Help! I’m Ageing Podcast explores: Can You Age Well Without a Stable Home?
An estimated 270,000 older Australians don't have stable housing, and most of them aren't sleeping rough.
If you're worried about your own housing situation, or someone in your life who's struggling to find a secure home, this episode will equip you with the skills to take action.
Help! I’m Ageing. Ageing Well. Living Well. is answering the big questions about getting older, with real evidence, real stories, and honest conversations.
In this latest episode, Can You Age Well Without a Stable Home? our co-hosts, Tracy Parish and Dr Taya Collyer talk with researcher, Nilakshi Gunatillaka about how housing instability and homelessness can make ageing well challenging.
“When we entered the service system for homelessness, I had attended hundreds of medical appointments … they all were aware that I was exiting to live in a vehicle with my daughter, and said, ‘That's a really bad situation. Sorry, we can't help.’ And it was only because at one, the receptionist says, ‘oh, there's a place around the corner that might be able to help you.’ – JULIE (pseudonym) |
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LISTEN and discover more about:
- Homelessness is not what you think! What is housing instability?
- Why insecure housing makes managing your health so challenging
- Why hospitals often don't ask about it and how NCHA research is changing that
- How to start a conversation to help address stigma
Features:
- Nilakshi Gunatillaka Qualitative Health Researcher, Monash University and the National Centre for Healthy Ageing
- Tracy Parish Co-host, broadcaster and medical research journalist
- Dr Taya Collyer Co-host, lead biostatistician at NCHA
Links & References:
- The Deep End Living Lab: Inclusive and integrated health and social care for homeless populations – Monash University / NCHA Living Lab Project
- Jack Brockhoff Foundation
- Council on the Ageing (COTA)
- Swinburne University homelessness estimates (2025)
- Homelessness Australia
- Homelessness Australia – National Homelessness Facts 2025
- Under Cover (ABC iView) older women experiencing homelessness
- NCHA Community and Resources Hub
- NCHA Healthy Ageing Resources
- NCHA Living Labs Research Program
Disclaimer: Nilakshi, Tracy and Taya are not medical doctors. This episode is based on research, but it's not medical advice. Please talk to your GP for advice tailored to you.
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Help! I’m Ageing was produced by James Pattison from Miniature Creative, and Tracy Parish and Anna Mudigdo from the National Centre for Healthy Ageing (NCHA).