The Rise of Co-Operative Housing
Timeline of key milestones
7 July 2018
Common Equity CEO James Brown was a Guest Speaker at the University of WA on International Coops Day to share the benefits of co-operative housing
6 July 2018
Common Equity CEO James Brown was a Guest Speaker at the University of WA on International Coops Day to share the benefits of co-operative housing
28 May 2018
Common Equity and University of Technology Sydney awarded FACS Liveable Communities Grant to identify and overcome barriers to the uptake of co-housing for seniors and to unlock the benefits of the model to government and mainstream communities
28 May 2018
Common Equity and University of Technology Sydney awarded FACS Liveable Communities Grant to identify and overcome barriers to the uptake of co-housing for seniors and to unlock the benefits of the model to government and mainstream communities
3 May 2018
Common Equity CEO James Brown Guest Speaker at Local Affordable Housing Forum in Bellingen (Mid North Coast NSW) to discuss innovative ways to create more affordable housing locally
21 April 2018
Opening of the new Guilford Seniors Co-Operative (20 units) to handover the building to the co-operative residents. Common Equity was the first provider to deliver a second housing project under the Communities Plus Program (Community Housing Provider Program) and delivered the project ahead of schedule
5 April 2018
Common Equity CEO James Brown Guest Speaker at Auburn Affording Housing Action Group to discuss how the co-operative housing model can support segments across the housing continuum and how we can work together with Govt agencies and not-for-profit support services to deliver better outcomes for housing
31 March 2018
Common Equity released a Discussion Paper outlining 42 Initiatives to enable affordable housing in Local Government Areas. Common Equity submitted this Paper to Waverley Council in response to their Community Strategic Plan
22 March 2018
Common Equity CEO James Brown Guest Contributor at Newcastle City Council Affordable Living Round Table to assist the Council with solutions for The Newcastle City’s Affordable Living Plan
13 March 2018
Common Equity CEO James Brown Guest Contributor at Affordable Housing Roundtable between Mutual ADIs & CHPs to discuss collective solutions for facilitating affordable housing
16 February 2018
Common Equity CEO James Brown Guest Speaker at NDS NSW Conference to discuss future options for accommodation support and the role of parent-lead initiatives
31 January 2018
Common Equity made a submission to Draft SEPP 70 to demonstrate the Co-Operative Housing model can effectively support and benefit Government/Local Councils, developers and residents to deliver more affordable housing
30 November 2017
Common Equity CEO James Brown Guest Speaker at the National Housing Conference 2017 discussing co-operative housing as a new pathway for older Australians
29 November 2017
National Co-Op Housing Network committed to develop a set of shared equity housing models for the Australian market to be enabled through the co-operative model
21 November 2017
Common Equity ranked the #1 housing provider for Tenant Satisfaction & Engagement in Australia as assessed by NSW Federation of Housing Associations Inc Benchmarking Data Study of 30 Community Housing Providers nationwide
3 November 2017
Common Equity & The Business Council of Co-Operatives & Mutuals (BCCM) made a joint submission to NSW Fair Trading Inquiry into Retirement Villages to demonstrate that co-operative housing is a better alternative to retirement villages leading to enhanced outcomes for residents, Government and community
1 November 2017
Common Equity & The University of Newcastle hosted a Community Forum showcasing co-operative solutions to the housing challenge
19 October 2017
National Co-Op Housing Network commitment to a 3-Year Research Project to be led by University of Western Sydney in partnership with The University of Sydney and The University of Newcastle to demonstrate the value of housing co-operatives including the economic, social, community, health & wellbeing benefits
17 October 2017
Common Equity in partnership with Community Housing Limited (CHL) wins Government tender for the Management Transfer of 1,324 properties on the Mid North Coast. An Australian-first that will give public housing tenants the choice of how they want their housing to be managed; with the ability to opt-in to the co-operative housing model
9 October 2017
Common Equity made a submission to Newcastle City Council to promote co-operates are part of the Draft Affordable Living Plan for Newcastle City Council
6 October 2017
Common Equity purchased 2 properties in Forster to develop new co-operative housing
25 August 2017
Key Ceremony held at the opening of the new Jannali Co-Operative (10 town-houses) to handover the building to the co-operative residents. Common Equity was the first provider to deliver a new project under the Communities Plus Program (Community Housing Provider Program) and delivered the project ahead of schedule
16 August 2017
Common Equity committed to undertaking the development of pilot co-operative housing programs to develop Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) in partnership with Supporting Independent Living Co-Operatives (SILC)
August 2017
Common Equity in partnership with Blue CHP wins Government tender to develop 60 units for co-operative housing in Liverpool
4 July 2017
Common Equity purchased property in Cabramatta to develop 29 units for co-operative housing for Vietnamese Seniors
30 June 2017
Reforms to Human Services; Productivity Draft Commission Report (from the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Human Services Reforms – Second Stage) is exploring innovative ways to improve outcomes through introducing the principles of competition and informed user choice in areas of human services; including social housing and a commitment to a diversity of organisational forms in the provision of these services such as co-operative housing
12 June 2017
Common Equity committed to invest in new, modern and efficient IT system as a platform to enhance customer service, best practice asset management and future efficiencies
9 June 2017
Common Equity registered as a Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Provider, enabling Common Equity to service those with disabilities and providing a new pathway for people with severe disabilities the opportunity to access co-operative housing
13 April 2017
The Federal Parliamentary Friends of Co-Ops was formed to provide recognition and policy outcomes for co-operatives, including establishing a forum for Members of Parliament and Senators to meet and interact with mutual and co-operatives organisations
February 2017
Common Equity & BCCM made a joint submission to Reforms to Human Services; Second Stage of Human Service Inquiry, outlining that areas of human services would benefit from diversity of organisational forms of co-operatives in the provision of human services, including in the area of social housing
September 2016
Common Equity helped establish Supporting Independent Living Co-operative (SILC) to create great, sustainable homes and life experience for people living with disabilities, by connecting families and communities including encouraging the development of co-operatives
11 August 2016
Common Equity launched a new plan to grow and diversify co-operative housing
August 2016
Common Equity wins two Government Tenders from the new Land & Housing Commission (LAHC) Communities Plus Program (Community Housing Provider Program) to deliver neighbourhood community developments in Jannali & Guildford (Seniors co-op). Common Equity was the only tier 2 provider to be successful in the Tender process
18 July 2016