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Towards 2050: Social infrastructure for Australia’s future

Towards 2050: Social infrastructure for Australia’s future

Written by: Australian Unity
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Australians are changing. By 2042, the number of Australians over 85 will double to over one million. There’ll be greater rates of chronic disease, more people requiring specialist aged care, more people living with disability. By 2041, there’ll also be six million more people living in this country. Our nation will require more hospital beds, childcare centres, disability housing, student accommodation, seniors living and other housing. For the sake of our future community, it’s time for open conversations about what infrastructure we must deliver and who will deliver it. This podcast is a forum for expert-led conversation on Australia’s growing and changing population and future community requirements, and ideas for building the necessary social infrastructure to meet our needs.

 Economics Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Episode Five – Housing Students in a Housing Crisis

    Episode Five – Housing Students in a Housing Crisis
    Dec 12 2025

    Australia’s international education sector is our largest service export outside mining, contributing more than $50 billion annually and employing over 200,000 people. Yet housing shortages and affordability pressures are impacting students’ wellbeing and academic success.

    In this episode, host Ryan Banting explores why Australia lags behind global peers in student accommodation, the role private capital plays in supporting the growth and evolution of the sector, and how purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) can transform the student experience.

    Key insights include:

    • Nearly one in three university students in Australia is international.
    • In 2024, more than one million international students studied here, driving economic value across hospitality, retail and tourism.
    • Australia has just one PBSA bed for every 15 students, compared to 45% penetration in the United Kingdom.

    Joining Ryan are two leading voices in the sector:

    • Torie Brown, Executive Director, Student Accommodation Council, Property Council of Australia
    • Bradley Brown, Regional General Manager (Victoria), UniLodge

    Links:

    • CBRE Pacific Student Accommodation Report 2025 - https://www.cbre.com.au/insights/reports/student-accommodation-2025-pacific
    • Property Council of Australia April 2024 – Myth busting international student’s role in the rental crisis - https://www.propertycouncil.com.au/submissions/myth-busting-international-students-role-in-the-rental-crisis

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    34 mins
  • Episode Four – Australia’s Aged Care Sector: A Quiet Revolution

    Episode Four – Australia’s Aged Care Sector: A Quiet Revolution
    Nov 26 2025
    Australia’s aged care sector is undergoing a profound transformation—a quiet revolution that will shape how we age and how we care for older Australians. In this episode, Ryan Banting speaks with Ian Yates AM, one of the nation’s most respected advocates for older people, about the challenges and opportunities ahead. Ryan and Ian discuss: Why aged care is more than residential facilities, or aged care properties —it’s a system spanning home care, health services and community support.The impact of rationing aged care and whether access should be legislated like the aged pension.How reforms and private capital can unlock innovation and investment.The rise of home care and what it means for the future of residential aged care. Ian shares insights from decades of leadership, including his tenure as Chief Executive of COTA Australia and Acting Inspector General of Aged Care, where he championed a rights-based, person-centred system. This episode was recorded on Thursday 9 October, prior to the commencement of the new Aged Aged Care Act on 1 November 2025. (https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/aged-care-act/about?language=en) Key Themes Demographics: By 2062, Australians aged over 80 will triple to 3.5 million—equivalent to the current combined population of WA and ACT.Innovation imperative: Providers must rethink models as baby boomers’ preferences diverge from previous generations.Home care revolution: Packages have grown from 60,000 in 2016 to 300,000 today—a seismic shift in how care is delivered Host: Ryan Banting, Executive General Manager – Social InfrastructureGuest: Ian Yates AM About Ian Yates AM Ian was Chief Executive of COTA Australia for over three decades. He was then asked to be Acting Inspector General of Aged Care, which he did for two years until his term finished in January 2025. Under his leadership, the OIGAC became Australia’s first independent entity dedicated to overseeing the Government’s administration of the aged care system. During his time as Acting Inspector General Ian initiated a review of My Aged Care, the Government's portal for accessing aged care services, and provided the Minister and Parliament with two comprehensive independent reports on the government's implementation of the Aged Care Royal Commission Recommendations—highlighting among other things the importance of a rights-based and older person controlled system to both protect and enable older people. In 2005 Ian was made a Member of the Order of Australia for “outstanding service to the welfare of the aged in South Australia and to a range of community, health and education organisations.” --- Health and Care Blueprint – Business Council of Australia: https://www.bca.com.au/reports-submissions/reports/supporting-a-healthy-and-productive-nation/CEDA: Media release - Australia needs an essential skills visa to fix the aged care worker shortage: https://www.ceda.com.au/news-and-resources/media-releases/workforce-skills/australia-needs-an-essen…Learn more about Australian Unity’s social infrastructure investments: australianunity.com.au/wealth Subscribe to Towards 2050 on your favourite podcast platform and join us as we explore the future of Australia’s social infrastructure. Important information The information in this podcast is general information only and contains information in summary form. The information contained in this podcast is not, and is not intended to be, an offer or invitation for subscription or sale, or promotion or advertisement of, financial products or services of any kind, or advice or a recommendation of any kind. It is not intended as, and is not intended to be relied upon as, financial product advice and does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any particular investor or any other person. No warranty is made as to accuracy, reliability or completeness. To the maximum extent permitted by law, neither the Australian Unity group of companies, or any of their respective employees or any other person, accept any liability for any claim in respect of anything stated in this podcast, and of the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done by any person acting in reliance, whether wholly or partially, upon the contents of this podcast. In deciding whether to acquire, continue to hold or dispose of any units in any Australian Unity fund which may be referred to in the podcast, an investor should obtain a copy of the relevant offering document or Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) (if applicable) and consider whether these products are appropriate, based on their own independent review and should seek professional advice as deemed appropriate, considering the nature and extent of any investment, economic, legal, regulatory, tax, and/or accounting risks, and the consequences of an investment in the relevant financial. A copy of the offer document, PDS and Target Market Determination (as the case may be) of any...
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    39 mins
  • Episode Three: Rebuilding the system – Caring for carers

