Sharon Parkinson – The Conversation

Pixabay/Pexels

November 4, 2025

Australia is facing an ‘AI divide’, new national survey shows

Kieran Hegarty, RMIT University; Anthony McCosker, Swinburne University of Technology; Jenny Kennedy, RMIT University; Julian Thomas, RMIT University, and Sharon Parkinson, Swinburne University of Technology

Disparities in learning and work, as well as increased exposure to scams, are just some of the risks of a growing ‘AI divide’.

Lukas Coch/AAP

November 27, 2022

Do tenancy reforms to protect renters cause landlords to exit the market? No, but maybe they should

Chris Martin, UNSW ; Milad Ghasri, UNSW ; Sharon Parkinson, Swinburne University of Technology, and Zoe Goodall, Swinburne University of Technology

It’s often claimed that reforming tenancy laws to better protect tenants will drive landlords out of the market, leading to fewer rental properties. A new study finds no evidence to support the claim.

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.

Brian S/Shutterstock

July 19, 2020

Why COVID‑19 might not change our cities as much as we expect

Christian A. Nygaard, Swinburne University of Technology; Iris Levin, Swinburne University of Technology, and Sharon Parkinson, Swinburne University of Technology

We might have had a glimpse of new ways of urban living, but history offers a note of caution. Lasting change depends on us applying technology and taking deliberate action to seize this opportunity.

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.

In 2001, around half of homeless people were found in capital cities. Today it’s almost two-thirds. Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

May 29, 2019

Homelessness soars in our biggest cities, driven by rising inequality since 2001

Sharon Parkinson, Swinburne University of Technology; Deb Batterham, Swinburne University of Technology, and Margaret Reynolds, Swinburne University of Technology

Homelessness in Australia is increasingly concentrated in the capital cities, where nearly two in every three people without a home are now found. That’s the finding of a study of the data since 2001.

Airbnb’s likely impacts on people and their responses to it are related to their status as property owners, investors, prospective buyers or tenants. Justin Lane/EPA

November 7, 2018

Who wins and who loses when platforms like Airbnb disrupt housing? And how do you regulate it?

Laura Crommelin, UNSW ; Chris Martin, UNSW ; Laurence Troy, UNSW , and Sharon Parkinson, Swinburne University of Technology

Short-term letting via digital platforms benefits some in the market at the expense of others. Closer regulation might be needed in Melbourne and Sydney, where a permissive approach prevails.

Contact Sharon for