News

Federal Election 2025

In the lead up to the next Federal Election which will be called in 2025, there is real momentum for change to address older person's homelessness across the country. Our voices are powerful and the housing crisis gripping Australia will be a key election issue.

We encourage you to contact your local federal representative and other local candidates to request meetings to talk about the issue of older person's homelessness and what needs to change. Local members are often keen to meet their constituents, especially when there is an upcoming election. They are interested in local concerns and with the right information, encouragement and clear recommendations, you can be a champion for older people and their housing issues.

Find out more about how you can get involved 

Retirement bill a step in right direction, but more needs to be done to protect residents

Housing for the Aged Action Group calls the government’s Retirement Villages Act Amendments Bill, released today after a five-year consultation period, a “mixed bag” that includes important improvements for residents but leaves some major areas of concern inadequately addressed.

Residential parks survey now open!

The Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC), in partnership with the Commissioner for Residential Tenancies, aim to research the issues faced by tenants in residential parks by engaging with residents, industry experts, housing professionals, and community organisations. A key part of the project includes surveys for residents and operators to identify their challenges.

 

Residential Park Survey opened 11 October 2024

  • Duration: 10-15 minutes
  • For: former, current and prospective residential park residents, residents’ families, and on-site and off-site park managers in Victoria
  • Purpose: findings will inform a comprehensive report to be published and considered by the Victorian Government
  • Survey closes: 11 November 2024
  • Additionally, the Commissioner for Residential Tenancies is taking submissions until 8 November 2024 at https://www.rentingcommissioner.vic.gov.au/

Not poor enough, not rich enough: new research highlights older Australians falling through the cracks of housing crisis

More than half a million Australians aged 55 or over are at risk of falling through the cracks, according to a new Swinburne report launched today, that shows they are neither poor enough to qualify for effective and accessible housing assistance nor wealthy enough to secure housing independently as they age.

World Homeless Day plea – VPTA and HAAG push for bold public housing commitment

This World Homeless Day, the Victorian Public Tenants Association (VPTA) is calling on the state government to urgently address the social housing crisis by committing to the delivery of at least 60,000 new social housing homes, a strong proportion of which must be public housing homes, over the next decade.

Flemington High Rise Residents concerned about relocations

In September, the Save Public Housing Collective held a residents meeting at 120 Racecourse Road in Flemington. It was attended by approximately 60 residents of the estate, many of whom were older tenants. Residents were asked to contribute to the discussion, and we think more than anything else, it’s important to hear directly from older residents about their concerns. What follows is some of what they said.

Statement on appropriate regulation of Retirement Villages

A series of stories published by the ABC this week highlighted unfair fees, confusing contracts and poor treatment of residents living in retirement villages. Government must act now to protect retirement village residents from exploitation and eviction.

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