Home for All - Social Housing

The importance of Social Housing in Australia
2 Formal CPD Points

Surging house prices in Australian cities and regions, over the past 12 months, have resulted in the highest price growth in Australia in more than 3 decades.

While comforting for those who already own their home, it’s a sobering reminder to others seeking secure housing tenure – long term renters, low-income earners, young people, and social disadvantaged groups, of an ever-widening economic disparity.

While the expectation of home and land ownership has long been embedded in the Australian psyche, for a growing number of Australians it’s a distant dream and, as price & housing supply pressures flow on to higher costs of renting many people have sought security in social housing accommodation.

Well-designed social housing can be both the saviour and enabler for people at so many levels by improving outcomes for mental health, social connection, education, and employment.

Well-designed social housing therefore has an important role to play in improving people’s lives.

Join our panel of experts next month as they share their experiences in designing, developing, and operating social housing developments.

The webinar, to be led by Sydney Architect and leading social housing designer, Anthony Nolan (Kennedy Associates) along with a group of social housing design and development professionals will include presentations and discussion on the following:

• What are some of the varieties and types of social housing models being built?

• What are the key demographics that need to be addressed? What is critical to delivering successful project outcomes – i.e., good housing outcomes for people?

• What are the key considerations for resident comfort - energy, flexibility, community issues, outdoor spaces, accessibility and being climate appropriate?

• How do we integrate social housing communities within the local area services and activities to imbue connectedness and equality of opportunity and amenity?

• What are the key considerations when designing for residents with special needs - health, accessibility, and cultural groups?

• What are the types of structures of Modern Social Housing Developments - Government, Developer & Non-For-Profit Housing Providers?

• How do architects best design for "sustainable social housing outcomes" that promote resilience against climate extremes and consider the ongoing operational and maintenance costs as well as the living expenses of occupants?

• What is the role for Innovative construction concepts for social housing - prefab/modular possibilities and materials?

• Case studies of various social housing projects throughout Australia.