Refugees, students, the housing shortage in Australia
Examining the correlation
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21728060 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Hasham Khaleel Al Musawi (0009-0005-3542-561X, Public Knowledge, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 540-555 |
| Publication date | 2026-07-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Policy Futures in Education (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1478-2103 • E-ISSN: 1478-2103 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/14782103251381543 |
| OpenAlex | W4415150180 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 20 |
Australia’s housing shortage is a multifaceted socio-economic challenge marked by escalating property prices and a critical shortage of rental accommodations. This article examines the interplay of factors contributing to the crisis, including systemic inefficiencies in policy, construction sector challenges, and population dynamics. While public discourse often attributes the housing shortage to the influx of refugees and international students, this analysis reveals that these groups, representing a small fraction of the population, are not the primary drivers of the crisis. Instead, delays in housing approvals, workforce shortages in the construction industry, and rising material costs emerge as significant contributors. Through a critical examination of existing data and policy frameworks, the article highlights the need for targeted solutions. Strategies such as streamlining bureaucratic processes, investing in social and affordable housing, addressing labour shortages, and adopting responsive urban planning are proposed. The discussion underscores the importance of avoiding scapegoating vulnerable populations and instead fostering inclusive, sustainable policies to resolve the housing shortage. Ultimately, the analysis advocates for a holistic approach that balances the demand-supply equation while promoting equity and social cohesion
Bureaucracy · Economic shortage · Population · Poverty · Public housing · Renting · Workforce · Housing, Finance, and Neoliberalism · Migration and Labor Dynamics · Urban, Neighborhood, and Segregation Studies
The Financialization of Housing
International Student Security
Urban Fortunes
Reframing Public Policy
The private rental sector in Australia
Lessons learned from 20 years of CBE’s occupant surveys
Why return migrants return
Losing One’s Place
Suburbanizing Disadvantage in Australian Cities
Planning Context and Urban Intensification Outcomes
The financialisation of the social project
Post‐political spatial planning in England
Mapping the Margins
The social dimension of sustainable development
The Economic Implications of Housing Supply
| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |