Shaking the Bush

In December, UCRH partnered with community leaders of Tennant Creek and housing advocates for Shaking the Bush, a gathering designed to spread the spark ignited by Wilya Janta for better Aboriginal housing across Australia. The event was part of the Coming Home, Making Home, Valuing Home project, which explores how Indigenous-designed housing can support health, culture and community wellbeing.

Hosted alongside Wilya Janta, the day celebrated the launch of their first Explain Home – a culturally informed design that responds to climate and community household needs. This milestone reflects Wilya Janta’s broader mission to create housing solutions that are practical, scalable, sustainable and grounded in Aboriginal knowledge.

Over recent years, Central Australian communities have been enduring higher temperatures for longer periods. Following a heatwave across much of the country, in recent days, the need for homes that can withstand extreme temperatures and changing weather patterns is clear. Climate change is hitting hardest in rural and remote communities, and housing design must adapt to protect health and wellbeing.

UCRH is working with Wilya Janta and other industry stakeholders to comprehensively evaluate the community-led housing design model. Our research aims to contribute to the evidence base for Indigenous-led adaptations that are greatly needed to address our changing climate. By linking housing design to health equity and climate resilience, we hope to inform policy and practice that supports sustainable futures for Aboriginal communities.

Learn more about the project here.

Explore Wilya Janta’s work here.