Inquiry into Homelessness in Victoria · support to help them navigate access to housing options and prevent them from falling into a cycle of homelessness. Recommendation 13: The

Inquiry into Homelessness in Victoria

Ms Lauren Henley

Organisation Name:Council of the Ageing, Victoria Your position or role: Senior Policy Officer

SURVEY QUESTIONSDrag the statements below to reorder them. In order of priority, please rank the themes you believe are most important for this inquiry into homelessness to consider:: Housing affordability,Public housing,Services,Employment,Family violence,Indigenous people,Mental health,Rough sleeping

What best describes your interest in our Inquiry? (select all that apply) : A peak body

Are there any additional themes we should consider?

YOUR SUBMISSIONSubmission:

Do you have any additional comments or suggestions?:

FILE ATTACHMENTSFile1: 5e322b6f11db5-2020 01 30 COTA Vic Homelessness Submission FNL.pdfFile2: 5e322b6f15864-2020 01 30 COTA Vic Homelessness Submission FNL.docxFile3:

Signature:Lauren Henley

LC LSIC Inquiry into Homelessness in Victoria

Submission 235

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COUNCIL ON THE AGEING VICTORIA SUBMISSION:

VICTORIAN INQUIRY INTO HOMELESSNESS

Prepared by

COTA Victoria

January 2019


Submission 235

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COUNCIL ON THE AGEING VICTORIA SUBMISSION: VICTORIAN INQUIRY INTO HOMELESSNESS | 2

To:

Parliament of Victoria

Legislative Assembly, Legal and Social Issues Committee

Parliament House, Spring Street

EAST MELBOURNE VIC 3002

Via email to: [email protected]

COTA Victoria

Prepared by:

Lauren Henley

Policy Officer

Council on the Ageing Victoria

Authorised by

Tina Hogarth-Clarke

Chief Executive Officer

Council on the Ageing Victoria


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. About COTA Victoria ............................................................................................................................ 4

2. Introductory comments ....................................................................................................................... 4

3. Summary of recommendations ........................................................................................................... 5

4. Homelessness amongst older people: A demographic snapshot ....................................................... 9

4.1. General statistics .......................................................................................................................... 9

4.2. Older women ................................................................................................................................ 9

4.3. Our nation’s first people .............................................................................................................. 9

4.4. Older people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds ...................................... 10

5. Effectiveness of responses to older people experiencing or at risk of homelessness ..................... 11

5.1. Generic homelessness services .................................................................................................. 11

5.2. Responses to homelessness within the aged care system ....................................................... 11

5.3. Availability of gender-appropriate services .............................................................................. 13

5.4. Addressing the needs of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness through bushfire

response and relief ................................................................................................................................. 13

6. Hidden drivers of financial stress amongst older Victorians ............................................................ 14

6.1. Employment discrimination ....................................................................................................... 14

6.2. The gender gap in retirement income ....................................................................................... 16

6.3. Relationship breakdown or loss of a partner ............................................................................ 18

6.4. Elder abuse ................................................................................................................................. 18

6.5. Poor mental health..................................................................................................................... 19

7. How the current housing landscape is driving housing insecurity across the ageing population ... 19

7.1. The need for better systems navigation .................................................................................... 19

7.2. Rental affordability .................................................................................................................... 21

7.3. Tennant rights ............................................................................................................................ 21

7.4. Availability of public housing ..................................................................................................... 23

7.5. Mortgage Stress.......................................................................................................................... 23

8. The role of accessibility in meeting the housing needs of Victoria’s ageing population ................. 24

8.1. Ensuring new properties are universally accessible ................................................................. 24

8.2. Modifying existing rental properties ......................................................................................... 25

8.3. Improving the effectiveness of existing home modifications schemes ................................... 25

8.4. Increasing the accessibility of common areas in apartment buildings .................................... 26

9. Concluding statement ........................................................................................................................ 26


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1. ABOUT COTA VICTORIA

Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria is the leading not-for-profit organisation representing the

interests and rights of people aged over 50 in Victoria. For 70 years in Victoria, we have led

government, corporate and community thinking about the positive aspects of ageing. Today

our focus is on promoting opportunities for and protecting the rights of people 50+.

We see an ageing population as a time of opportunities for personal growth, contribution and

self- expression. We believe there are obvious National, State, community, family and individual

benefits from this approach. We are also focused on the protection of the rights of people aged

50+.

COTA Victoria is a not-for-profit member based organisation run by, for and with Victorians

aged 50+. We fund our activities and services through the support of government, members,

philanthropic trusts, businesses and the public.

We have an experienced Board, highly qualified, permanent staff located in a central

Melbourne office location and a broad State membership. We also have over 130 community

volunteers throughout Victoria with skills in training, group facilitation, policy development and

advocacy, including volunteers bi-lingual in a number of languages. We work with local

government, senior citizen centres, community houses and a broad range of community and

service organisations.

COTA Victoria is supported by financial assistance from the Commonwealth and Victorian

Governments.

2. INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS

We thank the Legal and Social Issues Committee for providing COTA Victoria with an

opportunity to submit evidence to inform the Parliamentary Inquiry into Homelessness in

Victoria. In order to fulfil the requirements of this inquiry, we note that the Committee has

been directed to:

1. Provide an independent analysis of the changing scale and nature of homelessness across Victoria.

2. Investigate the many social, economic and policy factors that impact on homelessness; and

3. Identify policies and practices from all levels of government that have a bearing on delivering services to the homeless.1

The issues raised throughout this submission are of relevance to all three of the

aforementioned terms of reference for this inquiry.


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As people age, they often experience changes in their physical and economic circumstances

which have a profound impact on their housing requirements2 As such, this submission will

highlight the rising rate of homelessness amongst Victoria’s ageing population and shine a light

on some of the social and economic factors underpinning this shift.

The effective prevention, early intervention and response to housing stress across Victoria’s

ageing population is a matter of increasing public concern. The number of people aged over 65

is projected to have increased to 1.1 million by 2021, growing at more than twice the rate of

the general Victorian population.3 By 2031, Victorians aged over 60 living in Greater Melbourne

will comprise 22% of the population. In rural and regional areas, almost 31% of Victorians will

be aged over 60. To this end, our submission has a strong focus on the need for government

policy that will enhance access to secure, accessible and affordable housing to prevent older

Victorians from falling into a cycle of homelessness in the future.

Our submission is based on the broad definition of homelessness as adopted by the Australian

Bureau of Statistics. Under the ABS definition, a person is considered to be homeless if they do

not have suitable accommodation alternatives and their current living arrangement:

Is in a dwelling that is inadequate.

