What are the forces that shape the city? Is unabated property development the answer to the housing crisis? Is there a crisis anyway, and for whom? Thomas Chailloux from Shelter NSW was delighted to be invited to deliver a guest lecture as part of the University of Sydney’s ‘Property and the Built Environment’ course led by Dr Martin Abbott. This introductory course provides an overview of modern property development theory and practice, in a mostly Australian context. 
 
Over the course of two hours, Thomas was pleased to engage with 60 urban planning and social sciences students, giving an overview of the policy and legal structures that underpin the housing system, and the policy levers that the various levels of government can use to respond to housing market failures, as well as inviting the urban planning, property development and policy making professionals of tomorrow to think about how our housing system reflects the kind of society that we accept. 

Awareness raising of housing issues and their impact on people who face disadvantage and capacity building for community members, not for profit organisations, and anyone with an interest in housing and homelessness policy is a core aspect of Shelter NSW work. 

We welcome inquiries about training on systemic advocacy, the role of a strong civil society in democratic policy making, and of course the failures of our housing system and what we see as the solutions to work towards a secure home for all. Just get in touch with our team!