ACHIA NSW

What ACHIA NSW does

ACHIA NSW Limited is the peak industry body for Aboriginal Community Housing Providers (ACHPs) in New South Wales, Australia. Incorporated in November 2020 with 11 initial members and governed by an all-Aboriginal Board, the organization had grown to 58 members by June 2024 — comprising 32 NRSCH-registered providers and 26 Owning Providers (LALCs and Aboriginal Corporations). It represents approximately 170 ACHPs across urban, regional, remote, and very remote NSW, advocating for the sector with government ministers and participating in policy consultations including the AHO Common Terms and Conditions Agreement, the CHP Direct Dealing Policy, and the national Housing Policy Partnership.

ACHIA NSW does not develop proprietary software; its technology footprint is limited to a website (achiansw.org.au), a Member Portal, and the "Find a Provider" mapping tool. Its core delivery vehicles are The Coolamon Project (an 18-domain Incubator-Accelerator service model providing capacity and capability uplift to member ACHPs, including grants of up to A$20,000 under the Core and Cluster program), recurring CEO Forums (fortnightly for NRSCH-registered members), the annual NSW Aboriginal Housing Caucus (held since 2019), the Deadly Housing Summit series (launched 2024), and an NCAT training series rolling out across Tamworth, Dubbo, Coffs Harbour, Nowra, and Western Sydney in 2026.

The organization's revenue model is grant-funded rather than commercial: it charges no membership fees and is primarily supported by baseline funding from the NSW Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO) and program-specific grants from the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), Homes NSW, NSW Aboriginal Affairs, and related agencies. ACHIA NSW experienced exceptional growth in 2022-2023 when it tripled and diversified its funding base, before consolidating in 2024. Its go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven, combining direct sector consultations, annual multi-day events, digital communications (ACHIA Alerts newsletter, Facebook, LinkedIn), and government advocacy.

Name

ACHIA NSW

Legal name

ACHIA NSW Limited

Website

https://achiansw.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ACHIA NSW is the NSW peak body for Aboriginal Community Housing Providers, delivering advocacy, capacity-building (The Coolamon Project), events, and government engagement to 58 member ACHPs across NSW, funded by government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Housing Advocacy

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYFSALAKAL

Rural, Tribal & Special-Population Housing Programs

Financial & Insurance/Mortgage & Housing Finance/Housing Finance Agencies & Government-Sponsored Housing Programs

Keywords

• Community housing advocacy
• Aboriginal housing support
• Peak industry body
• Capacity building programs
• Social housing sector

Headquarters

HQ city

New South Wales

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Funding: ACHIA NSW is primarily funded through government grants and baseline funding contracts. As a not-for-profit peak body, it does not charge fees for membership and generates revenue to support its advocacy, capacity-building, and sector development activities through government funding arrangements with entities such as the Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO) and other NSW Government agencies. After exceptional growth in 2022-2023 where it tripled and diversified its initial funding base, the organization consolidated in 2024.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ACHIA NSW is the peak body representing Aboriginal Community Housing Providers (ACHPs) in New South Wales. It delivers advocacy, policy representation, and a structured capacity-building program (The Coolamon Project) covering 18 business domains, alongside sector events (Aboriginal Housing Caucus, Deadly Housing Summits), CEO Forums, NCAT training, the Core and Cluster program, and a Member Portal for resource sharing. Its core output is policy advocacy, sector development, and capacity uplift for Aboriginal community-controlled housing providers.

Product overview

ACHIA NSW is a membership-based peak body for Aboriginal Community Housing Providers in NSW, not a traditional SaaS or technology product company. Its core offering consists of The Coolamon Project (an Incubator-Accelerator service model), the Member Portal (for resource access), the Core and Cluster Sector Capacity Building Program, CEO Forums, and annual events including the Aboriginal Housing Caucus and Deadly Housing Summits. Additional services include NCAT training programs, ACHIA Alerts newsletters, the Housing Policy Partnership, and the Housing Infrastructure Uplift Project for solar installations. The Find a Provider tool provides an interactive map for locating ACHPs. These products and programs collectively support capacity building, advocacy, networking, and housing delivery for Aboriginal community-controlled housing providers across NSW.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Coolamon Project: An Incubator-Accelerator service model integrated into ACHIA NSW's peak body functions, designed to address priority areas of growth and development in the ACHP sector across the housing continuum. It enables capacity building, capability uplift, and workforce development for ACHPs with diverse business profiles.