Has no tenure, or if their initial tenure is short and not extendable; or

Does not allow them to have control of, and access to space for social relations.4

3. SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendation 1:

The Victorian Government submit evidence to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality

and Safety and liaise directly with the Commonwealth Department of Health to reinforce the

need for:

The inclusion of questions addressing housing and the risk of, or experience of

homelessness in all aged care assessment processes.

Greater investment in the Assistance with Care and Housing Sub-Programme of the

Commonwealth Home Support Programme.

Improvement of interfacing arrangements between aged care, homelessness, health, social

service and disability systems to provide a “no wrong door” approach for people

experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The provision of funding to enable specialist aged care providers to build residential aged

care facilities for older people who have experienced homelessness; in recognition of the

unique needs this cohort may present with.

The revision and indexation of the Homeless Supplement for residential aged care providers

to meet the costs incurred by facilities in providing specialised services for older people who

have experienced homelessness.


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Recommendation 2:

The Victorian Government consult with relevant stakeholders to determine how the needs of

older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and People from culturally and linguistically

diverse backgrounds can be most effectively met into the future. This might involve expanding

funding to community controlled organisations that can deliver services that are culturally

appropriate and provide clients with an adequate sense of cultural safety.

Recommendation 3:

The Victorian Government provide funding to increase the supply of gender appropriate

emergency housing.

Recommendation 4:

The Victorian Government, as part of its Inquiry into the Bushfire Crisis, carefully examine:

The effectiveness of response efforts aimed at providing appropriate shelter to Victorians

without safe and secure accommodation.

The effectiveness of recovery efforts and best practice approaches to prevent people

affected by bushfires from falling into a cycle of homelessness.

Recommendation 5:

The Victorian Government invest in initiatives that will enhance opportunities for older people

to earn income in later life. Such initiatives should:

Challenge ageist attitudes by educating employers about the benefits of hiring and retaining

older workers.

Re-skill older workers and provide them with tailored support to enable them to change

careers or re-enter the workforce.

Recommendation 6:

The Victorian Government revise the eligibility requirements for free TAFE courses to ensure

that mature aged job seekers and workers who are experiencing employment vulnerability are

provided with an opportunity to retrain and access new career pathways.

Recommendation 7:

The Victorian Government include older women of working age when framing targets and

outcomes under The Victorian Government’s Gender Equality Strategy: ‘Safe and Strong’.

Recommendation 8:

The Victorian Government submit evidence to inform the Review of Retirement Incomes to

demonstrate the need for the Commonwealth to structure a range of income streams that are

tailored to the needs of older women.


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Recommendation 9:

The Victorian Government invest in capacity-building initiatives that aim to increase financial

literacy amongst older women who are on lower incomes, and who may have fewer financial

resources available in retirement.

Recommendation 10:

The Victorian Government:

Increase investment in awareness-raising initiatives that aim to inform older Victorians

about free financial counselling services that are already available.

Expand funding of Financial Counsellors to enhance their capacity to provide outreach

support and financial counselling to people who are not digitally connected.

Recommendation 11:

The Victorian Government, in implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission

into Victoria’s Mental Health System, give careful consideration to the relationship between

mental illness and homelessness.

Recommendation 12:

The Victorian Government invest in initiatives that provide older Victorians with tailored

support to help them navigate access to housing options and prevent them from falling into a

cycle of homelessness.

Recommendation 13:

The Victorian Government liaise with the Commonwealth to reinforce the need for tailored

services that can assist people to navigate the aged care system either in person, or over the

phone.

Recommendation 14:

The Victorian Government provide evidence to inform the Australian Government’s review of

retirement income to demonstrate the relationship between financial insecurity and

homelessness across Victoria’s ageing population, suggesting that there be an increase in

Commonwealth Rent Assistance for Older Renters.

Recommendation 15:

The Victorian Government invest in awareness-raising initiatives to:

Educate tenants about their rights and responsibilities under the new Residential Tenancies

Regulations.


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Educate housing providers about the capital investment benefits of modifications that

enhance accessibility, and the rights of older tenants to make the required adjustments to

age in place.

Recommendation 16:

The Victorian Government establish targets to increase the availability of affordable housing for

older people experiencing housing stress as part of the ‘Homes for Victorians’ package of

initiatives.

Recommendation 17:

The Victorian Government, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, develop a long-term

strategy for planned future investment in social and affordable rental housing to meet the

demands of Victoria’s ageing population.

Recommendation 18:

The Victorian Government work with the Commonwealth to ensure the inclusion of universal

design principles in all new properties to ensure their cost-effective adaption to the needs of

Victoria’s ageing population.

Recommendation 19:

The following improvements be made to the proposed Residential Tenancies Regulations:

Where modifications are part of transitioning out of hospital care or a requirement to

qualify for hospital-in-the-home reprograms, consent to make modifications should be

automatically granted.

Renters that install home modifications to support accessibility, safety, health and ageing in

place, should not be required to remove and pay for the costs of restoring properties to

their previous condition.

Recommendation 20:

The Victorian Government work with the Commonwealth to develop a nationally consistent

approach to funding structural and personal modifications to existing properties to enable

residents to age in place. Home modifications schemes must be appropriately funded to enable

assessments to be undertaken and modifications to be completed in the shortest time frame

possible.

Recommendation 21:

The Victorian Government invest in awareness-raising initiatives to educate owners

corporations about the benefits of universal design features and the precedent that has been

set by VCAT’s decision in the case of ‘Owners Corporation v Black’.


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4. HOMELESSNESS AMONGST OLDER PEOPLE: A DEMOGRAPHIC SNAPSHOT

4.1 GENERAL STATISTICS

One in seven people experiencing homelessness are over the age of 55.5 This figure has steadily

increased over the past few years. In the absence of appropriate policy intervention, it is likely

to continue to increase as Victoria’s population ages.

On census night in 2016:

Around 3311 people over the age of 55 in Victoria were homeless.

2421 Victorians over the age of 55 were ‘marginally housed’. According to the Australian

Bureau of Statistics, the term ‘marginal housing’ applies to substandard housing’, caravans,

housing with no security of tenure and overcrowded housing environments.6

The following sub-sections of this submission provide an overview of the current situation for

older women, older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and older people from

culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds respectively. We urge the Committee to

consider the overrepresentation of these population groups within Australia’s homeless

population and to implement policy solutions that consider their unique needs.

4.2 OLDER WOMEN

Single Older women are the fastest growing group of people experiencing homelessness in

Australia.7 Between 2011 and 2016, there was:

A 70.8 per cent increase in the number of women between 65 and 74 who reported being

homeless.

A 61 per cent increase in women aged 75 years and over who reported being homeless.

A 30% increase in the number of women aged between 65 and 74 years who had accessed

homeless services.

