Gunditjmara/Yorta Yorta artist Melissa Bell was over the moon when she heard the Victorian Public Tenants Association licensed her popular ‘Rain Coming Down’ series for their new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tenant Advocacy Pilot Program.

The VPTA recently welcomed two Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tenant Advocates to their team, Elly and Elsie. These roles are funded as an initial 12 month pilot project by Homes Victoria, which is due to end in May 2023.

These roles have been created in recognition of the disproportionate experiences of homelessness and social housing tenure of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Despite this, there has not been culturally safe housing advocacy available for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples before that is also independent from the rental provider.

Until now.

Find out more about the Victorian Public Tenants Association’s Program, and check out Melissa’s artwork at play, here

Find out more about licensing an artwork for your business or organisation here