Two Curtin-led projects have been awarded funding from Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) for its 2026 National Housing Research Program, which will investigate critical issues in housing and homelessness policy and practice.

Of the 18 new projects announced by AHURI in the funding round, Curtin will also partner in 10, contributing to the development of housing policy in Australia through policy-relevant and impactful research.

The 2026 program’s centrepiece is an inquiry into affordable housing systems. Individual research projects will explore rental stock dynamics, infill housing, First Nations housing, housing for people with disability, how local government can help tackle homelessness and more.

The two Curtin-led projects are:

  • Dr Adam Crowe (Lead) with Associate Professor Amity James (both from the School of Accounting, Economics and Finance) – Quality and appropriate housing for people with disability: improving delivery and access
  • Professor Alan Duncan (Lead and Director, Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre) with Dr Silvia Salazar (Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre) and John Curtin Distinguished Professor Steven Rowley (School of Accounting, Economics and Finance) – Rental stock dynamics in Australia: Building an evidence base for policy action

Congratulations to Dr Crowe, Professor Duncan and their teams!

The funded projects with Curtin researcher collaborations are:

AHURI Inquiry: Affordable housing future: a housing systems approach
Led by University of New South Wales (UNSW) in partnership with John Curtin Distinguished Professor Rachel ViforJ (School of Accounting, Economics and Finance), this inquiry analyses how current and potential affordable housing supply interventions interconnect with affordability outcomes at a housing systems level.

Supported by the following research projects:

  • Unpacking ‘Affordable’ Housing: an Australian and International Policy Review – led by University of Sydney in partnership with Dr Adam Crowe
  • Establishing the national affordable housing evidence-base: stock estimates, demand dynamics and rental impacts – led by Swinburne University of Technology (SUT) in partnership with John Curtin Distinguished Professor Rachel ViforJ and Dr Jack Hewton (School of Accounting, Economics and Finance)
  • Aligning affordable housing with occupant needs: scaling and diversifying affordable housing programs – led by UNSW in partnership with Dr Francesca Perugia (School of Design and the Built Environment)

Research Projects

  • Advancing systemic implementation of Housing First in Australia – led by UNSW in partnership with Dr Adam Crowe
  • Harnessing global Insights on housing affordability and density: implications for Australian policy – led by Monash University in partnership with Dr Francesca Perugia
  • Finding space for homes: a geospatial framework to support infill housing policy – led by Adelaide University in partnership with John Curtin Distinguished Professor Rachel ViforJ
  • Headleasing and its role in Australia’s social and affordable housing sector – led by UNSW in partnership with Dr Adam Crowe
  • Financial risk reduction interventions to boost housing supply: policy levers and impacts – led by Queensland University of Technology in partnership with John Curtin Distinguished Professor Steven Rowley and Dr Francesca Perugia
  • Risk of homelessness in Australia: new data for policy development and evaluation – led by SUT in partnership with Associate Professor Amity James (School of Accounting, Economics and Finance)

Congratulations to all researchers involved.

All projects will commence in April and are expected to publish final reports around the middle of 2027. Read about each project on AHURI’s website.