A 75% increase in older women sleeping in their cars.8

While these figures are alarming in themselves, there is also likely to be a high level of statistic

invisibility amongst this cohort. This is because many older women experiencing housing stress

are reported to be staying with friends or family or remaining in at risk situations to avoid

sleeping rough.9

4.3 OUR NATION’S FIRST PEOPLE

The rate of homelessness is higher amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. One in

28 Indigenous people were homeless on Census night in 2016, representing around 20% of

Australia’s homeless population.10 A recent study undertaken by the Australian Housing and


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Urban research Institute found that indigenous people over the age of 65 were 12.3 times more

likely to access homelessness services than their non-indigenous counterparts.11

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are also disproportionately affected by

overcrowding. 32% of people who live in severely overcrowded environments are Aboriginal or

Torres Strait Islander people. The Australian Bureau of Statistics defines severe overcrowding as

a home in which at least four extra bedrooms would be needed to adequately accommodate

the residents.12

Kinship obligations to care for extended family, entrenched disadvantage and chronic housing

shortages in remote parts of Australia continue to contribute to a cycle of housing insecurity,

overcrowding and homelessness across the indigenous population. This suggests a need for

culturally appropriate policy responses, co-designed by the communities they aim to assist.

4.4 OLDER PEOPLE FROM CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY DIVERSE

BACKGROUNDS

People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are disproportionately impacted

by homelessness. While three in ten Australians aged 65 and over were born overseas13 (28.2%

of Australians), this population group comprises 46% of Australia’s homeless population.14

Research suggests that older people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in

particular are at higher risk of becoming homeless. Factors contributing to this situation

include:

Language barriers.

Difficulty accessing Australia’s complex services and systems.

The fact that on average, older people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

are of poorer socioeconomic status than older Anglo-Australians.

The fact that many older migrants have come to Australia to live with family and have not

been able to purchase their own home. These people have nowhere to go in the event of a

family breakdown.15


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5. EFFECTIVENESS OF RESPONSES TO OLDER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING OR AT

RISK OF HOMELESSNESS

5.1 GENERIC HOMELESSNESS SERVICES

A recent survey of professionals working across the homelessness sector revealed low levels of

success in accommodating the needs of older people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Factors contributing to this shortfall include:

Resource limitations.

A lack of long-term housing options for people experiencing homelessness.

The high cost of rent in the private market; particularly in areas that are well connected to

public transport and other vital services and facilities.

Growth in the overall level of demand for secure, affordable housing.16

These issues will be explored elsewhere in this submission.

5.2 RESPONSES TO HOMELESSNESS WITHIN THE AGED CARE SYSTEM

Aged care services are in a strong position to assist older people who are at risk of

homelessness. The primary service providing support to older people at risk of homelessness

under the aged care system is the ‘Assistance with Care and Housing (ACH) program’, which is a

subprogram of the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP). Key issues with the

program can be summarized as follows:

The program is still poorly resourced and has a relatively low profile.

• ACH providers do not operate in all parts of Australia.

ACH providers and aged care assessment services are generally not well connected to other

existing housing services.17

To determine eligibility for the ACH, an individual must first be assessed by an assessor from

a Regional Assessment Service (RAS). There are extensive waiting lists for these

assessments, which means support is often unable to be provided in a timely manner.18

While the ACH program has a strong focus on supporting people in the community, there are

separate measures in place to support people who have experienced homelessness in

residential care. The ‘homeless supplement’ is provided to aged care homes that specialize in

caring for people with a history of homelessness, in recognition of the fact that the costs

associated with providing care to this cohort may be significantly higher.19 Unfortunately, this

approach does not appear to be driving effective outcomes for consumers. The current funding

landscape does not make it financially viable to support people at this level due to increased

costs and the need to provide this client group with consumables.


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As identified in sections 4.3 and 4.4 of this submission respectively, older Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander people and older people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

are disproportionately impacted by homelessness. In implementing improvements to the

current service system, Governments must therefore consult with relevant stakeholders to

determine how the diverse needs of these cohorts can be most effectively met into the future.

This might involve expanding funding to community-controlled organisations that can deliver

services that are culturally appropriate and provide clients with an adequate sense of cultural

safety.

Earlier this year, the Commonwealth Department of Health commenced work on the

development of a homelessness action plan under the Aged Care Diversity Framework. This

action plan is intended to assist the aged care sector to respond to the support needs of older

people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. At the time of writing this submission, the final

action plan had still not been released. It is hoped that once available, the action plan will

improve responses to homelessness across the aged care system.20

Recommendation 1:

The Victorian Government provide evidence to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality

and Safety and directly liaise with the Commonwealth Department of Health to reinforce the

need for:

The inclusion of questions addressing housing and the risk of, or experience of

homelessness in all aged care assessment processes.

Greater investment in the Assistance with Care and Housing Sub-Programme of the

Commonwealth Home Support Programme.

Improvement of interfacing arrangements between aged care, homelessness, health, social

service and disability systems to provide a “no wrong door” approach for people

experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The provision of funding to enable specialist aged care providers to build residential aged

care facilities for older people who have experienced homelessness; in recognition of the

unique needs this cohort may present with.

The revision and indexation of the Homeless Supplement for residential aged care providers

to meet the costs incurred by facilities in providing specialised services for older people who

have experienced homelessness.

Recommendation 2:

The Victorian Government consult with relevant stakeholders to determine how the needs of

older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and People from culturally and linguistically

diverse backgrounds can be most effectively met into the future. This might involve expanding

funding to community-controlled organisations that can deliver services that are culturally

appropriate and provide clients with an adequate sense of cultural safety.


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5.3 AVAILABILITY OF GENDER-APPROPRIATE SERVICES

As outlined in section 4.2 of this submission, older women experience higher rates of

homelessness than other population groups. There is a need for research and evidence-based

policy that is responsive to the unique needs of older women experiencing homelessness.

There is currently an overwhelming lack of gender-appropriate emergency housing for older

women. The small number of female only rooming houses that do exist rarely have vacancies,

resulting in many women being placed in mixed gender rooming houses, which are not always a

safe option.

Recommendation 3:

The Victorian Government provide funding to increase the supply of gender appropriate emergency

housing.

5.4 ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING OR AT RISK OF

HOMELESSNESS THROUGH BUSHFIRE RESPONSE AND RELIEF

As bushfires continue to rage throughout Victoria, the matter of disaster response and relief is

now more critical than ever before. Smoke from the Victorian bushfires has repeatedly resulted

in extremely hazardous air quality. During these times, residents have been advised to stay

inside with their windows and doors shut. For the homeless population, however, this may not

be an option. Those without safe and secure housing are therefore most at risk of experiencing

respiratory problems, dehydration and other health complications associated with prolonged

exposure to smoke.

COTA Victoria commends Victorian authorities for taking the needs of the homeless population

into account during the 2019/20 bushfire crisis. The threat caused by fires and resulting air

conditions led to relief measures being put in place for people who are homeless, including:

Free access to swimming pools.

