This report provides a case study of Tennant Creek and the surrounding Barkly Region in the Northern Territory, to highlight the relationship between remote housing, crowding and infectious disease.

Key Findings:

• Housing that is unrepaired and crowded contributes to transmission of preventable infections.
• New housing is required to reduce current crowding, yet no new housing has been built in at least 12 years in the Barkly region. Housing repairs are often delayed.
• In remote communities without functioning washing machines or sufficient hot water, a clinician noted the impact of unwashed clothing and bedding, leading to bad chest infections and sores.
• An Anyinginyi clinician stated that in the past, when houses have been built, they noticed immediately a drop in scabies cases. There was also a mental change in families, and the children were healthier and happier.