Program

Includes Welcome to Country and welcome from Dr Michael Fotheringham, Managing Director, AHURI

This session will look at the transformative journey of First Nations housing - from historical challenges to a vision to deliver innovations that tackle homelessness, boost home ownership, and create thriving communities.

 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 

Exhibition Precinct

Major Concurrent 1 - Chicken and eggs: major infrastructure and housing projects

This session will spotlight some of Australia's game-changing infrastructure and housing projects and explore their economic, sustainability, and community impacts.

 Economic enablers 

Major Concurrent 2 - Private landlords: motivators and housing projects

Explore the complex dynamics shaping Australia's rental sector in this insightful panel discussion. Gain a deeper understanding of the motivations driving private landlords and the far-reaching impacts on tenants, policy, and the housing market as a whole. 

 Economic enablers 

Major Concurrent 3 - The burning platform: housing, climate and disaster resilience

Explore strategies for social housing to enhance resilience, improve comfort and reduce emissions. Strategies focus on managing and mitigating environmental risks and increasing energy-efficiency. 

 Quality and performance 

Exhibition Precinct

Concurrent 1 - Collaborative approaches to accessible housing

Explore housing solutions for people with disabilities, focusing on community empowerment, inclusive policies, and accessible, affordable housing.

 Social outcomes 

Concurrent 2 - Time to deliver: Affordable housing for workers

This session will look at solutions for affordable housing for key workers, leveraging innovative financing models, and addressing regional housing challenges.

 Economic enablers 

Concurrent 3 - Towards gender-responsive housing: evidence, practice and lived experience

Why is gender-responsive housing important, and what factors should it consider?  This session will address issues of housing precarity, examine policy responses, and propose innovative solutions for inclusive housing outcomes.

 Social outcomes 

Concurrent 4 - Time to deliver: housing responses to support young people

Explore innovative youth housing solutions, focusing on community-led initiatives, support systems, and addressing exploitation and eviction risks.

 Social outcomes 

Concurrent 5 - Neighbourhood planning in an era of densification

As urban areas continue to grow and densify, the role of neighbourhood planning becomes increasingly critical. This session will explore the challenges and opportunities that arise when planning for neighbourhoods in an era of densification.

 Quality and performance 

Think Tank 1 - Building capacity to maintain tenancies

Practical strategies to prevent homelessness and promote stable housing solutions, including hoarding intervention, rental education, pattern recognition, and organisational collaboration.

Session Sponsor

Exhibition Precinct

Responses to Australia’s housing crisis have focused heavily on supply as the main solution. But have we oversimplified the problem? Leaders of this important public conversation look behind the slogans and discuss whether supply really is Australia’s housing ‘silver bullet’ - and identify what else we might be missing.

Session Sponsor

Networking breakfast at Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. More information to follow.

Welcome to the day

Plenary 3 - A different dream: rent as Australia’s dominant housing tenure
As the landscape of housing in Australia evolves, renting is becoming an increasingly prevalent tenure. This session will explore the implications of this shift, featuring insights from the NSW Rental Commissioner, Trina Jones.

Session Sponsor

Exhibition precinct

Major Concurrent 4  - City scaping: housing and planning

This session will explore perspectives on a national vision for shaping Australian cities.

 Quality and performance 

Major Concurrent 5 - Innovative partnerships: delivering First Nations housing

This session showcases community-led, cross-sector partnerships in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing, and how they are delivering on accessibility, safety, and economic participation through culturally informed solutions.

 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 

Major Concurrent 6 - Social Capital: social housing finance models, risks and learnings

This session will compare various funding models in the housing sector, highlighting their risks and benefits. It will provide insights from implementing these models, preparing community housing providers and investors to navigate funding streams and maximise benefits.

 Economic enablers 

Exhibition precinct

Concurrent 6 -  Government roles in housing co-purchase

Explore government roles in housing co-purchase, focusing on innovative financial solutions, affordable homeownership, and culturally responsive policies.

 Economic enablers 

Concurrent 7 - Driving system reforms for better health and housing outcomes

This session explores strategies to drive systemic reforms that integrate health and housing services to improve outcomes for individuals experiencing housing instability and homelessness.

 Social outcomes 

Concurrent 8 - Power moves: Toward energy efficient social housing

This session will discuss strategies and research for energy-efficient social housing, retrofit programs, and policy frameworks aimed at net-zero emissions and sustainability. 

 Quality and performance 

Concurrent 9 - Delivering culturally responsive housing

This session will explore contemporary approaches to delivering culturally responsive housing, focusing on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family structures, innovative housing solutions, and investment in self-determined communities.

 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 

Concurrent 10 - Experience. Voice. Impact

This session will explore social impact measurement in community housing, crisis management in the social media age, and empowering resident voices through lived experiences in housing system reforms.

 Social outcomes 

Think Tank 2 - Informal and transitional housing solutions

Alternative housing arrangements and innovative approaches to addressing housing needs and community connection in an environment of housing shortages.

Session Sponsor

Exhibition Precinct

Poor housing quality and design can impact household wellbeing, security, and health, and entails environmental and financial risks. With the race on to deliver more housing and transform our cities through densification, how are we tracking in the delivery of better places and healthier housing? What approaches are working and where are we doing well?

Networking breakfast at Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. More information to follow.

The role of social housing in Australia has changed significantly over time. Are we brave enough to lift our gaze from the urgency of today and reimagine the next phase for this critical social infrastructure? Presenting three highly personal visions for social housing in 2050, this session will provoke conversations on how social housing can best support future Australians and help shape our cities and towns.

Session Sponsor

Exhibition Precinct

Concurrent 11 - Time to deliver: modern methods of construction

This session will explore the transformative impact of modern methods of construction and how it is revolutionising the construction industry by enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and adaptability.

 Quality and performance 

Concurrent 12 -  Disruption and displacement: Addressing homelessness caused by major events

This session will examine the impact of major events on housing and homelessness, focusing on displacement, disruption, and mitigation strategies.

 Social outcomes 

Concurrent 13 - Building the workforce in housing, homelessness and construction

This session explores strategies to address workforce challenges in the housing, homelessness, and construction sectors.

 Economic enablers 

Concurrent 14 - Social housing renewal projects: recent lessons

This session will discuss policy frameworks and innovative models for social housing renewal, focusing on ground lease models, regional financing, and design advocacy.

 Quality and performance 

Concurrent 15 - Unlocking the contribution of faith-based organisations

How can faith-based organisations repurpose surplus land for affordable housing? This session explores strategic collaborations, financing models, and innovative planning approaches.

 Economic enablers 

Think Tank 3 - Building supply of affordable, sustainable homes

Solutions working to supply affordable and sustainable homes, including data-driven housing solutions, climate-resilient social housing, hybrid models, and vertical village designs.

Session Sponsor

Exhibition Precinct

This session brings together influential voices to draw on insights from across the conference program for a forward-looking discussion. Speakers will discuss what’s next for tackling the critical challenges and innovative solutions shaping Australia's housing landscape. 

Close and wrap up

Bringing it all together.