Below is series of generic questions and answers about the Aboriginal Short Stay Accommodation to be delivered by the Department of Communities in Geraldton, Kununurra and Perth.
Read our Perth Aboriginal Short Stay Accommodation FAQs or our Geraldton Aboriginal Short Stay Accommodation FAQs.
When will the new Aboriginal Short Stays open?
Show moreFollowing extensive planning, community consultation, contractor engagement, design and construction, the Geraldton Short Stay is scheduled to open to guests in 2026.
The Kununurra and Perth Short Stays are still in the planning and design phases, with an official opening date to be determined following the achievement of necessary project milestones, including the finalisation of design concepts and procurement for a building partner.
Who can stay at the Short Stays when they open?
Show moreShort Stays are available to Aboriginal people and their families who travel to Geraldton, Kununurra or Perth from across Country to access essential services, training or employment, or for business, family and cultural reasons.
Some reasons for visiting Geraldton, Kununurra or Perth could be to attend health and medical appointments, participate in sport and community events, attend sorry business, access training and education, visit family, and much more.
What support, if any, is available to Short Stay guests who are travelling for medical reasons?
Show moreThe purpose of Short Stays is to provide safe and affordable accommodation for Aboriginal people travelling to the area. In providing accommodation, Short Stays enable Aboriginal people to travel to access a range of services, which could include health and medical care.
At existing Aboriginal Short Stays, guests travelling to access particular medical services may be eligible for the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme offered by the Department of Health.
This Scheme provides a subsidy towards the cost of travel and accommodation for patients and eligible support persons as a reimbursement, or upfront coverage of applicable costs.
Potential support options to be offered by the proposed Short Stays in Geraldton, Kununurra and Perth are being investigated and will be determined upon the appointment of a service provider who will operate/manage the Short Stays.
How long can guests stay at the Short Stays?
Show moreAs with the existing WA Short Stays, guests who are visiting Geraldton, Kununurra or Perth will be able to stay up to 28 days, unless there is a clear need to stay longer due to medical or other important reasons.
Guests will need to book their stay in advance and pay a nightly rate for the duration of their stay.
Where will the Short Stays be built?
Show moreGeraldton
The Geraldton Short Stay will be built on the corner of Eastward Road and Blencowe Road, Utakarra, on a portion land that is vested in the Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation (BACAC). In July 2022, Communities entered into a 30-year ground lease agreement with BACAC to use a portion of the land to build the accommodation.
Kununurra
The Department has identified a site for the Kununurra Short Stay at Lot 501 Victoria Highway, Kununurra. Due diligence activities are ongoing with consistent consultation occurring with the Traditional Custodians of the land, as well as other key stakeholders.
Perth
Perth Short Stay will be built at 108-110 Hamilton Street, Cannington. Site selection was the result of a comprehensive search involving input from relevant Traditional Custodians as well as technical due diligence activities.
The Department will also ensure it maintains the cultural and environmental integrity of each site selected for a Short Stay.
What will the Short Stays look like and what will they feature?
Show moreThe Department is engaging with Aboriginal people, the community services sector, government agencies and a range of other stakeholders in each region to ensure each facility is culturally appropriate, respectful to the Country it is located on and responsive to the needs of the visiting Aboriginal guests it will accommodate.
The Short Stays will include a variety of affordable rooms in different sizes and configurations for individuals and families, kitchen and laundry facilities, a dining and recreation room, an administration and reception centre.
The Short Stays will also have a 24-hour concierge to connect guests to services and foster a sense of safety and security. All three Short Stays will be welcoming places that are family friendly and drug and alcohol free.
View the design of the Geraldton Short Stay.
How will the Short Stays be managed and operated?
Show moreFor a regionally responsive Short Stay to operate, a ‘place-based’ model of service is being developed to meet the needs of Short Stay guests, by defining delivery requirements for the Short Stay service provider (operator).
The Department will engage non-government organisation(s) to manage and operate the Short Stays and provide welcoming, personalised services to guests based on identified requirements through the place-based service design process.
What benefits will the Short Stays provide?
Show moreThe Short Stays will:
- provide Aboriginal people and families visiting Geraldton, Kununurra or Perth with safe, culturally appropriate and affordable short-term accommodation options
- help improve the wellbeing of Aboriginal people through family groups remaining together while travelling
- enable Aboriginal people to visit Geraldton, Kununurra or Perth to access to essential services and supports, and training, education and employment opportunities
- help reduce rough sleeping and overcrowding of housing in Geraldton, Kununurra and Perth
- boost job creation, Aboriginal employment opportunities and economic activity in the regions.
How do the Short Stays differ from other facilities delivered by the Department of Communities, such as Common Ground or Boorloo Bidee Mia?
Show moreWhile there may be some crossover in guests of Aboriginal Short Stay Accommodations and the Common Ground and Boorloo Bidee Mia facilities, the most significant difference is that Aboriginal Short Stay Accommodation is not crisis accommodation.
Short Stay guests must book their stay in advance and pay a nightly rate for the duration of their stay. There is scope for the Short Stays to accommodate overflow from crisis accommodation facilities when required, but first and foremost they run like a hotel or motel typically would.
There are already three existing Short Stays in WA, operated by non-government providers that are in high demand and have had a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of guests who use them:
- Kalgoorlie Aboriginal Short Stay Accommodation – opened in 2012 and is currently operated by the Australian Red Cross.
- Derby Aboriginal Short Stay Accommodation – opened in 2014 and is currently operated by MercyCare.
- Broome Aboriginal Short Stay Accommodation – opened in 2019 and is currently operated by MercyCare
How can I have my say about the projects?
Show moreThe Department is engaging with Aboriginal people, the community services sector, government agencies and a range of other stakeholders across the regions at all stages of the projects.
You can opt in to stay informed by emailing AboriginalShortStay@communities.wa.gov.au with the name of the project/s you’re interested in.
Who will design the Kununurra Short Stay?
Show moreA team of architects from Perth and Kununurra has been appointed to design the facility.
The architect team is led by Perth-based Franco Carozzi Architects Pty Ltd with Kununurra based Mark Phillips Architect.
The architects have experience engaging with Aboriginal people and designing social service facilities, particularly in the Kimberley region. Beyond understanding the importance of consultative design, they are local to the area and are committed to the community.
The architects will consult with the community to develop and build on the design elements already identified during stakeholder engagement in 2021.
