Room to Breathe inspiring Santa Teresa locals

Santa Teresa resident Max says he hopes he is setting a positive example for the next generation, by working to construct homes in his own community.

He is one of three local Santa Teresa residents who have been employed by Ingkerreke Commercial to work on the Room to Breathe program in the community, under the $1.1 billion remote housing investment package: Our Community. Our Future. Our Homes.

“I’m doing all sorts of work, like helping fellas put roofs up, drilling, welding and moving pieces of steel,” Max said.

“Hopefully I can help the young kids to get involved, if they see me doing a good job on the houses.”

Our Community. Our Future. Our Homes. is working with Aboriginal communities to promote local economic development and develop local skills to build and manage housing – employing Aboriginal people where the work is happening, where possible.

“It means a lot to me, I’m learning new skills that I can hopefully pass on to the young ones,” Max said.

Ingkerreke Commercial construction administrator Santosh Niraula said two homes had already been completed and handed back to residents, while work was underway on three more.

“Some of the homes are receiving extensions of additional rooms, living areas and most of them we are doing an enclosed veranda so they (tenants) can use that as a space to spend time there,” Santosh said.

“We are very happy to be part of the Room to Breathe program. We are working in Aboriginal communities to help them have a better life so it is important we have community involvement as well,” he said.

Find out more about the Room to Breathe program.


18 September 2019

Santa Teresa resident Max