Wilya Ajjul Janta Aboriginal Corporation

Wilya Janta is an Aboriginal-led housing innovation organisation based in Tennant Creek, dedicated to transforming how homes are designed, evaluated and built in remote Northern Territory communities. Established through deep partnerships with Warumungu Elders and neighbouring language groups, Wilya Janta works at the intersection of culture, climate, health and design. Our purpose is to ensure that remote housing reflects Aboriginal knowledge of Country, withstands extreme heat, and supports the wellbeing and dignity of families.

Unlike construction companies, Wilya Janta is a cultural consultancy and design studio. We specialise in community-led housing design, post-occupancy evaluation, thermal performance testing, and the development of design guidelines that centre local knowledge. Our Explain Home initiative — a collaboration with CSIRO, OFFICE, Troppo, SHAPE Australia and Steensen Varming — demonstrates how culturally specific design, local materials such as mud bricks, and Aboriginal-led evaluation can produce healthier, safer, climate-appropriate homes.

Wilya Janta also builds pathways for Aboriginal employment in design, evaluation, training and storytelling. Our work includes animation, community education, and hands-on training in sustainable construction technologies such as mud brick production. Through partnerships with Aboriginal Housing NT, Julalikari, Original Power and national research institutions, we advance system-level reform while strengthening local capability.

Now in our fourth year, Wilya Janta has influenced government design standards, secured national media attention, and received support from major philanthropic and government funders. Our vision is simple: homes designed by and for Aboriginal communities, grounded in culture, adaptable to climate change, and built to support healthy futures.

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