Indigenous affairsGovernment companyExists today
Aboriginal Hostels Limited
AHL
1973 – present
Commonwealth company that provides safe, affordable temporary accommodation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who need to live away from home for education, employment, medical treatment or other reasons, through a national network of hostels.
How it came into existence
Incorporated in 1973 as a public company limited by guarantee, set up by the Commonwealth on the initiative of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs to provide hostel accommodation for Aboriginal people living away from home.
Changes during its life
- 18 September 2013Moved from the Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs portfolio to the Prime Minister and Cabinet portfolio.
Main functions
- Operation of hostels for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- Accommodation for secondary and tertiary students
- Accommodation for people receiving medical treatment
- Transitional and short-term accommodation
- Support for community-run hostels
Where it sits
In the portfolio of Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
- Type of body
- Commonwealth company, limited by guarantee
- Portfolio
- Prime Minister and Cabinet
- Accountable authority
- Board
- ABN
- 47 008 504 587
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Primary sources
- List of Commonwealth entities and companies under the PGPA Act, 1 July 2026 (Department of Finance)
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to the latest release (30 June 2026))
Government records and websites
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.