaries through a holistic design approach in translating First Nations knowledges and technologies to embed cultural identity into the buildings that surround us.

Dr Kali Marnane, an associate director at Urbis, is supporting Theresa. A settler who grew up in Brisbane with parents who immigrated from the UK, Kali is a registered architect focused on co-designing briefs, strategies, and guidelines for places with the people who use them.