Products and services

• The Coolamon Project

Quantifiable outcome

• Representing approximately 170 Aboriginal Community Housing Providers across NSW
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• METIOmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 January 2025METIO is a social enterprise and subject matter expert within ACHIA NSW's SME pool. ACHIA NSW partnered with METIO on the 380 Solar PoP15 Housing Infrastructure Uplift Project to provide approximately 380 surplus solar panels (with 15-year remaining lifespan) for installation on around 15 homes across 1-3 adjoining Local Government Areas, at low or no cost to participating ACHPs.
• NSW Government (Department of Communities and Justice)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCJ is a key government partner for ACHIA NSW. ACHIA NSW participates in government committees and working groups to advocate for ACHPs and shape housing policy. DCJ is also the agency delivering the Core and Cluster program, with ACHIA NSW providing sector capacity and capability building support for Aboriginal-led Core and Cluster services in partnership with Homelessness NSW and DVNSW.
• NSW Aboriginal Affairs (Department of Premier and Cabinet)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSW Aboriginal Affairs is a key government stakeholder and partner for ACHIA NSW, working on shared priorities related to Aboriginal community housing and the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. The partnership supports Priority Reform areas including data sovereignty and shared decision-making.
• NSW Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAHO is a central government partner, providing baseline funding to ACHIA NSW and working on contractual frameworks including the Common Terms and Conditions Agreement with ACHPs. ACHIA NSW advocates on behalf of ACHPs in AHO policy consultations and contract negotiations. The relationship involves co-design of policies and programs for Aboriginal community housing.
• Housing Policy Partnership (HPP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACHIA NSW is a participant in the national Housing Policy Partnership, which provides a platform where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled voices sit alongside Government to shape housing policy and action to address inequity and embed action as part of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. Workstreams include Stock Transfer Pathways, Strengthening ACHP Capacity, and Data/Evidence/Cultural Safety.
• Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) NSWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHIA NSW is a key sector partner. ACHIA NSW was originally auspiced by CHIA NSW during its establishment phase (2016-2020). The organizations continue to collaborate on housing policy, with CHIA NSW providing training support such as the Cadetship Project and Carbonisation/Net Zero initiatives. CHIA NSW also supports mainstream CHP sector engagement on issues relevant to the Aboriginal housing sector.
• Homelessness NSW (HNSW)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHNSW partnered with ACHIA NSW and Domestic Violence NSW to deliver resources during the three tranches of Core and Cluster procurement, including grants up to $20,000, targeted factsheets, webinars, and events to support ACCOs in accessing the program.
• Domestic Violence NSW (DVNSW)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDVNSW partnered with ACHIA NSW and Homelessness NSW to support the Core and Cluster Sector Capacity and Capability Building Program, providing resources, factsheets, tools, webinars and events to Aboriginal-led Core and Cluster refuge services.
• Homes NSW (formerly Land and Housing Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomes NSW is a key government agency partner for ACHIA NSW. ACHIA NSW advocates on behalf of ACHPs in Homes NSW forums and consultations, including the CHP Direct Dealing Policy which enables ACHPs to propose unique proposals to grow social and affordable housing, and the Social Housing Accelerator Fund (SHAF).
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Association (NATSIHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNATSIHA is the national peak for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing. ACHIA NSW works with NATSIHA on national housing sector strengthening plans, the Housing Policy Partnership, and Closing the Gap Priority Reform areas. NATSIHA CEO Rob Macfarlane presents at ACHIA NSW events on national housing policy developments.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Association (NATSIHA): National peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing. ACHIA NSW is an explicit participant in the Housing Policy Partnership alongside NATSIHA and the two organisations coordinate on national sector strengthening plans and Closing the Gap Priority Reform areas.
• Aboriginal Housing Victoria: State-level peak body for Aboriginal community housing in Victoria, providing advocacy, capacity building and housing services to Aboriginal tenants. Directly comparable to ACHIA NSW in role, structure and sector focus, just in a different state jurisdiction.

Others

• Domestic Violence NSW (DVNSW): NSW peak for the domestic and family violence sector. Core program partner with ACHIA NSW and Homelessness NSW on the Core and Cluster Sector Capacity and Capability Building Program supporting Aboriginal-led women's refuges.
• Homelessness NSW: NSW peak body for the homelessness sector. Partnered with ACHIA NSW and Domestic Violence NSW to deliver resources, factsheets, webinars and grants (up to $20,000) across three tranches of the Core and Cluster procurement program.

Broad incumbents

• Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA NSW): State peak for mainstream community housing providers in NSW. ACHIA NSW was originally auspiced by CHIA NSW during its 2016-2020 establishment phase and the two organisations continue to collaborate on training (Cadetship Project, Carbonisation/Net Zero) and policy.
• Community Housing Industry Association Australia (CHIA Australia): National peak body for the community housing industry. Overlaps with ACHIA NSW's policy advocacy space but covers mainstream community housing nationally rather than specialising in Aboriginal community-controlled housing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ACHIANSW
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/achia-nsw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ACHIA NSW