Housing Supply and Affordability Forum
Mapping UNSW’s interdisciplinary expertise across all aspects of one of NSW's most complex and pressing challenges
The problem
Housing supply and affordability in New South Wales (NSW) and more broadly across Australia represents a quintessential wicked problem - a deeply complex, multifaceted issue that defies simple solutions and demands coordinated, systemic responses. At its core, the issue is driven by a persistent mismatch between housing supply and demand, exacerbated by soaring rents, stagnant social housing growth, planning, regulation, and construction industry issues, and increasing homelessness. The roots and ramifications of the problem implicate and affect a wide array of stakeholders, systems, and socio-political dynamics.
Our approach
In collaboration with Lucy Turnbull AO and the Turnbull Foundation, the UNSW Innovation Hub has brought together experts from across the university to collectively map the complex systems shaping housing supply and affordability in NSW.
The project commenced with an internal mapping process, with the view to future external-facing engagements with industry and government. Through this important collaboration, UNSW has a unique opportunity to position itself as an expert interdisciplinary voice in the housing policy space, without the political or financial agendas that often hinder the progression from dialogue to action.
The outcome
In stage one of this project, the Innovation Hub brought together the many and varied experts from across UNSW to create a map of the interconnected and interdependent issues that create and contribute to the ongoing challenge around housing supply and affordability.
This was achieved through an in-person forum that produced a systems map visualisation and the basis for an issues paper that will illuminate the interconnected nature of the problem, written by experts from across UNSW.
The forum, systems mapping and issues paper are each a collaboration with Lucy Turnbull AO, drawing upon her extensive experience and expertise in government, urban planning, and community issues.
Project partners
- Turnbull Foundation
- UNSW Business
- UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture
- UNSW Engineering
- City Futures Research Centre
Work with us
The UNSW Innovation Hub tackles diverse problem-solving projects, varying in size, complexity and subject matter. We specialise in complex challenges that require collaboration, a design-led approach, and that can’t be addressed by a single discipline.
If you have a project proposal or potential partnership that you would like to discuss, please get in touch.
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