Housing as a human right the focus of new QUT research group
QUT has established a new cross-disciplinary research group to tackle the housing crisis with more than 50 experts analysing the challenges and current policies in a quest to provide solutions.
The QUT Centre for Justice Housing Security Research Group will be launched today (Tuesday April 8) at a QUT Real Housing Seminar, which also marks the official launch of the QUT arm of the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI).
The seminar, at the QUT Garden’s Point campus from 2.30pm-4.30pm, features speakers including Dr Lyndall Bryant, director of the new housing research group and QUT AHURI, who says housing should always be seen as a basic human right.
“The Australian Government’s National Housing Accord pledges to build 1.2 million new, well-located homes over five years from 2024. This is a worthy, but ambitious target and we must consider how it might be possible,” Dr Bryant said.
“Our Centre for Justice Housing Security Research Group is devoted to addressing the housing supply puzzle. The focus is on finding solutions to social injustice across the full housing spectrum, regardless of social status or geo-political spatial location in a globalised world.
“What’s needed is a suite of ways to fast-track supply to urgently address what has become a critical societal issue. There is no silver bullet. Housing is a real-world problem and a research priority for QUT.
“By becoming Queensland’s only university member of AHURI, we are capitalising on AHURI’s dedication to housing, homelessness, cities and related urban research that supports policy development at all levels of government, assists industry in improving practice and informs the broader community.
“Our aim is to deliver impactful evidence-based research to inform and guide housing policy, tapping into the expertise of researchers from fields including business, law, engineering, health, science and education.”
The keynote presentations at the seminar are:
Keynote 1 – State of the National Housing System
- Distinguished Professor Rachel Ong ViforJ, School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, Curtin University and Member, National Housing Supply and Affordability Council.
Keynote 2 - Queensland Government's Housing Priorities
- Kirstine Harvie, Acting Deputy Director-General - Policy, Performance and First Nations, Department of Housing and Public Works.
Their talks will be followed by a panel discussion with other speakers including Dr Mark Limb, from the QUT School of Architecture and Built Environment, an experienced urban planner with a deep understanding of strategic land use planning, policy evaluation and urban design, as well as Michael Fotheringham, Managing Director of AHURI.
The QUT Real Housing Seminar is open to the public and free to attend.
Main image: Dr Lyndall Bryant. Photo by Tony Phillips, QUT
Media contact:
Amanda Weaver
QUT Media
07 3138 2361 / 0407 585 901 (After Hours)