Free cinema tickets.

People being directed to libraries, shopping centres or community hubs.21

These positive efforts now require assessment and evaluation as to their effectiveness as an

intervention. An evaluation process could result in improving those relief measures used and

identifying new measures.

While bushfires pose a significant health threat to people without safe and secure housing, fires

also increase the rate of risk and experience of homelessness. A member of COTA Australia who

has experienced homelessness first-hand told us:


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“The main reason I was left without rental accommodation was because of the 2009

bushfires. Rental accommodation became scarce and prices went up as a result of the

demand created in the area by those who had lost their homes. Also, we moved in a

hurry before the following fire season because I no longer felt safe where we were living.

This may be happening for some people again now.”

Issues relating to the rental market are explored further in sections 7.3 and 7.4 of this

submission. It is imperative, however, that the Victorian Government carefully considers how to

best prevent those affected by the 2019/20 bushfire crisis from falling into a cycle of

homelessness in the future.

COTA Victoria welcomes the Victorian Government’s announcement of a two-year inquiry into

the bushfire crisis. We note that the second report from this inquiry, due to be handed down in

2021, will focus on response and recovery. COTA Victoria strongly recommends the above

issues be carefully examined through the Inquiry process.22

Recommendation 4:

The Victorian Government, as part of it’s Inquiry into the Bushfire Crisis, carefully examine:

The effectiveness of response efforts aimed at providing appropriate shelter to Victorians

without safe and secure accommodation.

The effectiveness of recovery efforts and best practice approaches to prevent people

affected by bushfires from falling into a cycle of homelessness.

6. HIDDEN DRIVERS OF FINANCIAL STRESS AMONGST OLDER VICTORIANS

COTA Victoria hopes this inquiry will enable the Victorian Government to implement proactive

measures to prevent older people from falling into a cycle of homelessness. Issues relating

specifically to the current housing market will be outlined in detail in section 7 of this

submission. These issues cannot, however, be viewed in isolation. There are a number of other

drivers which may impact upon an individual’s retirement income and housing security as they

age. We have outlined some of these factors in the following sub-sections of this submission to

provide the Committee with a holistic insight into the needs of Victoria’s ageing population.

6.1 EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION

The number of people aged 55-64 on Newstart has increased by more than 55,000 people in

under five years.23 This is reflective of an increase in the number of people below retirement

age who are locked out of the workforce due to systemic ageism.24

While people are now expected to remain in the workforce for longer than ever before:

Two thirds of employers say they are reluctant to hire workers who are over the age of 50.25


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People over the age of 50, on average, spend twice as long looking for work than their

younger counterparts.26

Through our work at COTA Victoria, we frequently hear about the distress, poor health and

poverty experienced by older people who are unfairly excluded from paid employment. Many

of our stakeholders feel as though there is a significant disconnect between public policy and

attainable and realistic employment outcomes.

While systemic ageism is one of the most dominant factors contributing to the rate of

unemployment amongst people over the age of 55, older people may also face other unique

barriers to obtaining and retaining employment in later life. For example:

Some people can experience a decline in their physical health as they age. This means that

older people who are employed in more physically demanding roles may need to be

supported to retrain and find alternative employment options.

Many older women have large gaps in their employment history as a result of taking time

out of the workforce to tend to caring responsibilities. This can diminish their ability to re-

enter the workforce in later life.27

In light of the above, it is disappointing that government policy currently only supports

Victorians to access free or subsidized accredited training that is at a higher qualification level.28

Barriers still exist for older workers who may already possess a higher-level qualification but are

looking to upskill or retrain in a different area.

It is clear that Victoria needs a new public policy framework to enable meaningful opportunities

for workers as they age. To this end, COTA Victoria believes that there are a number of

measures that can be implemented by Government and industry to improve the productivity of

Victoria’s ageing population. These measures are outlined in detail in the evidence we

submitted to inform the Inquiry into Sustainable Employment for Disadvantaged jobseekers in

July this year. The reporting date for this inquiry is 30 June 2020.

In the meantime, COTA Victoria is leading a new innovative project to support jobseekers who

are over the age of 50 to obtain paid work. The ‘Reach, Train, employ’ project focuses on

building the capacity of older people to enter employment in the aged care and disability

sectors to meet a growing demand of more than 17000 new jobs in Victoria by 2023.

Participants will receive support to complete a Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing and

Disability) (CHC33015). The certificate will be delivered by RMIT University with a brand-new

curriculum co-designed by industry experts and people with lived experience. Good Shepherd

Australia and New Zealand (GSANZ) are providing financial counselling and a life coach to the

participants and the Future Social Services Institute (FSSI) will be evaluating the project. The

Department of Social Services (Commonwealth) have funded the project through its Try Test

and Learn Fund.


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In summary, participants receive a range of enabling supports including:

Career guidance.

Employment assistance through resume writing, interview techniques and coaching to understand the employment market.

Enhancing IT and digital literacy.

Financial counselling.

Mental health and wellbeing support.

Assistance with student and employment placements.

Personal support.29

Recommendation 5:

The Victorian Government invest in initiatives that will enhance opportunities for older people

to earn income in later life. Such initiatives should:

• Challenge ageist attitudes by educating employers about the benefits of hiring and

retaining older workers.

• Re-skill older workers and provide them with tailored support to enable them to change

careers or re-enter the workforce.

Recommendation 6:

The Victorian Government revise the eligibility requirements for free TAFE courses to ensure

that mature aged job seekers and workers who are experiencing employment vulnerability are

provided with an opportunity to retrain and access new career pathways.

6.2 THE GENDER GAP IN RETIREMENT INCOME

As outlined in section 4.2 of this submission, older women are the fastest growing group of

people experiencing homelessness in Australia. One of the most dominant drivers of housing

stress among older women is the gender gap that exists in retirement income. In order to

properly understand this gap, it is first necessary to scrutinize the gender pay gap that still

exists for women of working age. We know, for example, that:

• Women who work in full-time roles earn 18% less than men. • 43% of women work part-time. • Women take an average of five years out of the workforce to care for children or other

family members.30

As a result of these factors:

• Women only receive a third of the government tax concessions on super, with men

receiving the other two thirds.

• Women retire with on average 47% less superannuation than men.


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• 35% of women aged 60-64 years do not have any superannuation.

• Two thirds of single older women have less than $50000 in savings.

• 40% of older single retired women live in poverty.31

The following factors may contribute to older women’s experiences of housing stress:

• Women live an average of 5 years longer than men, which means they are required to stretch their retirement income further.32

• Women exhibit much lower levels of financial literacy than men. This may further

increase their vulnerability to financial hardship in retirement.33

Other factors affecting the financial security of older women are explored in section 6.4 of this

submission, which relates to elder abuse.

