What do I need to know?

Talk to a bank or financial institution early. They can tell you how much you can borrow and get you prepared for each step of the process. Your bank or financial institution may outline available loan products and identify any financial gaps that need attention. 

Talk to a conveyancer before you apply for the First Peoples Home Ownership program. A conveyancer can ensure all legal requirements are understood from the outset. They can help applicants identify potential issues, explain contract terms and guide applicants through each stage of the process. They are also required to complete key documents related to the First Peoples Home Ownership Program. This will ensure required documentation is lodged correctly and on time. 

To be eligible for this program, you must be in the process of buying a home. A pre-approval confirms you are ready to purchase. Your pre-approval must come from the bank or financial institution you’re borrowing from

Yes, we refer to this as a ‘combined application’. A combined application allows you to purchase a home with family and friends. A combined application happens when people buy through ‘shared ownership’. 

Under shared ownership, up to four people may submit one combined application for a grant package. 

To be eligible, the main applicant must:  

• meet all eligibility criteria; and 

be an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person and provide relevant documentation. If multiple applicants identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, only the main applicant needs to provide documentation. 

• obtain at least 25% ownership of the property being purchased

We will also require proof of identity, such as a copy of your driver's licence or proof of age card. When providing identification that is double-sided, please photocopy both sides on a single piece of paper and ask the certifier to sign and date the photocopy. 

Your proof of ID and address must be certified. A list of authorised certifiers can be found here: Certified copies of original documents | Department of Justice and Community Safety Victoria

You can apply for the First Peoples Home Ownership Program with other state / federal / private entity grant opportunities. We encourage you to explore all government assistance available.

However, some grant funding opportunities may have terms and conditions that can’t be used with all or part of our program. 

Please check with the governing body of the grant / program before applying or contact us at firstpeoplehomeownership@homes.vic.gov.au to discuss further.

The 2 grants are different. 

• The First Peoples Home Ownership Program is only available to First Peoples. 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.

If you have further questions about the First Home Owner Grant, please visit: First Home Owner Grant | State Revenue Office

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

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

Holding a loan for land will not affect your eligibility for a grant package. If you’re building a new home, the grant deposit contribution will match up to $20,000. The contribution is calculated on your deposit for construction.

Grant payment is made during the construction stage. Your application must be submitted and approved prior to completion of construction.

The grant package has four parts. Three grant funding parts can cover construction and related costs:

• Home Buyer Booster
• Deposit contribution
  • Additional new build contribution

Home Buyer Booster

The $2,500 Home Buyer Booster 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.

Deposit contribution 

We match up to a maximum of $20,000 for every dollar you contribute towards your home deposit. Your deposit will be for the construction of a new building / home. Payment will be allocated during the construction of the home. 

New build contribution

An additional $5,000 will be provided to new build applications. During your application process, we will ask you to provide proof of construction. A contract with your builder can serve as proof of construction.

Applications are not eligible if construction has been completed

The Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness branch (AHHB) in Homes Victoria is delivering the First Peoples Home Ownership program. The AHHB’s purpose is to drive systematic change across the housing and homelessness systems to deliver positive housing outcomes for First Peoples in Victoria. The work is guided by Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort; Every Aboriginal Person Has a Home – The Victorian Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Framework (VAHHF). 

The First Peoples Home Ownership Program (the program) is aligned to the VAHHF’s Strategic Goal 3: 'Opening doors to home ownership and private rental’. 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.

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 12,200 homes commenced.

Find out more about the work the AHHB does here: Aboriginal housing | Big Housing Build

The First Peoples Home Ownership program is funded through Homes Victoria’s 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.

We’re guided by the principles of self-determination and work with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to deliver a culturally safe and effective program. 

There are four ACCO Homeownership Officers across the state who work with Homes Victoria to deliver a culturally safe program. ACCO Homeownership Officers will work in close partnership with the First Peoples Home Ownership Program Team and other critical stakeholders. 

ACCO Homeownership Officers are available to you to support potential applicants through the grant process and develop partnerships with broader service connections for potential applicants. 

ACCO Homeownership Officers are located at:

• Aboriginal Housing Victoria
  • Fitzroy / Bairnsdale
  • Shepparton
  • Bendigo
• Worn Gundidj
  • Warrnambool 

The First Peoples Home Ownership program does not extend to selling properties. However, there are programs to support you to purchase 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.  

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 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.

If you have changed your name and your documents have different names, please provide a copy of the document(s) that shows your name change:

• Marriage certificate
• Registration of name change (deed poll)
• Adoption certificate
• Another official document (such as a statutory declaration)

You might need to submit extra documentation, like a statutory declaration, if the documents you give us do not match your date of birth.

Payment will be made to your solicitor or conveyancer’s trust account prior to settlement of the purchase of the property to be held in trust pending settlement.

Each part of a grant funding package is reviewed by the Program Team. Calculations are delivered as such:

• ‘Deposit contribution’ grant will be calculated to match up to $20,000 of your total deposit for purchase of the property.
• ‘New builds’ additionality of $5,000 for applicants building or buying a newly constructed home, is an additional flat rate payment paid to the Applicant’s Solicitor or Conveyancer’s trust account and be used towards the construction of the property.
• The $2,500 ‘Home Buyer Booster’ will be provided to cover any legal fees. Your solicitor or conveyancer can put any surplus funds towards the purchase price of the property.
• ‘Land transfer (stamp) duty helper’ grant amount will be calculated to match up to $10,000 of actual land transfer duty payable through the transfer of land into the person's name.