What do I need to know?

The First Peoples Home Ownership Program (the program) gives First Peoples a step up to home ownership.

The Program is funded under Homes Victoria’s Big Housing Build (BHB) and is aligned with Strategic Goal 3: 'Opening doors to home ownership and private rental’ of Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort: ‘Every Aboriginal Victorian has a home’, the Victorian Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Framework (VAHHF).

As part of this initiative, the Victorian Government has committed $20 million over 2 years to fund the Program, which will enable more First Peoples to realise home ownership in Victoria. This program will provide financial uplift to prospective First Peoples home buyers and provide them with one-off grants to improve their ability to purchase a home.

The Program provides the following assistance to First Peoples in Victoria:

Home Buyer Booster:  $2,500 to help with legal and administrative costs.

Land transfer (stamp) duty helper: A grant contribution, matching up to $10,000 of land transfer duty cost incurred through the transfer of land into the person’s name. The grant amount will be determined based on the actual land transfer duty payable, up to a maximum of $10,000.

Deposit contribution: For every dollar you contribute towards your deposit, we’ll match it up to a maximum of $20,000

New builds: if you’re building or buying a newly constructed home, you can receive an extra $5,000 on top of the deposit contribution.

To be eligible for the grants you must:

• Be of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent (Confirmation of Aboriginality is required)
• Not currently own a home at the time of applying.
• Currently reside and intend to purchase a home in Victoria.
• Have an individual or household income of no more than $245,000 per annum.
• Have documented pre-approval from a financial provider.

The program is funded until June 30, 2027.

The First Peoples Home Ownership program is funded through the Homes Victoria-led Big Housing Build. 

Through the $6.3 billion Big Housing Build and Regional Housing Fund, Homes Victoria is delivering more than 13,300 social and affordable homes across Victoria – with more than 11,100 homes already complete or underway.

Guided by the principles of self-determination, Homes Victoria is partnering with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to deliver a culturally safe and effective statewide implementation of the program. 

New ACCO Home ownership Officers will build and sustain relationships with community members, support potential applicants through the grant process and develop partnerships with broader service connections for potential applicants. 

ACCO Home ownership Officers will work in close partnership with the First Peoples Home Ownership Program Team and other critical stakeholders. 

If you are interested in hearing more about this program, please visit the website and submit an application and a member of the program team will connect with you.

Alternatively, you can contact firstpeopleshomeownership@homes.vic.gov.au

Yes, the 2 programs are different.

The First Peoples Home Ownership Program is only available to First Nations people. The program gives ready home buyers a range of grants to help them buy their own home and is administered by Homes Victoria. 

The First Home Owner Grant is a $10,000 payment to help eligible first home buyers buy or build a new home in Victoria to live in. It applies to newly constructed or never-occupied properties.

The First Peoples Home Ownership Program can be used in addition to other State or Federal grants or programs. We encourage applicants to explore all government assistance available. 

You can use our First Peoples Home Ownership grant package in conjunction with the many available grants that are available to assist you to buy your own home. 

To find out more, please visit First Home Owner Grant | State Revenue Office

Holding a loan for land will not affect your eligibility for a grant package. For eligible applicants building a new home, grants for deposit matching of up to $20,000 will be calculated on your deposit for construction.

Payment will be made at construction commencement (foundation/ base) stage. Your application must be submitted and approved prior to the construction commencement date listed in your building contract.

For applicants building or purchasing a new build an additional $5,000 (on top of the deposit contribution) is available.

A new home is one that has not previously been sold or occupied as a place of residence.

For every dollar you contribute towards your deposit for construction/home loan, we’ll match it up to a maximum of $20,000. Payment will be allocated on commencement (foundation/base) stage of construction of the home. 

Applications are not eligible if construction has commenced.

The $2,500 grant can be used for any administrative legal cost incurred, including but not limited to:

• Legal fees on the loan to construct the home;
• Conveyancing/solicitor costs;
• Council fees; and
• Development application costs.

The First Peoples Home Ownership program does not extend to selling properties. However, there are programs that support you purchasing the property you currently reside in. 

The Tenant House Sales Program enables current tenants to apply to purchase their public housing rental property. The Office of Housing assesses applications against the specific eligibility criteria.

For further information on the Tenant House Sales Program please phone 1800 649 589.

If you are a renter through an Aboriginal housing provider, we recommend you contact your housing provider directly, as they will be able to provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information. 

Alternatively, you can contact firstpeopleshomeownership@homes.vic.gov.au 

The grant packages are provided to you as a one-off payment to help you buy your own home. You will not have to repay any of the grant package funds unless there are exceptional circumstances. 

These include if the settlement of your home doesn’t occur. Other reasons are outlined in the terms and conditions set out in the Program Deed with Homes Victoria.

If you are in a situation where you must repay grant package funding, the program team will guide you through the process.