The Border's critical shortage of housing is having hugely concerning flow-on effects in the local job market, according to the chief of the Albury-Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service (AWAHS).
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Long-standing leader David Noonan says the health service has been forced to re-advertise positions due to the fact the successful applicants could not find somewhere to live locally.
"It's a huge indication of what's happening down the entire system," Mr Noonan says.
It's a huge indication of what's happening down the entire system.
- David Noonan
"People who would not consider themselves in a situation of homelessness - they're working and doing what they need to do - can't get accommodation.
"There are huge flow-on effects for those in much less fortunate positions."
AWAHS recently received funding for 20 new positions in the organisation - an announcement that would normally be, and is, cause for much jubilation.
These positions are in the vital areas of Aboriginal family violence support, five new traineeships and also funding to open a new centre at Wodonga with a doctor, administration staff, a full-time transport driver and Aboriginal health practitioner.
"It's great news from a community perspective but if we can't fill the positions that equally affects the community," Mr Noonan admits.
"What concerns me is we are trying to attract as skilled a workforce as possible.
"But if these skilled people are not from Albury-Wodonga and cannot re-locate ... if the reason we are not able to fill positions is on the basis of not getting accommodation, well we have a huge job ahead of us.
"The really worrying thing is there is no immediate fix to this housing crisis."
The bottom line is there are just not as many housing options available as there should be in a growing community, according to Mr Noonan.
The further critical implication is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents are further disadvantaged, forced to couch surf, live with family or even return to potentially unsafe living arrangements.
"These things concern me," he says.
"Unless you have access to a computer to complete applications online, then you have limited capacity to seek accommodation.
"If you are able to apply then you have 30 or 40 others standing in line in front of you."
Mr Noonan says often people are forced to move out to more rural locations, where transport options are limited and there are longer distances to find or travel to and from work.
"It stops you living the best life you can," he says.
