The Unison Housing Research Lab (UHRL) is a unique education and research collaboration between RMIT University and Unison Housing, Victoria’s largest social housing provider.
The Lab was established in 2017 and is funded for five years to undertake an innovative research and education program informed by the experiences of service users and providers. Situated within the SGSC's Urban Housing and Homelessness program, the Lab's partnership with Unison Housing offers a unique, industry-led appraoch to addressing the ongoing issue of housing and homelessness.
The largest program of its kind in Australia, UHRL comprises six dedicated research staff pursuing a program of applied research tailored to support the needs of Unison Housing.
UHRL Publications
Staying Home?
Who stays, who leaves and why?
Aims of the Unison Housing Research Lab
The Lab’s multi-disciplinary research program is focused on creating new empirical and conceptual knowledge about:
- What actions can be taken to develop social housing that creates vibrant communities, improves tenancy sustainability and satisfaction, and maximises their impact on tenants’ social, economic, and health outcomes;
- The effectiveness of homelessness program interventions; and
- Approaches that help translate research into policy and practice.
The Lab will develop and deliver a program of integrated teaching that provides RMIT students with Australia’s first dedicated course on homelessness and housing. The course offers a cutting edge and multi-disciplinary approach to education that integrates homelessness theory, policy, and practice. The course will provide students with the knowledge and resources to support careers in the homelessness and housing sector.
