Geraldton Aboriginal Short Stay Accommodation - service provider frequently asked questions

Short Stays are a short term pay-per-stay accommodation option for Aboriginal people who travel to city or regional centres to access services, or for business, cultural, family or personal reasons.

They are designed to be safe, culturally appropriate, and affordable, and have the capability to connect guests to local services. 
Short Stays are not:

• crisis accommodation
• transitional housing
• a direct or long-term response to homelessness
• providers of a medical service
• free accommodation.

Like a hotel, Short Stay guests must be over the age of 18 or accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The Geraldton Short Stay will accommodate up to 100 guests across 44 units. The unit configurations include 16 single/couple units, 14 family units and 14 universally accessible units.

Consistent with existing Short Stays in Broome, Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Derby, guests visiting Geraldton will be able to stay for up to 28 days, although most guests stay around eight nights. There may be reasons for guests to stay longer, and this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Guests need to book their accommodation in advance and pay a nightly rate for the duration of their stay, just as they would in a hotel.

The primary purpose of the Geraldton Short Stay is to provide accommodation to travelling guests who have pre-booked their stay to ensure the cultural and physical safety of these guests.

While there may be scope for the Short Stay to support overflow from crisis accommodation facilities, an agreed approach will be determined by the Department of Communities and the appointed service operator. 

The Geraldton Short Stay will be built on the corner of Eastward and Blencowe Roads in Utakarra, on a portion of land that is vested in the Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation.

The control and management of Bundiyarra Reserve was formally granted to Aboriginal people in 1992, and formally vested to Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation in 1994. The founding Elders held the view that a portion of the site should be reserved for short term accommodation to address the need for better housing and services for local Aboriginal people.

When identifying and considering potential locations to build the Geraldton Short Stay, Communities consulted a variety of stakeholders including Midwest Aboriginal Organisations Alliance, Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation and the City of Greater Geraldton to ensure the appropriateness of any future site.

Due to the cultural and heritage significance, proximity to the Geraldton town centre, and the long-standing vision for short term accommodation to be provided onsite, Communities announced its intention to build the Short Stay on Bundiyarra Reserve. 

In July 2022, Communities entered into a 30-year ground lease agreement with Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation to use a portion of the land to deliver the short stay accommodation.

‘Bundiyarra’ is taken from the Wajarri language and means ‘this is a good place to go’. The Bundiyarra site represents the Aboriginal community’s views that the Short Stay be welcoming, safe and culturally considerate of all language groups.

In December 2023, following a restricted tender process, local Geraldton builder GBSC Yurra Pty Ltd was appointed to build the Geraldton Short Stay. 

Construction is to expected to commence in 2024 with completion anticipated in late 2025.

Communities will undertake a Restricted Request for Tender process in 2024 to appoint a non-government Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation or Aboriginal Registered Business to manage and operate the Geraldton Short Stay.

The successful applicant will be the organisation that best responds to the evaluation criteria, so guests receive welcoming, culturally appropriate and personalised services.

An Early Tender Advice for a service provider to manage and operate the Geraldton Short Stay is now live on Tenders WA (Ref: DOCETA202213593). The tender process will begin in 2024.

The expectation is that the appointed Short Stay operator will deliver all services including:

• guest check-in/check-out
• room cleaning
• laundering of linen and towels
• assisting guests in accessing services within the Geraldton township
• guest transportation
• two daily meal services (breakfast and dinner)
• building and ground maintenance.

How these services will be delivered will need to be explained by applicants in their tender submission.

Geraldton Short Stay will operate similarly to a hotel where guests pay to stay and are able to access a range of facilities and services on site including outdoor recreation areas and children’s play equipment to encourage families to stay.

Guests can pay a nightly or discounted weekly rate which offers two full meals (breakfast and dinner), fresh sheets and towels, room cleaning, and access to local services through an on-site 24-hour front desk support service.

Booking rates will be determined by Communities and the appointed service provider (operator) in 2024. 

Communities is implementing a regionally responsive ‘place-based’ service model for the Geraldton Short Stay that defines the outcomes expected of the future service provider (operator) in responding to the needs of guests.

Place-based service design consultation and engagement for the Geraldton Short Stay was completed in early 2023 and sought feedback from local service providers and potential guests to ensure the final design is fit-for-purpose and meets the important heritage and cultural needs and considerations of the Aboriginal people who will stay there.

The length of the contract will be confirmed in the Request for Tender document that will be released in 2024.

Geraldton based architects Eastman Poletti Sherwood Architects was appointed by Communities to design the Geraldton Short Stay. Following consultation with the local community and key stakeholders, the following considerations were incorporated into the building and landscaping design:

• The design of the Geraldton Short Stay building, and the services offered by the future service provider (operator) will ensure Aboriginal people will be at the forefront of the Short Stay. 
• The design of the Geraldton Short Stay has been influenced by important heritage and cultural considerations, including songlines, sacred sites and watering holes.
• The layout of the Short Stay accommodation buildings groups individual units together, accessible units together and family units together to ensure privacy and safety. 
• The design fosters inclusivity and flexibility to respond to family considerations and enables the accommodation of as many guests as possible.
• The Short Stay will be a welcoming place that is family friendly and drug and alcohol free. 
• Short Stays prioritise guest safety and service, providing security and 24-hour concierge, the provision of up to two meals per day, transport (through a shuttle bus), a mixture of room types and other facilities, with a strong focus on outdoor recreation.

• 24/7 onsite management and facilitation of targeted referral services. 
• No alcohol and or other drugs to be brought on-site.
• Accommodation will be provided for the use of Aboriginal people, and may be accompanied by their significant other, or personal carer.
• Violence and antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated onsite. 
• A visitor meeting space outside the secure accommodation area is provided to ensure the safety and security of guests.