Housing at a crossroads: Addressing crisis, inequality and the future

Housing systems are in crisis worldwide. Declining investment in social housing, the retreat of the welfare state, and the financialisation of property have deepened inequality, fuelling a precarious rental sector and widening wealth disparities.

Opened by NSW Minister for Housing Rose Jackson and hosted by the School of Architecture, Design, and Planning, the 2025 Australasian Housing Researchers Conference will bring together global experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to explore solutions and shape the future of housing.

Key policy discussions include First Nations led models of housing, targeted urban reforms and affordability mandates, alternative housing tenures, robust policy settings for the private rental market, opportunities and risks around institutional investment and build-to-rent, and models for climate resilient housing development.

Conference co-chair Professor Nicole Gurran from the School of Architecture, Design and Planning said: “With Australia’s housing crisis reflecting decades of policy failure we need sound research evidence to inform solutions.

“This conference brings international experts from the US, Canada, the UK and the Asia-Pacific region to share the latest research evidence on reforms for housing supply and affordability, experiences with institutional investment in housing, climate risks and transition in the residential sector, and empowering First Nations housing models."

Technological shifts and the rise of platform-based housing models are reshaping the market – often intensifying affordability pressures. 

“Despite planning reforms aimed at increasing supply, housing remains unaffordable for many. Meanwhile, unsustainable development and poor housing design are leaving communities vulnerable to climate change. First Nations communities face persistent barriers to securing safe, appropriate and affordable housing,” said Professor Gurran.

Conference co-host Dr Laurence Troy from the School of Architecture, Design and Planning said: "Housing systems are at a critical juncture, shaped by the intersecting forces. 

“Addressing housing inequality requires bold interventions that move beyond market-driven solutions to prioritise social equity, affordability and sustainability."

Key conference highlights

• A plenary on First Nations housing, including First Nations researchers and practitioners from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Housing Association (NATSIA) and the NSW Aboriginal Housing Office.
• Planning reform for affordable housing supply? International evidence and Australian policy debates, featuring Dr Christina Stacey from the eminent Urban Institute, Washington DC; Professor Karen Chapple, School of Cities Toronto; Professor Steven Rowley, Curtin University.
• Institutional investment and the future of the private rental sector, with speakers including Professor Nicola Livingston, University of Glasgow; Professor Rachel Ong Vifor J, Curtin University; Trina Jones, the NSW Rental Commissioner, and Angela Buckley, LIV Mirvac.