Amity James – The Conversation

Tod Jones

October 1, 2025

Dangerous, overpriced, crammed full: poor housing for seasonal workers revealed

Tod Jones, Curtin University; Amity James, Curtin University; Michael Volgger, Curtin University; Salome Adams, Curtin University, and Sara Niner, Monash University

Seasonal workers are often considered to be expendable, cheap labour. New research across three states has found they’re also subject to crowded accommodation.

Mick Tsikas/AAP

August 31, 2025

Australian parents are helping their kids buy a first home with less money, but more rent‑free living

Rachel Ong ViforJ, Curtin University; Amity James, Curtin University; Christopher Phelps, Curtin University, and Paul Vivian, Curtin University

Half of parents in a recent survey said they’d helped out financially in some way – but some could afford much more than others.

Image courtesy of the Housing for the Aged Action Group

August 10, 2023

Ageing in a housing crisis: growing numbers of older Australians are facing a bleak future

Emma Power, Western Sydney University; Amity James, Curtin University; Francesca Perugia, Curtin University; Margaret Reynolds, Swinburne University of Technology; Piret Veeroja, Swinburne University of Technology, and Wendy Stone, Swinburne University of Technology

An ageing population is caught in a perfect storm of rising house prices and rents, falling home ownership rates, mortgage debt carried into retirement, insecure rentals and a lack of social housing.

Darren Fisher

February 22, 2021

Can I have a pet and be housed, too? It all depends…

Wendy Stone, Swinburne University of Technology; Amity James, Curtin University; Caitlin Buckle, University of Sydney; Darren C Fisher, Swinburne University of Technology; Debbie Faulkner, University of South Australia; Emma Power, Western Sydney University; Selina Tually, University of South Australia, and Zoe Goodall, Swinburne University of Technology

Trying to find housing can be a nightmare for pet owners, especially those who need it in a crisis. The inconsistencies from state to state and between different forms of housing demand reform.

Shutterstock

September 16, 2020

How might COVID‑19 change what Australians want from their homes?

Wendy Stone, Swinburne University of Technology; Amity James, Curtin University; Sharon Parkinson, Swinburne University of Technology, and Steven Rowley, Curtin University

Surveys with householders showed they want safety and security. Post-COVID that desire will be even stronger.

karenfoleyphotography/Shutterstock

February 11, 2020

Half of over‑55s are open to downsizing – if only they could find homes that suit them

Amity James, Curtin University; Steven Rowley, Curtin University, and Wendy Stone, Swinburne University of Technology

While a majority of householders over 55 have thought about downsizing, only one in four have done it. What’s stopping them? Most simply can’t find a home in the right place that meets their needs.

Shared houses work well for 82% of people living in them in their early 20s, but only 25% see this as a long-term option. Earlyspatz/Wikimedia

August 14, 2019

First home schemes aren’t enough to meet young adults’ aspirations

Sharon Parkinson, Swinburne University of Technology; Amity James, Curtin University; Steven Rowley, Curtin University, and Wendy Stone, Swinburne University of Technology

The housing aspirations of young Australians change as they enter their late 20s and early 30s. But having somewhere safe and secure to call home is the top priority for all young adults.

Older Australians aspire to the security of owning their own home, but prefer smaller houses in their later years. yopinco/Shutterstock

August 6, 2019

What sort of housing do older Australians want and where do they want to live?

Amity James, Curtin University; Sharon Parkinson, Swinburne University of Technology; Steven Rowley, Curtin University, and Wendy Stone, Swinburne University of Technology

Most older Australians want to live in a home they own, preferably in the middle and outer suburbs of a city. But increasing numbers look unlikely to realise their housing aspirations.

Policies focused on ownership do little to help lower-income households that are struggling to pay the rent. Iakov Filimonov/Shutterstock

May 30, 2019

Housing affordability has improved slightly, but people on lower incomes will continue to struggle

Steven Rowley, Curtin University; Alan Duncan, Curtin University, and Amity James, Curtin University

The policy focus remains on home ownership, but a new survey shows slight improvements in affordability do little to help people on low incomes. Their plight calls for better social housing policy.

Fewer than than 5% of renters are unhappy with their landlord, but rent can be expensive. Shutterstock

October 9, 2018

‘Just like home’. New survey finds most renters enjoy renting, although for many it’s expensive

Steven Rowley, Curtin University and Amity James, Curtin University

Most renters are happy with their landlords and happy with the quality of their accommodation, but they would like better security of tenure and cheaper rent.

On average, Gen Ys are $50,000 short of the deposit they expect they’ll need to buy their first home. Lolostock from www.shutterstock.com

June 22, 2016

What’s the key to home ownership for Gen Y?

Steven Rowley, Curtin University; Amity James, Curtin University, and Rachel Ong ViforJ, Curtin University

Without long-term solutions to the imbalance between incomes and house prices, Gen Ys face a lifetime of renting without the financial and emotional security of home ownership.

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