“My message today for this room, is that we are keen to work with the people in this room. We’re keen to work with the co-op sector. We’re keen to ensure that, while co-op housing is not excluded from government programs, that there is a fair playing field.”
Josh Burns, Federal Labor Member for McNamara and Special Envoy for Social Housing and Homelessness addressed the crowd at the second annual Australian Co-operative Housing Alliance (ACHA) Summit in Melbourne.
“I know that one thing we all share and want is for Australians and our fellow community members to have that sense of belonging and that sense of place. When you add the extra effort that co-ops are asking of people […] you get that sense of belonging,” Mr Burns said.
The presence of a Federal Member of Parliament, together with the media attention the summit attracted shows that co-ops are increasingly part of the national housing conversation.
The second annual ACHA Summit brought together speakers from across Australia and around the world, each bringing a unique perspective on their co-op housing experience.
The founders of All Nations, Australia’s first transgender housing co-op shared how they secured safe housing for their community in collaboration with the City of Sydney Council. Leaders of STUCCO, Sydney’s long-running student housing co-op, spoke about creating affordable homes for university students in the heart of one of the country’s most expensive rental markets.
CEHL was strongly represented, with staff and co-op directors presenting and attending sessions. A highlight was a panel on how co-ops support placemaking for vulnerable people, featuring Dragon City CERC Director Sharon Scott, CEHL General Manager Alyce Holmes and Karren Walker – long-time Sunshine CERC Co-op Director, former CEHL Board Chair, and now CEO of United Housing Co-op in Melbourne. Together, they showed that co-ops are more than just housing – they are places to heal, connect, and thrive.
Melina Morrison, CEO of the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals, introduced the day’s closing speaker, Melbourne’s Deputy Mayor Roshena Campbell. Ms Campbell wrapped up the Summit with a powerful call to reimagine a new housing future for the city.
“It’s time that Australia identifies some new dreams and some new ways to realise them. The reality is the role of every level of government is to make sure that every Australian has a roof over their head,” she said.
The 2025 ACHA Summit brought fresh energy and renewed purpose to the co-op housing sector. It reinforced the power of partnerships between communities, providers and governments, and highlighted the importance of keeping co-ops firmly in the public conversation. More than a fallback for those who can’t afford other options, co-ops are being recognised as a housing choice that offers security, community and long-term value.
ACHA Chair and CEHL Managing Director, Liz Thomas, summed up the day. “Co-ops are proving that housing can be done differently, at scale, sustainably, and with people at the centre.”