In September 2019, the Australian Government announced a comprehensive review of the

retirement income system. This review process is still underway. The final report from the

review will be provided to government by June 2020.34 As demonstrated elsewhere in this

submission, retirement income is a key driver of homelessness amongst older Victorians. To this

end, COTA Victoria hopes the federal review will result in outcomes that will help to alleviate

housing stress across Victoria’s ageing population.

At a state level, COTA Victoria commends the Victorian Government on the development and

progressive implementation of ‘Safe and Strong’: the Victorian Government’s Gender Equality

Strategy. This strategy places Victoria at the forefront of efforts to address the gender pay gap

between men and women. While the Strategy already recognizes the cumulative impact of the

gender pay gap on economic security,35 it would be useful for the strategy to include targets

and outcomes that are specific to older women of working age.

Recommendation 7:

The Victorian Government include older women of working age when framing targets and

outcomes under The Victorian Government’s Gender Equality Strategy, ‘Safe and Strong’.

Recommendation 8:

The Victorian Government submit evidence to inform the Review of Retirement Incomes to

demonstrate the need for the Commonwealth to structure a range of income streams that are

tailored to the needs of older women.

Recommendation 9:

The Victorian Government invest in capacity-building initiatives that aim to increase financial

literacy amongst older women who are on lower incomes, and who may have fewer financial

resources available in retirement.


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6.3 RELATIONSHIP BREAKDOWN OR LOSS OF A PARTNER

According to the Australian Institute of Family Studies, divorced people who are over the age of

55 have less disposable income and fewer assets than their married counterparts.36 This is

concerning when considering the rapid rise in the number of older people seeking divorce.37

Losing a partner through death can also increase an individual’s financial vulnerability,

particularly in instances where the deceased spouse has had sole responsibility for managing

the household finances.38

While many people will experience a change in income as a result of losing a partner, they may

be entitled to receive income from sources such as:

• Government payments. • Bank accounts that are in the deceased partner’s name.

• Partner’s insurance or superannuation.

• Unclaimed money that may be available through shares or other investments.39

This financial maze can be difficult for people to navigate at the best of times, let alone at a

time when they are experiencing significant grief and loss. This situation can be even more

daunting for older people with low levels of financial literacy who may be learning how to

navigate the retirement income system for the very first time.40

Recommendation 10:

The Victorian Government:

Increase investment in awareness-raising initiatives that aim to inform older Victorians

about free financial counselling services that are already available.

Expand funding of Financial Counsellors to enhance their capacity to provide outreach

support and financial counselling to people who are not digitally connected.

6.4 ELDER ABUSE

Elder abuse is one of the key drivers of homelessness amongst older people. Most victims of

elder abuse are women. A staggering 46.9% of women over the age of 55 who access specialist

homelessness services reported family violence as their primary reason for seeking support.41

Elder abuse can directly contribute to financial stress for older people when it involves the loss

of the family home, property or other assets. It can also result in debts and unpaid loans,

ongoing and unsustainable support of other family members and increased costs associated

with health and wellbeing needs. Elder abuse is sometimes perpetrated by family members of

the older person who have moved back into the family home as a result of their own

homelessness. Abuse and family violence can result in older parents who are living with adult

children having to move out with nowhere to go.42


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Seniors Rights Victoria (SRV), a significant program of COTA Victoria, holds an independent role

as the key statewide community legal service dedicated to preventing and responding to elder

abuse. We refer to the separate submission that SRV has made to this inquiry and urge the

Victorian Government to implement all recommendations set out within.

6.5 POOR MENTAL HEALTH

The issues of housing stress, homelessness and mental illness are all interrelated. While the

Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health system was still underway at the time of writing

this submission,43 we wish to draw the Committee’s attention to the following findings from a

2018 report that was published by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute:

There is a lack of affordable, safe and appropriate housing for people with mental illness.

People who are discharged from mental health facilities face an increased risk of

experiencing homelessness.

Integrated programs that aim to address housing and mental health are effective, but do

not meet current demands.

Secure housing would enable people to place a greater focus on mental health treatment

and rehabilitation.44

Recommendation 11:

The Victorian Government, in implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission

into Victoria’s Mental Health System, considers the relationship between mental illness and

homelessness.

7. HOW THE CURRENT HOUSING LANDSCAPE IS DRIVING HOUSING

INSECURITY ACROSS THE AGEING POPULATION

7.1 THE NEED FOR BETTER SYSTEMS NAVIGATION

Australia’s housing market is complex and difficult for many older people to navigate. Those

who find service navigation most difficult are people with low levels of digital and English

literacy, which is concerning when considering that.

People who are over the age of 65 have the lowest levels of digital inclusion of any

population group in Australia, with around half of older adults still not using the internet.45

Around 14% of Victorian adults have a low level of English literacy which may make it

difficult for them to read and interpret complex written information.46


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In light of the above barriers, there needs to be more in person support available to assist

people to navigate what is currently a scarce and complex housing market. COTA Victoria would

therefore support additional investment in initiatives that seek to fill this gap. One approach

might be to build on existing services such as Housing for the Aged Action Group’s ‘Home at

Last’ and ‘Retirement Housing Assistance and Advocacy Program’’. This program provides a

triage response to a range of complex housing needs presented by older people including

retirement housing, Independent Living Units and other housing options.47

A tailored response is all the more critical for older people who have been homeless, as these

people may have no recent rental history to support their application for accommodation. A

member of COTA Victoria with lived experience of homelessness told us:

“Once someone becomes homeless it instantly becomes extremely difficult to be

successful in a rent application because you have no current references. The longer this

goes on for the worse it gets – a significant contributor to the trap of homelessness.”

Consideration must also be given to how people interact with the aged care system, as this may

be the first point of contact for many older people experiencing housing stress. In a 2019

report, the Australian Housing and Urban research Institute noted:

“The My Aged Care website can present a significant challenge to many older people,

who may choose to forego services rather than engage in a steep learning process

around the technology.”48

The aged care navigator services currently being trialed throughout Australia are helping to

address existing barriers by providing consumers with tailored support to help them navigate

the aged care system in person or over the phone. The trial has been funded until June 2020 to

road-test a number of different approaches to service navigation. The outcomes of this trial will

provide greater insights into what is needed to effectively support older people to navigate

complex service systems into the future.49

Recommendation 12:

The Victorian Government invest in initiatives that provide older Victorians with tailored

support to help them navigate access to housing options and prevent them from falling into a

cycle of homelessness.

Recommendation 13:

The Victorian Government liaise with the Commonwealth to reinforce the need for tailored

services that can assist people to navigate the aged care system either in person, or over the

phone.


