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www.nt.gov.au

GPO Box 3146, Darwin NT 0801

MELBOURNE STUDENTS TEAM UP WITH BELYUEN COMMUNITY

18 September 2013

Architecture students from the University of Melbourne have teamed up with members of the Belyuencommunity to construct a sheltered outdoor living area and kitchen for a Belyuen family.

Member for Daly, Gary Higgins, said it took seven days to complete the project that had been run bythe universitys Bower Studio, led by senior lecturer Dr David OBrien.

Mr Higgins said the multi-award winning Bower Studio involved Master of Architecture studentsdesigning and building community infrastructure alongside Indigenous groups in Australia and abroad.

The Belyuen project has involved 11 Melbourne School of Design students working alongsidemembers of the Belyuen community with logistical support from Yilli Rreung Housing, Mr Higgins said.

It is one ofthe many projects they are undertaking in the Territory as part of a larger initiativecalled HomesPLUS to improve the sustainability of housing by working with and empoweringIndigenous people to develop homes focusing on their specific needs.

Since 2008, Bower Studio has helped to design and construct houses, computer labs, an earlychildhood learning centre and community facilities alongside numerous partner communities andorganisations.

The project facilitates the exchange of skills, employment opportunities over the long-term as well asgiving people a direct say in new or upgraded homes within their own communities.

Mr Higgins said feedback had been positive with students passing on skills to members of the family,who would ideally pass it on to other members of the community.

One example was a discussion I heard about, between the family and students on Sunday afternoon.

The students noticed that the family sat on a disused fridge when spending time outside and this ledthe Bower Studio team to reconsider the height of the seating for the shelter, Mr Higgins said.

After some conversations and demonstrations, it was determined that the seat should be 600mm highrather than 450mm as initially proposed, to match the same height as the disused fridge. Familymembers preferred this height for a number of reasons and it was a more comfortable height for theolder members.

This initiative in the NT has been supported by Rio Tinto, Stramit, Hudsons, Yilli Rreung Housing,Darwin Regional CDEP, Centre for Appropriate Technology, Federal Governments Office for Learningand Teaching, Batchelor Institute and the University of Melbourne.

Visitwww.bowerstudio.com.auandwww.bowerhomesplus.com.aufor more information.

Media Contact: Georgia McCabe 0438 384 506, Dr David OBrien 0419 149 404.

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