Indigenous housing data review reveals data gap

A National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) review, completed by University of Adelaide researchers, has highlighted the critical gaps in Indigenous housing data.

Associate Professor Megan Moskos, Dr Linda Isherwood and Professor Emma Baker have outlined eight key recommendations to address the missing pieces of data in A Comprehensive Review of Assessment of Indigenous Housing Data.

Indigenous housing organisation and agencies are limited in their ability to meet and monitor Closing the Gap targets. Responding to this, NIAAA commissioned the work to assess the data landscape. Only 31 accessible datasets were identified.

"Most of the available datasets were not co-designed with Indigenous communities, and lacked cultural appropriateness, " says lead author Associate Professor Moskos.

“Indigenous data sovereignty principles need to be upheld to ensure cultural relevance and Indigenous participation.

"In order to understand current and future housing demand, detailed data about Indigenous households is needed.”

Researchers are calling for more data to be collected on household size, composition, demographic makeup and geographic location.

Housing tenure, landlord type and housing stability are important for planning and funding purposes, as well as providing an understanding of housing security.

"Accurate data is also needed on the type and size of dwellings occupied by Indigenous people, particularly in relation to overcrowding."

Associate Professor Moskos said data on housing conditions and access to essential services was also vital.

"Little is known about housing pathways or Indigenous aspirations for home ownership and the barriers they face," she said.

"Much of the data we found was outdated or inconsistent across jurisdictions, which hinders national analysis.

"Addressing the gaps we found, particularly around housing experience and workforce, will be critical to improving outcomes and aligning efforts with Indigenous-led priorities and reforms."

A Comprehensive Review and Assessment of Indigenous Housing Data can be found here.