Renting in Australia is no longer just expensive. It is unstable, exhausting and quietly wearing people down.

In this episode of Navigating the Rental Market During Housing Crisis, I am joined by Alice Pennycott, Principal Lawyer (Tenancy) at Circle Green Community Legal in WA, and Leo Paterson-Ross, CEO of the Tenants' Union of NSW and a representative of the National Association of Tenant Organisations.

This is an honest conversation about what renters are facing, beyond the headlines and the data:

• Why Australia’s rental system rewards profit while stability falls through the cracks
• How vacancy rates mask the reality of people being pushed out, not just priced up
• Why doing everything right no longer protects renters from serious mental and financial strain
• Why different eviction laws in NSW and WA still produce the same fear of losing home
• What we lost when housing stopped being a public good, and why rebuilding at scale matters
• Why rental or homelessness insurance won't solve this, and what actually would

This conversation names what renters know but rarely say out loud: the fear of being labelled difficult, the data you give up just to compete and the exhaustion of living on the edge.

Contrary to what we hear often, this is not a wicked or unsolvable crisis. It’s systemic, human-made and entirely fixable — not through personal resilience, but by changing a system broken by design.

What would it actually take to make renting stable, dignified again and humane again?

If you rent, work in housing or want to understand why so many people feel stuck despite doing everything right, this is a grounded and necessary discussion worth listening to.

#HousingAffordability #HousingInsecurity #HousingJustice #NSWRenters #TenancyRights #WArenters

Before recording this Episode 12, I read a story about a man who had been given a bath all his life and was finally able to take his first independent shower after moving into an accessible home.

That moment captures my conversation with Nicole Makin-Doherty, CEO and Managing Director of Empowered Liveability, about dignity, independence and inclusion and why so many Australians are still locked out of housing that works for them

We explored why only 5% of new homes meet basic accessibility standards and how more than 40% of SDA rooms are unoccupied while thousands of people are still searching for a place to live.

Nicole explained how this mismatch comes down to location, design and misunderstanding of how the NDIS actually works and what can be done to fix it.

Here are some key takeaways:

• Why over 1,000 SDA homes are vacant and how location, design and policy all play a role
• The biggest misconception investors have about SDA and why the NDIS doesn’t guarantee rent
• How inclusive design benefits everyone, from parents with prams to people recovering from injury and anyone who wants to age in place
• The crossover between SDA and social housing could help bridge the gap for people who need accessible homes but aren’t NDIS participants

People thrive when they can stay in their own homes. We need to move beyond compliance and design truly inclusive communities that don’t lock people out by focusing on:

• Physical access – homes that work for daily life
• Sensory access – design that support sensory needs
• Financial access – housing that is affordable, not just available
• Ageing in place – staying close to family improves health and connection
• Community access – transport, public spaces and workplaces that include everyone

Any of us could need accessible housing tomorrow. Inclusive homes and infrastructure create communities that support independence, connection and dignity for everyone.

Resources mentioned:

• Housing Hub – quarterly data on demand and funding
• Summer Foundation – research and advocacy on accessible housing
• Empowered Livability – provider insights and case studies

#AccessibleHousing #SDA #NDIS #AgeingInPlace #UniversalDesign #DisabilityInclusion #SocialImpact

Over the past 48 hours, four states - Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria - have been hit by extreme weather. Record-breaking October heat, destructive winds and severe storms have left parts of the country reeling from floods and widespread power outages.

If anyone still thinks climate change is a future problem, look outside.

By 2050, more than one million Australian homes could be uninsurable. According to the Climate Council, flood-prone properties have already lost $42 billion in value and disaster costs are projected to reach $73 billion each year.

In Episode 12, I spoke with Danny Rose, Manager Roads and Stormwater Engineering at ⁠Tweed Shire Council⁠ and Deputy President ⁠Floodplain Management Australia⁠, ⁠ and ⁠Patrick Leahy⁠, Director at ⁠SG Group Real Estate Advisors,⁠ about what happens after the disaster .

We explored what happens after disaster strikes and how communities are rethinking resilience. Here is what they shared:

• How the 2011 and 2022 floods reshaped entire regions and led many residents to stop rebuilding
• What happens to roads, drainage and utilities when buybacks transform neighbourhoods
• How councils decide what to rebuild, relocate or retire to reduce future risk
• Why advanced flood modelling and the checkerboard effect are changing where new homes can be safely approved
• How buyback lessons are informing recovery in bushfire, wind and landslide-prone areas
• Why community education and trust-building are essential before disaster strikes

We are already seeing this play out across NSW and QLD as communities work out what it really means to rebuild safely.

This episode builds on:

• Episode 8 Engineering and Planning Solutions for a Climate-Ready Australia with Pradesh Ramiah and Rob Cowle
• Episode 10 Can we solve the housing AND climate crisis at the same time? with Ammon Beyerle and Jeremy Mansfield OAM

🎧 Tune in to hear how councils and communities are rewriting the rulebook on rebuilding after disaster, and what it means for your home, your investment and your future.

Resources mentioned:

• Australia’s National Climate Risk Assessment (2025) – Australian Climate Service
• Floodplain Management Australia – national network for flood resilience and planning
• Tweed Shire Council Floodplain Management – practical examples of recovery and adaptation

#Buybacks #BuiltEnvironment #HousingResilience #FloodManagement #SustainableHousing