Maningrida locals building new homes, developing skills

Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation has increased its staffing from eight to 21 employees. This includes up to 12 local Aboriginal employees, of which, five are full time. It credits this increase to the HomeBuild NT and Room to Breathe programs.

The Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation (BAC) has tripled the number of local Aboriginal employees in its Maningrida workforce, which it says can be contributed to the $1.1 billion remote housing investment package, Our Community. Our Future. Our Homes.

BAC has completed two new homes under HomeBuild NT, with another two under construction. In addition, modifications have been made to 25 homes under Room to Breathe.

BAC construction manager Callan Free says the work has enabled the organisation to increase its workforce from eight people to 21 within 18 months.

This includes tripling the amount of local Aboriginal workers from four to 12, employed on casual and full time contracts.

"Working with the housing department on these programs has allowed us to really expand our housing operation from eight people to 21 people now, which has increased our local Aboriginal employees to 12, with five of them full time," Callan said.

"It's crucial to us to be able to grow and employ locals so one day they can do this themselves without help and assistance and establish something they are proud of here in Maningrida by building their own houses."

Among the local employees is Shaun Morris. Shaun is gaining skills in welding, carpentry, brick-laying and roofing and said he was proud to be building homes in Maningrida, including some allocated to family members.

"It’s a good feeling to be building houses for my community," he said.

"It will be good for new families to move into these houses, it will help reduce the overcrowding in Maningrida."