An honour: our research before the Senate Select Committee on Intergenerational Housing Inequity

Last week, the Life Course Centre had the opportunity to appear before the Senate Select Committee on Intergenerational Housing Inequity. Being invited to give additional evidence following our original submission was recognition of the quality and relevance of our researchers’ work — and I am proud to have been one of the researchers whose work helped underpin that submission.

This was something I had never done before, and it was a great honour. One of the things I love most about my work is using science to directly influence policy — and it is rare and deeply rewarding to see research reach all the way into a parliamentary committee, where it can help shape decisions that affect people’s lives.

Professor Janeen Baxter, Associate Professor Sangeetha Gigi Chandrashekeran, and Professor Cameron Parsell drew on evidence-based research to speak on a range of issues, including the polarisation of wealth, renting, insecure housing, and the impacts of negative life course events. Our research extended beyond the page, helping inform discussion and shape thinking on deep and persistent disadvantage in Australia.

This achievement belongs to more than those three academics who appeared on the day. It rests on the work of the whole team behind the original submission, and I want to acknowledge my fellow researchers: Professor Ilan Wiesel, Emma Kaye, Professor Mark Stevenson, Dr Jordy Meekes, and Dr Julia de Bruyn. It was a privilege to contribute alongside them.

Moments like this are exactly why I do the work I do — turning careful, evidence-based research into something that can make a real difference to how we address housing inequity in Australia.