We are a member-based, non-profit peak body committed to advancing resident-driven collaborative housing.

Our main activities include awareness-raising, support and advocacy.

We are a network of a diverse group of like-minded people living in or interested in living in collaborative housing communities. Our network also includes academics, advocates, architects, planners, property professionals, development managers, social visionaries and general supporters of collaborative living.

We are a cooperative and we encourage everyone who supports cohousing in Australia to become a member.

There are many Cohousing models but most share certain key features:

Typically, in Australia, cohousing communities are self-funded and self-governing although we envisage that as the cohousing movement here grows, there will be scope to expand the model to include a mix of ownership/part-ownership and rental options and perhaps, even an element of public-ownership through social-housing investment.

Find out more on our Resources page.

Many of us grew up knowing our neighbours, borrowing some milk, chatting over the fence, checking in on old Mr Russo if we hadn't seen him for a while, watering plants when people were away. Community wasn't something we talked about - we just lived it.

As time moved on, working hours. commuting times and too many competing demands eroded our interaction with the people who lived around us. Eventually, many of us just forgot about it. And yet … we had a growing sense that something was missing.

We humans are social beings. We need each other. Not to live in each other's pockets but to be part of something - a community. The mental and physical health impacts of social isolation are well-documented and an increasing concern.

Cohousing has the potential to address this. Your own private space with a community on tap whenever you want or need it. The chance to contribute to others' wellbeing, too.

It is the 21st century version of a village.

Cohousing also offers opportunities to address other social issues of our time, including community inclusion for marginalised groups such as people with disabilities, single parents, older women, indigenous Australians, refugees, members of the LGBTQI+ community and many others.

Cohousing also can offer sustainability and cost-of-living advantages. These occur through technological efficiencies (energy / water / internet), social organisation (sharing tasks: gardening, composting, informal child-minding), and bulk purchasing (utilities, consumables, electric vehicles).

Find out more on our Resources page.

Cohousing is a collaborative process. These are some of our partners and allies.

We use collaborative housing and cohousing somewhat interchangeably. Collaborative housing is a broader term for any housing in which people cooperate and coordinate resources and activities. Cohousing is one type of collaborative housing.

We recommend learning more on the collaborative housing website. CoHousing Australia contributed to the content.