Who we are

The membership of the Taskforce aimed to bring together a range of lived experience, expertise, disciplines, networks and community to create holistic, practical and meaningful change.

Central to the Taskforce were Lived Experience Advocates (LEAs) from the community who have had experience of housing insecurity and have a passion for lived experience leadership. In addition to the 5 LEAs were representatives from a range of sectors including health, academia, ageing, domestic and family violence, local government, housing and homelessness, and community services.

The Taskforce was chaired by Dr Alice Clark, Executive Director of Shelter SA, with secretariat support provided by the SA Housing Authority.

Image below: Members of the Housing Security for Older Women Taskforce at the official launch.

Back row (from L-R): Kristal (SA Housing Authority – Taskforce Executive Officer), Sanjugta (Office for Women), Catherine (SA Housing Authority, non-Taskforce member), Emma (Australian Centre for Housing Research), Susan (Lived Experience Advocate), Paul (Planning and Land Use Services), Hon Katrine Hildyard MP (Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, non-Taskforce member), Justine (Lived Experience Advocate), Jen (Centacare Catholic Country SA), Hon Nat Cook MP (Minister for Human Services, non-Taskforce member), Sandra (Lived Experience Advocate), Kym (Lived Experience Advocate), Damian (Consumer and Business Services), Alice (Shelter SA – Taskforce Chair), Olive (Nunga Mi:Minar). Front row (from L-R): Kathy (Office for Ageing Well), Carmel (Health Translation SA), Jaynie (Lived Experience Advocate), Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC (Governor of South Australia, non-Taskforce member), Mary (South Australian Housing Trust Board, non-Taskforce member), Miranda (Council on the Ageing SA), Vesna (City of Salisbury), Katrina (Proud Kaurna Women, non-Taskforce member).

Why we were formed

Women aged 55 years and over are one of the fastest growing populations experiencing homelessness in Australia. However, research suggests this may be an underestimation given the ‘hidden nature’ of older women’s homelessness.

Older women are particularly vulnerable to housing insecurity due to a range of current and historical systemic factors, including, but not limited to:

  • Domestic and family violence and elder abuse;
  • Financial insecurity and disadvantage (lower lifetime incomes, less access to financial assets such as superannuation due to informal care responsibilities);
  • Relationship breakdown, illness or death of a spouse;
  • Social norms, gender and sexual identity, and age discrimination; and
  • Market forces such as housing affordability and availability.

To address this, the State Government made a commitment to establishing a taskforce to work towards housing security for older South Australian women.

For information about Taskforce activities and achievements, please see Taskforce Approach and Updates.