Story: Kristin Brookfield International Housing Association visit to HIA HIA played host to the HIA recently welcomed the International The group then progressed down the Hume International Housing Housing Association (IHA) to Canberra forHighway for some kangaroo spotting, along with their 2018 interim meeting. a visit to the Southern Highlands, the Big Merino Association with visits The four-day event started with in Goulburn and a sunset welcome function to display villages, delegates from Canada, Norway, Malaysia, Japan,overlooking Canberra to end the tour day. Taiwan, the US and Myanmar arriving in Sydney As is traditional, the formal meeting on day one retirement homes and to then tour down to Canberra. Unfortunately focused on sharing common information about housing projects as delegates from Brazil, Peru, Mexico, South Africaeach country’s economy and their housing industry. well as presentations and the EU were unable to attend. Discussion ranged across all the issues you would The tour began with a visit to Homeworld at expect when a group of housing associations sit and discussions. Leppington in south western Sydney, where down to compare economies, industry, pain points members had time to see just a few of the 50 and solutions. The presentations by each country display homes now open to the public in one ofalso provide fascinating insights into how similar Sydney’s largest display villages. The group spentsome countries are, and how vastly different the time with Phil Jones, CEO of Homeworld, learninghousing situation is in other countries. more about the management of the village and theReflecting on the number of homes built each benefits of a collective approach to creating andyear, home ownership rates, undersupply and financing a display village. other housing indicators gives the international 40 HOUSING NOVEMBER 2018 IN FOCUS • IHA VISIT