Better lives, Better futures . . .
Aboriginal Hostels Limited provides safe, culturally appropriate and affordable accommodation for Indigenous Australians who must live away from home in order to access services and economic opportunity.
Aboriginal Hostels Limited;
Who are we?
AHL is a company wholly owned by the Australian Government. It has a non-executive Board of Directors and operates as part of the Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs portfolio. It employs 500 people, 78% of whom are Indigenous.
Where are we?
In 2009-10, AHL directly operated 54 hostels and 13 Indigenous Youth Mobility Program houses and supported a further 43 hostels under its Community Hostel Grants program. Together, these provided over a million bed/nights and almost 5000 meals each day, engaging residents in education, health and other services. The Australian Government provides funding to cover the gap between income from fees and the costs of providing hostel services.
Aboriginal Hostels Limited meeting varied needs
Homeless
AHL facilities specifically assist homeless young people and adults to develop life skills to enable them to live independently within the wider community. It provides residents with a secure environment where their dignity is respected, and links to services such as housing, employment and health.
Transitional
AHL provides short-term accommodation in rural and regional towns and cities for people and families seeking permanent employment and housing, meeting commitments or accessing services away from their homes and communities. There’s always friendly advice for residents as to where the nearest services are and how to access them. This could mean helping residents with needs as diverse as job search support, parenting advice, legal assistance orlonger term relocation.
Secondary Education
Students are assisted to access secondary education and complete high school. Services also place emphasis on personal and academic mentoring to help develop young people as well as preparing them for further studies and employment. There are opportunities to pursue sporting and other recreational interests and information about career choices.
Tertiary Education, Training and Employment
AHL provides accommodation for students to access tertiary education and training or in the early stages of employment. As well, it provides opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds to develop practical life skills such as housekeeping, budgeting and meal preparation.
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
This program, in partnership with Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, is aimed primarily at young Indigenous people from rural and remote areas aged 16-24 who are participating in apprenticeships, traineeships and higher education. However, young people from major towns and citiescan also participate if they can relocate to one of the
Host Locations to take up an apprenticeship, undertake vocational training or a university course. The program is helping remote community development by providing opportunities for young people to train and return to jobs in their communities (if they so desire).
Medical
AHL provides accommodation and support for individuals and their families when they need to leave their communities to access medical treatment. Some AHL facilities are specifically for women requiring antenatal and postnatal care. Medical hostels cater for special dietary requirements, have links to community services, medical clinics and nurses.
Renal
AHL provides some services that cater specifically for people from remote or rural areas who need access to renal treatment in urban dialysis centres. Residents are assisted to live as comfortable a life as they can and are encouraged to maintain interaction with family and community, including visits home when possible. If any issues arise in relation to hospital treatment, finance, transport, or the resident’s comfort, AHL hostels help by liaising with the relevant service providers and funding bodies.
Aged Care
AHL provides accommodation and care for elderly Indigenous people, particularly those with disabilities or chronic health problems, to help them live their lives with dignity. It operates one aged care nursing home (in Central Australia).
Substance Use Rehabilitation
AHL gives financial support to community organisations that provide accommodation for young people or adults and their families to enable them to access relevant rehabilitation and education programs.
For more information please contact the office closest to you…
www.ahl.gov.au
Central Office Canberra
Level 2, Bonner House West
7 Neptune St WODEN ACT 2606
02 6212 2001
ahlmarketing@ahl.gov.au
Western Australia
Unit 2, 47 Cedric St
STIRLING WA 6000
08 9349 2548
perth@ahl.gov.au
Northern Australia
Suite 6, 1st Floor
CML Building
59 Smith St
DARWIN NT 0800
08 8981 4388
Northern Queensland
110 McLeod St
CAIRNS QLD 4870
07 4051 4588
cairns@ahl.gov.au
Southern Queensland
Level 4, 231 North Quay
Brisbane Qld 4000
07 3221 3866
brisbane@ahl.gov.au
New South Wales
5th Floor, 128-134 Chalmers St
SURREY HILLS NSW 2010
sydney@ahl.gov.au
Region 6
Victoria and Tasmania
Level 11, 167-169 Queen St
MELBOURNE VIC 3000
03 9642 2775
melbourne@ahl.gov.au
South Australia
2 Clements St
Dudley Park SA 5008
08 8342 6950
adelaide@ahl.gov.au
Central Australia
Suite 2 Ground Floor
Lindsay Place Building
15 Leichhardt Terrace
ALICE SPRINGS NT 0871
08 8952 6544
alice.springs@ahl.gov.au
Phone:
02 6212 2001
Email:
ahlmarketing@ahl.gov.au
Website:
http://www.ahl.gov.au
Location:
Central Office Canberra - Branches Nationally