Australia

Older and poorer: Retirement Income Review can’t ignore the changing role of home

The assumption that retired people have minimal housing costs underpins the settings of our retirement incomes system. But the real state of housing for older Australians today makes it critical for the Retirement Incomes Review to look at the evidence that now challenges this assumption.
2020

At Risk: Understanding the population size and demographics of older women at risk of homelessness in Australia

The housing circumstances of low income older households, in particular female headed households, has become a matter of significant concern over the last few years with increasing numbers of women at risk of homelessness and experiencing homelessness, often for the first time in older age. Unfortunately, there is no one data set that can capture all of the factors that appear to influence low in
2020

At Risk: 405,000 older women risk homelessness without urgent policy reform

Older women have a right to appropriate and affordable housing as a foundation for their wellbeing, however they are the fastest growing cohort of people experiencing homelessness in Australia. Older women’s pathway to homelessness is a gendered issue and a consequence of long-term systemic issues.
2020

400,000 women over 45 are at risk of homelessness in Australia

Older women have been recognised as the fastest-growing group of homeless people in Australia in recent years. Yet until now we have not known exactly how many older women are at risk of homelessness. Older people are generally considered to be at less risk of homelessness because of their higher rates of home ownership.
2020

‘Uprooting, no matter how small a plant you are, is a trauma’: older women renters are struggling

Older women renters are struggling in an insecure and unaffordable rental housing market. A combination of high rents and low incomes leaves many living in substandard housing and unable to afford necessities like food and energy bills. Rrent increases further stress household budgets, and evictions magnify these risks. COVID-19 makes the need for reform even more urgent.
2020

‘Ageing in neighbourhood’: what seniors want instead of retirement villages and how to achieve it

As we age, most people prefer to stay in their own homes and communities instead of moving to retirement villages. Some have gone so far as to say retirement villages have had their day. What’s needed instead is adaptable housing and neighbourhoods to help people as they move through life’s stages. Are the days of the retirement village numbered?
2020

Retire the retirement village – the wall and what’s behind it is so 2020

An article examining the results of a study into an ageing Australian society. The Longevity by Design Challenge brought new perspectives to preparing and adapting Australian cities to capitalise on the “longevity” phenomenon over coming decades.
2020

Why more retirees are still paying off mortgages

Big numbers of Australian Baby Boomers are now entering retirement with a mortgage. The proportion of homeowners who still have a mortgage at the point of retirement in 2016 surged 23 per cent in a decade to 36 per cent. Generation X are also heading towards retirement with mortgage debt. This article examines the reasons behind this phenomenon.
2020

Mutual Appreciation: A Social Innovation Think Piece

A triple threat is looming in relation to ageing in Australia, one with particular implications for women. While access to secure and affordable housing can mean the difference between poverty and a decent life in older age, full home ownership in Australia is increasingly a privilege. As we age, housing takes on particular significance.
2019

Housing in an ageing Australia: Nest and nest egg?

Homeownership serves multiple purposes over the life cycle: It acts as a home as well as a store of wealth to guarantee financial security in retirement. Its lack in old age compromises security of both tenure and finances. Much has been written about housing and homeownership. Here we apply the prism of population ageing to bring new insights to the topic. This brief is in three parts.
2019
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