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7.2 RENTAL AFFORDABILITY

While more Victorians are renting than ever before, the 2019 Rental Affordability Index (RAI)

has revealed a situation that is untenable for older renters, 42 per cent of whom now live in

relative poverty.50

Of the 69,000 rental properties analyzed as part of the 2019, annual Rental Affordability

Snapshot:

There were no properties that were affordable to rent for a single person on Newstart. This

is concerning when considering that the number of people aged 55-64 on Newstart has

risen by more than 55,000 in less than five years.51

0.8% of properties were affordable and appropriate for a single person on the Aged

Pension. Rental affordability for people on the aged pension has declined dramatically over

the past six years as welfare payments have not kept up with rent increases.52

The level of financial strain on older renters is further exacerbated by higher healthcare costs

and the need to be located in areas well connected to transport, health and community

services.

Recommendation 14:

The Victorian Government provide evidence to inform the Australian Government’s review of

retirement income to demonstrate the relationship between financial insecurity and

homelessness across Victoria’s ageing population, suggesting that there be an increase in

Commonwealth Rent Assistance for Older Renters.

7.3 TENNANT RIGHTS

Security of tenure is still a major factor affecting housing security amongst older renters, with

Research conducted by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute revealing that

Australia still lags behind other countries when it comes to rental rights and tenant protections.

A survey undertaken by CHOICE, National Shelter and the National Association of Tenant

Organisations in 2017 found that:

• 83% of renters had no long-term security • 62% were scared to ask for a longer lease • 50% had been discriminated against • 50% feared being unfairly blacklisted • 21% had waited more than a week for urgent repairs • 14% had avoided making a complaint or requesting repairs for fear of adverse

consequences such as rent increases, eviction, bad references, blacklisting and bullying.53


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The recent amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act And proposed Residential Tenancies

Regulations will go a long way towards addressing some of these barriers. While the regulations

were still in development at the time of writing this submission, we understand that the new

changes will:

• Introduce longer leases.

• Remove the 120 day ‘no specified reason’ notice to vacate a premises.

• Limit the use of ‘end of fixed-term’ notices to vacate premises.

• Create a property owner blacklist to protect consumers from property owners who have

previously breached their obligations.

• Speed up bond repayment.

• Allow early release of bond.

• Introduce a new bond cap & up-front rent cap for most properties.

• Speed up reimbursement for urgent repairs.

• Reduce the frequency of rent increases.

• Require fixed rent amounts in advertisements.54

Positively, these reforms will also grant tenants the right to keep pets, provided they have

obtained the landlord’s written consent which can only be refused by order of the Victorian

Civil and Administrative Tribunal. The onus will be on the landlord to seek approval from VCAT if

they wish to refuse consent to a pet.55 It is our hope that this may go some way towards

addressing the current lack of pet friendly accommodation, which is a major driver of

homelessness in Australia.56

While the aforementioned changes are welcomed, COTA Victoria is concerned over the limited

scope of minimum standards, the lack of energy efficiency standards and the conditions set for

modifications (as explored under 8.2 of this submission). These are detailed in our response to

the proposed Residential Tenancies regulations.

It is our hope that the issues highlighted in our response will be adequately addressed through

the consultation process, resulting in a final set of regulations that strengthen, promote and

uphold the rights of tenants across Victoria. Once the regulations have been finalized, the

Victorian Government will then need to turn its attention to increasing awareness and

understanding of the regulations amongst consumers. In doing so, the Government must be

cognizant of the digital divide that still exists for many older Victorians and the need to provide

information in formats that are easy to understand.

Recommendation 15:

The Victorian Government invest in awareness-raising initiatives to:

Educate tenants about their rights and responsibilities under the new Residential Tenancies

Regulations.


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Educate housing providers about the capital investment benefits of modifications that

enhance accessibility and the rights of older tenants to make the required adjustments to

age in place.

7.4 AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC HOUSING

Public housing has historically provided a necessary safety net for many older people who are

unable to keep up with the increasing costs of private rentals. Regrettably, however, there has

been a gradual decrease in investment in public housing across all levels of government.57

According to a 2019 report published by the Productivity Commission, Victoria is currently

spending half the national average per person on public housing.58 Meanwhile, there are

84,000 adults and children on the public housing waiting list and 500 more being added each

month.59

COTA Victoria commends the Andrews Government on its election commitment to invest $200

million over three years to increase Victoria’s social housing supply.60 We are concerned,

however, that the conservative target of 1000 new properties that has been set under this

initiative will be insufficient in meeting the needs of Victoria’s ageing population. Furthermore,

we would like to see the Government establish targets to increase the availability of affordable

housing for older people experiencing housing stress as part of this package of initiatives.

Recommendation 16:

The Victorian Government establish targets to increase the availability of affordable housing for

older people experiencing housing stress as part of the ‘Homes for Victorians’ package of

initiatives.

Recommendation 17:

The Victorian Government, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, develop a long-term

strategy for planned future investment in social and affordable rental housing to meet the

demands of Victoria’s ageing population.

7.5 MORTGAGE STRESS

Average mortgage debt for older Australians has increased by 600% over the past 30 years,

with people also carrying more debt relative to their income. Almost half of all homeowners

between the ages of 55 and 64 are still paying off a mortgage. This is alarming when

considering that 32 per cent of older people live on less than $400 per week,61 and more than

one in four older mortgagors are making repayments that exceed 30% of their total disposable

income.62

Low-income homeowners are at significant risk of not being able to cover their mortgage

repayments when there is a change in their disposable income or when interest rates rise. This


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may force them to draw down on their superannuation in order to cover mortgage repayments,

leaving them to struggle with other everyday expenses. As identified in section 6.2 of this

submission, older women may be hardest hit as they retire with an average of 47% less

superannuation than men.

If people are depleting their super accounts to pay-off mortgage debt, this may have

implications for the welfare system, as demand for the Aged Pension will increase. This

situation may also lead to other downstream costs to health and social services, with research

revealing that older people who experience mortgage stress show a significant decline in their

mental health.63

The aforementioned factors demonstrate a need to ensure the experience of housing stress

amongst older homeowners is carefully examined as part of the Federal Government’s Review

of Retirement Incomes.

8. THE ROLE OF ACCESSIBILITY IN MEETING THE HOUSING NEEDS OF

VICTORIA’S AGEING POPULATION

Many people experience a decline in their physical health as they age. As such, people over the

age of 65 currently account for 40% of the 4.4 million people with disability across Australia.64

This points to an increasing need for universally designed and adaptable housing that is

responsive to the changing needs of Victoria’s ageing population.

8.1 ENSURING NEW PROPERTIES ARE UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE

There are not enough accessible, age friendly properties available to meet demand.

Additionally, new properties are not being built with accessibility in mind, as universal design

principles for housing are yet to be incorporated into the National Construction Code.65

Developing new properties that do not incorporate universal design principles will limit the

number of properties available to meet the changing needs of Victoria’s ageing population. This

will lead to downstream costs for government, as residents will need to retrofit properties for

accessibility through publicly funded home modifications schemes.

