Social sustainability

Happier communities

As a developer of proud communities for more than a century, we know that our greatest contribution lies in creating neighbourhoods where people live happy lives. The vision we never lose sight of is to develop thriving, inclusive neighbourhoods where people feel a deep sense of belonging and connection with others.

Everyone deserves a great place to call home. That's why we create inclusive neighbourhoods with a diversity of housing options to meet the needs of different people and families.

• Diverse housing options: We believe that the Australian housing market needs more choices, which is why our developments provide a range of options including different types of homes, tenure models, and price points, to cater to a variety of needs and lifestyles. 
• Dynamic and well-designed communities: Neighbourhood character and local connection starts with smart design and the creation of places and spaces for residents to connect and create bonds. These include public parks, resident facilities, cafes, shops, even civic spaces such as libraries and community centres.
• Creating opportunity: Many of our best-known developments are large-scale mixed-use communities, where much of what’s needed to enjoy local life, not to mention education and employment pathways, are contained within the neighbourhood – shops, schools, and other services. 

Vibrant neighbourhoods that are distinctive, active and appealing, are designed to foster health, wellbeing, and social connection.

• Health and wellbeing: Human-centred urban design principles combined with evidence-based community development plans help to underpin the health and wellbeing of our neighbourhoods. We focus on creating spaces that promote active living, social interaction, and access to nature, as well as programs that support peoples’ mental and physical health.
• Community infrastructure: High quality community infrastructure includes the ‘hardscape’ of parks, playgrounds, community centres, and retail spaces, as well as the ‘softscape’ of community nurturing through our in-house Community Development team.
• Community safety and connection: A crucial driver of safety and a sense of security in the neighbourhoods we create is the connection between neighbours themselves. To that end, we promote opportunities for residents to create their own community groups that help overcome feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Our goal is to foster a sense of community ownership and pride, empowering residents to shape their own futures and build a strong sense of belonging.  

• Social impact partnerships: We frequently collaborate with local councils, service providers, and social enterprises to deliver programs that address local needs and create positive social impact. 
• Community empowerment: A key focus of creating thriving communities is identifying community leaders and empowering residents to participate in decision-making processes and take ownership of their communities long after our role as developer has come to end. 
• Local procurement: We prioritise local and social procurement initiatives, supporting local businesses and organisations that create economic and employment opportunities within our communities.

We leverage our scale, resources, and voice to champion initiatives that drive social impact by fostering social connection, enhancing wellbeing, and supporting the development of sustainable neighbourhoods.

• Strategic partnerships: We collaborate with respected national advocacy bodies like Ending Loneliness Together and Relationships Australia to address social challenges and promote wellbeing. We also regularly share our expertise and perspectives with industry peers to amplify the impact of these initiatives. 
• Thought leadership: We fund projects, conduct research, and develop awareness campaigns that help the wider public better understand the importance of community wellbeing and belonging. This includes the creation of The Great Separation documentary on the issue of loneliness and our ‘Say Hello’ campaign which inspires people to take small steps toward greater change.
• Social impact measurement: We are developing our own social impact measurement framework to ensure that our efforts are making a positive difference in the lives of our residents and the communities we serve.