Government ministers from all levels have an important role to play in shaping Australia’s housing future. One of the most powerful ways to understand the value of co-operative housing is to see it in action.
Today, Hon Dr Daniel Mulino MP visited Keilor Co-op in Melbourne’s north-west, alongside Common Equity Housing Ltd, to hear directly from members about how the model works in practice. Hosted in the home of Keilor director Stephanie, the visit offered a valuable opportunity to explore what makes co-operative housing different and why it continues to deliver stable, community-led housing outcomes.
Visits like this matter. Co-operative housing is best understood not through theory alone, but by stepping into co-op communities, hearing members’ stories, and seeing the impact of member-led decision making firsthand. It is in these conversations that the real strength of the model becomes clear: residents are not just housed, but empowered, connected and actively involved in shaping their communities.
With CEHL marking 40 years this year, the visit was also a timely reminder that co-operative housing is not only values-driven, but well proven. When governments take the time to engage directly with co-op communities, it strengthens understanding of a housing model that delivers long-term security, participation and belonging.
Also invited for the visit, and pictured with Keilor members, are former CEHL Board Member Tony De Domenico OAM, CEHL Managing Director and ACHA Chair Liz Thomas, and Melina Morrison, CEO of Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM).
