Geraldton Aboriginal short-stay facility in high demand and booked out less than a month after opening

Geraldton’s short-stay facility for Aboriginal people is already seeing huge success and high demand since opening last month, with the 44-unit site reaching capacity most nights. Bundiyarra Regional Aboriginal Community Kinship Stay is managed by Leeanne Robertson, who says the centre is a “nice, relaxing, and safe” place to be, and the community has responded with enthusiasm. Ms Robertson said “most of that time, most of those rooms are full”, and that there was “a really good mix” of people staying. Since it was announced in 2020, the State Government has invested $28.5 million in the facility, which offers low-cost, safe and culturally appropriate accommodation for Aboriginal people visiting Geraldton. The 44 units are a mix of family and single units, with some adjoining to allow families to stay together, allowing up to 100 people overall. Some of the residents have travelled to Geraldton for medical treatment or to visit family, while some are recovering after a stay in hospital. Medical staff can visit and treat patients at BRACKS. Ms Robertson said they had their first “BRACKS baby” a few weeks ago, with a mother leaving the facility to give birth and then returning with her baby. She said the family rooms meant that her other children could stay with their mother and other family members could support her. The facility is the fourth in WA, and allows visitors to stay for up to 29 days. The accommodation provides two meals a day and employs cleaners to make up the rooms. The rate for a single adult room starts at $20 a night for concession holders. “People are quite surprised and are very, very happy with what this place actually feels like,” Ms Robertson said. “They’re safe. It’s a serene place at night. They’ve got Aboriginal people that they can talk to. We’ve got Aboriginal liaison officers walking around the complex the whole day. They feel supported.” Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation was the first Aboriginal organisation to run a short-stay facility in WA, and deputy CEO Jamie Strickland said opening the accommodation had involved extensive community consultation. Ms Robertson said one of the downsides of the facility was that they were not able to offer long-term accommodation for homeless people. Going forward, Mr Strickland hoped the success of the short-stay accommodation complex would inspire more facilities to service the “growing homeless cohort” in Geraldton. “It’ll be an opportunity missed if what we’re seeing isn’t taken up by other facilities to cater for those other cohorts,” he said. When its accommodation was full, Mr Strickland said they worked with other community services in town so that people could still find somewhere to stay.