Challenges Beyond 2018. One of the objectives of the NPARIH is to ‘significantly reduce severe overcrowding in remote Indigenous communities’. It is difficult at this stage to get a clear picture of the impact to date in addressing this objective. While the latest ABS Census data is positive and shows some reduction in the proportion of Indigenous households experiencing both overcrowding and severe overcrowding in remote Australia, it is important to note that the 2011 Census took place ahead of the delivery of major capital works in a number of jurisdictions. The full impact of this work is not reflected in the Census data. In light of the additional work that has been completed in remote communities since the Census, it seems reasonable to expect further improvement to have occurred since that time. Nevertheless, NPARIH funding, as substantial and unprecedented as it is, will not resolve overcrowding in all remote Indigenous communities. Governments understood when they agreed to the NPARIH that while inroads could be made on this issue over the life of the 10- year strategy, more work would remain to be done, particularly in those jurisdictions where chronic overcrowding has existed for generations. Relevant overcrowding data is not yet available for all communities where NPARIH builds have occurred and consideration is yet to be given to whether progress in addressing severe overcrowding in remote Indigenous communities is more advanced overall in some jurisdictions than in others. That is, is NPARIH funding enabling this issue to be tackled more quickly and comprehensively in some jurisdictions than in others. Over the coming years of the NPARIH, as the remaining major capital works are delivered, governments will need to keep progress against this objective under review. Over its life, the NPARIH will provide substantial direct and indirect investment in many remote communities across Australia. While considering strategies to ensure the gains made are secured for the long term, governments will need to take the long view, beyond the delivery of houses, to broader issues around building the sustainability of communities once the NPARIH work is finished. As the report shows, there have been gains for communities in areas that are not direct housing outcomes, e.g. local government capacity in some jurisdictions, employment outcomes and examples of emerging improvements in quality of life indicators. In this regard, further developing community engagement strategies will be...