Recommendation 18:

The Victorian Government work with the Commonwealth to ensure the inclusion of universal

design principles in all new properties to ensure their cost-effective adaption to the needs of

Victoria’s ageing population.


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8.2 MODIFYING EXISTING RENTAL PROPERTIES

For many older people, restrictions on the modifications that can be made to rental properties

has exacerbated an already limited supply of appropriate housing. Modifications to homes

supports longer-term tenure, ageing in place and importantly addresses the dearth of private

rental housing that is appropriate for older people and people with disability where

modifications for accessibility, health and safety are required.

The recent reforms and proposed Regulations to the Residential Tenancies Act (2020) stipulate

that rental providers can no longer unreasonably refuse consent to tenants installing property

modifications recommended by health professionals.66 Despite these changes, however, there

is a concern that older tenants still may not act on their needs for fear of eviction or an increase

in rent. Under the proposed Regulations, there is also a requirement for the tenant to remove

structural modifications and pay for costs of restoration prior to leaving a property unless

otherwise agreed to by both parties. This does not acknowledge the benefits that modifications

made to improve accessibility may present for future tenants.

Recommendation 19:

The following improvements be made to the proposed Residential Tenancies Regulations:

Where modifications are part of transitioning out of hospital care or a requirement to

qualify for hospital-in-the-home reprograms, consent to make modifications should be

automatically granted.

Renters that install home modifications to support accessibility, safety, health and ageing in

place, should not be required to remove and pay for the costs of restoring properties to

their previous condition.

8.3 IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EXISTING HOME MODIFICATIONS

SCHEMES

Existing home modifications schemes are complex and confusing for consumers to navigate and

are not always able to provide modifications in a timely manner. A more streamlined response

would not only enhance the ability of older Victorians to age in place but may also result in

savings for health services by reducing falls, GP visits and hospital admissions.67

Recommendation 20:

The Victorian Government work with the Commonwealth to develop a nationally consistent

approach to funding structural and personal modifications to existing properties to enable

residents to age in place. Home modifications schemes must be appropriately funded to enable

assessments to be undertaken and modifications to be completed in the shortest time frame

possible.


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8.4 INCREASING THE ACCESSIBILITY OF COMMON AREAS IN APARTMENT

BUILDINGS

The building Code of Australia was updated in 2011 to require common areas in all new

apartment buildings to meet minimum accessibility standards.68 These standards did not apply

to older buildings that had been constructed prior to 2011. However, an outcome from a case

heard by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in 2018, has set a new precedent that

may have implications for apartment complexes constructed before 2011.

Ms Black is the owner/occupier of a fourth floor apartment in one of Melbourne’s inner

suburbs. While she was still able to access her apartment itself after her physical health had

declined, the common areas in her apartment building were not fully accessible and presented

her with a number of challenges. She had asked the owners’ corporations responsible for

maintaining the building to make modifications so that she could access the buildings’ common

areas independently, including the main entrance, courtyard and carpark. When the owners’

corporations had failed to make the necessary changes, Ms Black pursued the matter under the

Victorian Equal Opportunity Act. The Act requires public entities to make reasonable

modifications to enable a person with disability to access a service and includes specific

reference to owners’ corporations.

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal ordered the two owners’ corporations

responsible for maintaining the building to make the necessary modifications to enable Ms

Black to access the common areas of the building independently. This involved widening

doorways and installing automated doors, ramps and handrails. The Tribunal’s ruling clearly

states that owners corporations are required to make modifications to apartment buildings to

accommodate the access needs of owners and Occupiers with disability.69

Recommendation 21:

The Victorian Government invest in awareness-raising initiatives to educate owners

corporations about the benefits of universal design features and the precedent that has been

set by VCAT’s decision in the case of ‘Owners Corporation v Black’.

9. CONCLUDING STATEMENT

Thank you once again for providing COTA Victoria with an opportunity to submit evidence to

inform this inquiry. We hope that the information and recommendations outlined throughout

this submission will assist the Victorian Government to plan for the changing needs of Victoria’s

ageing population.

Should you require any further information in relation to any of the issues raised throughout

this submission, please do not hesitate to contact COTA Victoria’s Policy Officer, Lauren Henley.

Lauren can be contacted on (03) 9655 2140, or at [email protected].


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End Notes

1 Parliament of Victoria (2019) 'INQUIRY INTO HOMELESSNESS IN VICTORIA', accessed 10 December 2019 <https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/lsic-lc/inquiries/article/4282>. 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (2018) 'HOUSING TRANSITIONS FOR OLDER AUSTRALIANS', accessed 8 December 2019 <https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/Lookup/by%20Subject/2081.0~ACLD~Main%20Features~Housing%20transitions%20for%20older%20Australians~55>. 3 Victorian Department of Health & Human Services (2015) 'Mental health and wellbeing of older people: 10-year mental health plan technical paper. 4 Australian Bureau of Statistics (2016) 'Census of Population and Housing: Estimating homelessness', accessed 10 December 2019 <https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/mf/2049.0>. 5 Australian Bureau of Statistics (2018) ‘Older Australia at a glance: 'People at risk of homelessness', accessed 8 December 2019 <https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/older-people/older-australia-at-a-glance/contents/diversity/people-at-risk-of-homelessness>. 6 Australian Bureau of Statistics (2016) 'Census of Population and Housing: Understanding the Census and Census Data', accessed 12 December 2019 <https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/Lookup/by%20Subject/2900.0~2016~Main%20Features~OPGP%20Homelessness%20Operational%20Groups%20~10155>. 7 McDonald, P. (2017) 'Homelessness: Older women couch surfing, sleeping in cars due to unaffordable housing', accessed 27 June 2019 <https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08- 07/older-women-become-hidden-face-of-homelessness/8782816 8 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2019) 'Older clients of specialist homelessness services', accessed 9 December 2019 <https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/homelessness-services/older-clients-of-specialist-homelessness-services/contents/clients-services-and-outcomes>. 9 Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (2019) 'An effective homelessness services system for older Australians', accessed 19 December 2019 <https://www.ahuri.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/47371/AHURI-Final-Report-322-An-effective-homelessness-services-system-for-older-Australians.pdf>. 10 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2019) 'Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: a focus report on housing and homelessness', accessed 23 January 2020 <https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/housing-assistance/indigenous-people-focus-housing-homelessness/contents/summary>. 11 Burke, K., written for Domain (2019) ‘Tsunami’ of older Australians at risk of homelessness', accessed 20 December 2019 <https://www.domain.com.au/news/life-shocks-contribute-to-rapid-rise-in-number-of-homeless-older-australians-ahuri-report-912829/>. 12 Council to Homeless Persons (2018) 'No room to breathe; why severe overcrowding is a form of homelessness', accessed 21 December 2019 <https://chp.org.au/no-room-to-breathe-why-severe-overcrowding-is-a-form-of-homelessness/>.


