The FCVic Housing Summit brought together financial counsellors, consumer advocates, policymakers, and industry leaders to tackle the pressing challenges facing renters and homeowners across Victoria. From the opening Welcome to Country by Wurundjeri Elder Perry Wandin to the final reflections, the Summit provided a crucial platform for advancing housing justice through informed discussion, policy advocacy, and collaboration.

Setting the Stage: Keynote and Ministerial Address

The day commenced with an address from the Hon. Nick Staikos MP, who highlighted the vital work of financial counsellors, particularly their success in resolving over $500,000 in energy and water debt through ‘Bring Your Bills’ days at South East Community Links. He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to upcoming rental reforms, shaped by persistent advocacy from the financial counselling sector.

Brendan Coates of the Grattan Institute delivered a compelling keynote, outlining the depth of Australia’s housing crisis. He underscored the urgent need to increase Commonwealth Rent Assistance, promote transport-oriented development, and expand urban density. A staggering takeaway: three in four pensioners renting live in poverty. His insights reinforced the necessity for immediate and long-term policy solutions, including stronger rental security and greater investment in social housing.

Reframing Housing as an Essential Service

The first panel of the day, Essential Homes: Shifting the Housing Narrative to Support Renters’ Financial Resilience, underscored the importance of redefining housing as a fundamental service rather than a commodity. Moderated by Noel Lim (Anika Legal), the discussion featured insights from Erin Turner (Consumer Policy Research Centre), Eirene Tsolidis Noyce (Consumer Action Law Centre), and Selden Koolman (Better Renting). Key messages included:

• Housing is more than a price tag—many renters live without security, often forced to choose between food and shelter.
• Landlords should be held accountable in the same way as providers of essential services.
• Insecure renting takes a significant emotional and psychological toll, particularly on young people.
• Policy must shift to ensure landlords, not tenants, bear the risks and responsibilities of property maintenance and financial losses.

Policy Innovations and Housing Reform

Following this discussion, presentations delved into emerging policy solutions:

• Dr Heather Holst unpacked the Victorian Housing Statement, highlighting reforms such as the introduction of a portable bond scheme to ease financial strain and the finalisation of minimum energy efficiency standards.
• Rob Burgess (Mortgage Stress Victoria) explored the Home Equity Access Scheme, a safe, government-backed alternative to private equity release options that enables older Australians to remain in their communities.
• Dr Venkat Narayanan (RMIT) presented research showing that housing stress among over-55s has doubled since 2006, necessitating urgent policy intervention to safeguard financial stability in later life.

Tackling Housing Hardship

The second panel, Frontiers of Housing Hardship, examined the intersecting challenges of eviction prevention, mortgage relief, and tenant protections. Led by Deborah Fewster (Victorian Council of Social Service), speakers Lody Stewart (Financial Counselling Australia), Dan Nicholson (Victorian Ombudsman), Melissa Clare (Australian Banking Association), and Daniel Chafer (Revenue Management Association) offered key takeaways:

• Early intervention is critical—whether through banks, councils, or strata management.
• Affordability and accessibility of insurance remain significant barriers, particularly in disaster-prone regions.
• Systemic issues must be escalated to the Ombudsman, rather than treated as isolated cases.
• The Banking Code of Practice is now enforceable, strengthening protections for vulnerable customers, reinforcing that vulnerability can impact anyone at any time.

The panel was followed by insights from Linda Burnett and Annie Woodger of Tenants Victoria, which emphasised the importance of connecting financial, legal, and housing advocacy to address systemic issues effectively. Their ‘Practice to Policy’ model ensures that frontline experiences directly shape broader reform efforts.

Housing and Financial Hardship in Crisis Contexts

The final sessions spotlighted the impact of external crises on housing insecurity:

• Kellie Davis (FCVic) highlighted the long-term housing struggles faced by disaster-affected homeowners and renters, reinforcing the importance of ongoing advocacy and cross-sector collaboration.
• Anastasia Magriplis (Asylum Seeker Resource Centre) provided a sobering account of the financial and housing barriers faced by asylum seekers, many of whom spend years in visa limbo. Despite these hurdles, ASRC’s advocacy-driven solutions—such as acting as lease guarantors—have made a tangible difference in securing stable housing for thousands.

A Call for Systemic Change

The final reflections panel, featuring financial counsellors Shungu Patsika, Rachna Madaan Bowman, Alysa Coleman, and Jessica Brauer, underscored the deepening crisis: skyrocketing housing costs, inadequate social security support, and a rental market that prioritises investment returns over human dignity. Despite these challenges, a clear message of hope emerged—advocacy is making an impact. With continued pressure on policymakers, a fairer and more secure housing system is within reach.

Key Takeaways and Next Steps

To highlight the impact of the discussions, attendees participated in a snap poll responding to the question: In five words or less, what are your key takeaways and actions from this Summit? Responses included:

• Collaborate and work together
• Develop policy strategy that’s tangible
• Let the people build houses!
• Role of high-quality landlords
• Get involved with supporting reforms
• Housing is a human right, not a wealth creator
• Change is coming, get ready
• And one particularly resonant comment: “Don’t waste this crisis….advocate.”

We will continue engaging with key regulators and decision-makers to drive housing reforms. Additionally, unanswered questions from the Mentimeter sessions and further actions will soon be shared with the day’s attendees and our Devil’s Advocate subscribers.

Looking Ahead: Sparking Change

FCVic CEO Zyl Hovenga-Wauchope closed the Summit with an energising announcement: FCVic’s upcoming Sparking Change Conference (8-10 October at Mantra in Lorne) will build on the momentum generated by this Summit. The commitment and passion of financial counsellors, advocates, and policymakers will continue driving meaningful change in the housing sector.

Acknowledgments

A summit of this magnitude is made possible by the dedication of many individuals and organisations. Special thanks to our MC, Shungu Patsika (Consumer Action Law Centre), and photographer Graeme Furlong. We are also grateful to our industry partners, whose support enables these vital conversations and actions to take place.

The FCVic Housing Summit was more than just a discussion—it was a rallying call for systemic change. Housing must be recognised as a human right, not a commodity. Through continued collaboration, advocacy, and policy reform, we can create a housing system that is fair, stable, and secure for all.