Policy Implications of the Ageing of Australia’s Population

The ageing of the population is recognised as one of the major changes facing Australia at the turn of the century. Processes of individual and population aging have major implications for the changing composition and use of the nation’s housing stock. Equally important are the effects of housing on the economic and social wellbeing of people over the entire life span and particularly in old age. This paper examines impacts of population ageing on housing markets in Australia and explores implications for both individuals and public policy. There is an emphasis on understanding housing demand from the perspectives of older people themselves.