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13 Special Broadcasting Corporation and St Vincent de Paul Society NSW (2018) 'Culturally Diverse Australians and Homelessness', accessed 22 January 2020 <https://www.sbs.com.au/sites/sbs.com.au.home/files/cald_fact_sheet_final.pdf>. 14 Australian Bureau of Statistics (2018) 'Older Australia at a glance', accessed 22 January 2020 <Older <https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/older-people/older-australia-at-a-glance/contents/demographics-of-older-australians>. 15 VMCH (2019) (Housing struggle for culturally diverse older people', accessed 22 January 2020 <https://vmch.com.au/news/housing-struggle-for-culturally-diverse-older-people/>. 16 Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (2019) 'An effective homelessness services system for older Australians', accessed 19 December 2019 <https://www.ahuri.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/47371/AHURI-Final-Report-322-An-effective-homelessness-services-system-for-older-Australians.pdf>. 17 National Older Women’s Housing and Homelessness Working Group (2018) 'A NATIONAL PLAN FOR CHANGE: INCREASING HOUSING SECURITY FOR OLDER WOMEN RETIRING INTO POVERTY', accessed 10 December 2019 <https://www.mercyfoundation.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Retiring-into-Poverty-National-Plan-for-Change-Increasing-Housing-Security-for-Older-Women-23-August-2018.pdf>. 18 Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (2019) 'An effective homelessness services system for older Australians', accessed 19 December 2019 <https://www.ahuri.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/47371/AHURI-Final-Report-322-An-effective-homelessness-services-system-for-older-Australians.pdf>. 19 Commonwealth Department of Health (2019) 'Homeless supplement for aged care', accessed 23 January 2020 <https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/aged-care/providing-aged-care-services/funding-for-aged-care-service-providers/homeless-supplement-for-aged-care>. 20 Australian Association of Gerontology (2019) '2019-02 Aged Care Diversity Framework Homelessness Action Plan Survey for Professionals', accessed 10 December 2019 <https://www.aag.asn.au/news-publications/aag-submissions/2019-02-aged-care-diversity-framework-homelssness-actiona-plan-survey-for-professionals>. 21 Carroll, V., written for The Big Issue (2020) 'How are homeless people in Australia affected by the bushfires Down Under?', accessed 22 January 2020 <https://www.bigissue.com/latest/how-are-homeless-people-in-australia-affected-by-the-bushfires-down-under/>. 22 Carp, P., written for the Guardian (2020) 'Victoria announces inquiry into bushfire crisis as Morrison flags royal commission', accessed 22 January 2020 <https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/14/victoria-announces-inquiry-into-bushfire-crisis-as-morrison-flags-royal-commission>. 23 Donnellan, A., written for ABC News (2018) 'Number of older Australians on Newstart growing by 10,000 a year', accessed 8 December 2019 <https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-25/mature-workers-on-newstart/10195296>. 24 Council on the Ageing Australia (2019) 'MEDIA RELEASE: Rental market leaves pensioners out in the cold in new affordability report, as COTA demands urgent action on housing', accessed 8 December 2018 <https://www.cota.org.au/news-items/media-release-rental-market-leaves-pensioners-out-in-the-cold-in-new-affordability-report-as-cota-demands-urgent-action-on-housing/>.


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25 Australian Human Rights Commission (2018) 'Employing Older Workers', accessed 29 July 2019 <https://www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/age-discrimination/publications/employing-older-workers-2018>. 26 Williamson, B. on behalf of ABC Radio Adelaide (2017) 'Age discrimination: Over 50s search twice as long for work ‘, accessed 29 July 2019 <https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-19/age-discrimination-over-50s-worst-bracket-to-beunemployed/8540548>. 27 Taylor, P, Roland, L. and Zhou, J., written for Federation University Australia (2017) 'Retaining Australian Workers - A Guide to Best Practice', accessed 23 January 2020 <https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/2052093/WP2017-02.pdf>. 28 Victorian Department of Education and Training (2020) 'Check your eligibility for subsidized training', accessed 23 January 2020 <https://www.skills.vic.gov.au/victorianskillsgateway/Students/Pages/vtg-eligibility-indicator.aspx>. 29 Council on the Ageing Victoria (2019) 'Reach, Train, Employ', accessed 12 December 2019 <https://www.cotavic.org.au/our-programs/reach-train-employ/>. 30 Women in Super (2019) 'THE FACTS ABOUT WOMEN AND SUPER', accessed 10 December 2019 <https://www.womeninsuper.com.au/content/the-facts-about-women-and-super/gjumzs>. 31 Women in Super (2019) ‘THE FACTS ABOUT WOMEN AND SUPER’, accessed 14 December

2019 < https://www.womeninsuper.com.au/content/the-facts-about-women-and-

super/gjumzs>.

32 Health Agenda Magazine (2019) ‘LIFE EXPECTANCY: HOW LONG CAN YOU LIVE?’, accessed 14

December 2019 <https://www.hcf.com.au/health-agenda/health-care/research-and-

insights/life-expectancy-in-australia>.

33 Wilkins, R., written for University of Melbourne (2018) 'HILDA Survey reveals striking gender and age divide in financial literacy’, accessed 13 December 2019 <https://theconversation.com/hilda-survey-reveals-striking-gender-and-age-divide-in-financial-literacy-test-yourself-with-this-quiz-100451>. 34 Commonwealth Department of Treasury (2019) ‘Retirement Income Review’, accessed 29

September 2019 <http://treasury.gov.au/review/retirement-income-review>.

35 Victorian Government (2019) 'Safe and strong: A Victorian Gender Equality Strategy', accessed 23 January 2020 <https://www.vic.gov.au/safe-and-strong-victorian-gender-equality>. 36 ABC News (2018) ‘The financial impact of divorce lingers for decades’, accessed 13 December

2019 <https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-26/divorce-financial-impact-affecting-older-

women/10037520>.

37 The Sydney Morning Herald (2015) ‘Grey divorce has huge impact in the retirement years’,

accessed 13 December 2019 <https://www.smh.com.au/money/planning-and-budgeting/grey-

divorce-has-huge-impact-in-the-retirement-years-20150527-ghah6i.html>.


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38 AISC’s (Australian Security and Investments Commission) Money Smart (2019) 'Financial Implications of Death of a Partner', accessed 13 December 2019 <https://www.york.ac.uk/inst/spru/research/pdf/Bereavement.pdf>. 39 AISC’s (Australian Security and Investments Commission) Money Smart (2019) ‘Losing your

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Documents

Inquiry into Homelessness in Victoria · support to help them navigate access to housing options and prevent them from falling into a cycle of homelessness. Recommendation 13: The