The Indigenous Boarding Hostels Partnerships program was announced as part of A Better Future for Indigenous Australians – opportunities for education funding package in the 2007-08 Budget.
On 26 March 2008 the Minister announced that the Government would build a 120-bed boarding hostel to assist Cape York Indigenous children to attend Western Cape College at Weipa. The hostel is expected to be completed for occupancy in 2011.
As part of the Minister’s announcement in May 2008 Protecting Children on the APY Lands, the Australian Government allocated $3.0 million for expansion of the Wiltja Residential Program. This initiative will increase safe student accommodation at Wiltja to 105 places in total. Construction has commenced and the facility is expected to be completed for school year 2010.