    Episode Three: Rebuilding the system – Caring for carers
    Sep 11 2025
    Host: Ryan Banting, Executive General Manager, Social Infrastructure, Australian Unity Guests: · Dr David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy and the Social Economy at RMIT · Prue Bowden, Group Executive—Home Health, Australian Unity In this powerful episode, we delve right into the heart of Australia’s care economy—where aged care, disability support, childcare, and health services intersect with infrastructure, policy, and people. Prue Bowden and Dr David Hayward unpack the challenges and opportunities facing the care workforce, the urgent need for reform, and the ethical foundations of care that go beyond economics. From the rise of hospital-in-the-home models to the limitations of ‘market-driven’ care, this conversation explores how we can reimagine care delivery for a growing and ageing population. With over 60,000 Australians receiving home care through Australian Unity, Prue shares how innovation, workforce strategy, and community value are shaping the future of care. David then challenges conventional thinking on productivity and calls for a shift toward valuing relationships and ethics in care. Whether you're a policymaker, investor, carer, or someone who cares, this episode will leave you thinking differently about the infrastructure that provides the foundation for the functioning of society. Key Quotes David Hayward on the Care Economy On the evolution of care: “It’s really a story of moving from a largely not-for-profit enterprise undertaken by women… to something we now recognize as a vital economic activity.” On the value of care work: “It’s an economic activity every bit as valuable, if not more valuable, than what takes place in the industrial economy—like building cars or houses.” Prue Bowden on providing care into the home “You create a culture and a workforce that is free and able to build ethical relationships with their customers… seeing that person as a human who is also increasingly very lonely in their home environment.” On reform and customer expectations: “We’re using the settings of support at home to shape the right conversation with the customer about how they invest in their care… to make sure they can not just live longer—but live well for longer.” On global comparisons: “If you compare Australia to other countries around the world, we actually fall behind in terms of how we’ve embraced alternate models like hospital care in the home.” Australian Unity’s Community & Social Value Framework quantifies the impact of care on wellbeing and system savings. Read our Impact Report www.australianunity.com.au/our-impact Important information The information contained in this podcast is general information only and contains information in summary form. The information contained in this podcast is not, and is not intended to be, an offer or invitation for subscription or sale, or promotion or advertisement of, financial products or services of any kind, or advice or a recommendation of any kind. It is not intended as, and is not intended to be relied upon as, financial product advice and does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any particular investor or any other person. No warranty is made as to accuracy, reliability or completeness. To the maximum extent permitted by law, neither the Australian Unity group of companies, or any of their respective employees or any other person, accept any liability for any claim in respect of anything stated in this podcast, and of the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done by any person acting in reliance, whether wholly or partially, upon the contents of this podcast. In deciding whether to acquire, continue to hold or dispose of any units in any Australian Unity fund which may be referred to in the podcast, an investor should obtain a copy of the relevant offering document or Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) (if applicable) and consider whether these products are appropriate, based on their own independent review and should seek professional advice as deemed appropriate, considering the nature and extent of any investment, economic, legal, regulatory, tax, and/or accounting risks, and the consequences of an investment in the relevant financial. A copy of the offering document, PDS and Target Market Determination (as the case may be) of any Australian Unity fund referred to in the podcast is available at https://www.australianunity.com.au/wealth Australian Unity Funds Management Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying and recording, without the written permission of the publishers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    38 mins
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