URBAN THINKERS CAMPUS

Compass Housing is a Lead Partner with the UN Habitat World Urban Campaign (WUC). In that role we

are organising with partners a WUC Urban Thinkers Campus. The purpose of the Campus is to develop the

implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Urban Agenda (NUA) in Australia. We

anticipate that comprehensive collaboration will widen awareness of the SDGs and NUA and add momentum to the

adoption of programs and policies that support their achievement by all levels of government, the private sector and

NGOs.

Key Objectives

The Campus has four key objectives:

1. To identify challenges and opportunities in SDG and NUA implementation in Australia;

2. To agree on key actions required to achieve higher levels of commitment to the SDGs and the NUA in Australia;

3. To develop improved relationships between the sectors that can play a role in operationalising the NUA/SDGs;

and

4. To identify opportunities to better integrate actions to implement the SDGs and the NUA.

The Campus will provide an opportunity to share perspectives and explore the factors that currently limit

collaborative actions. This will, in turn, permit the development of solutions focused on realisable stages towards the

achievement of the SDGs and NUA.

Key Themes

The Campus will take place on the 20th September 2019 in Melbourne Australia. The event will be organised around

the three key themes of:

• No Poverty Political recognition of poverty in Australia has been minimal despite strong advocacy by

organisations such as the Australian Council of Social Services. The value of welfare benefits is a primary cause

of poverty and increasingly work-related poverty is emerging as a significant factor.

• Affordable Housing There is a crisis of adequate supply of social and affordable homes in Australia. Whilst much

of the focus is on the state capital cities, achieving adequate housing for all remains a challenge throughout

Australia.

• Equitable Places Planning for the sustainable future for Australian cities is also of critical importance with

currently 80% of Australians living in urban areas. Planning for sustainable places is essential if Australia is to

meet the objectives of the NUA and the SDGs.

Attendance at the Campus is by invitation or nomination by one of the lead partners and will be deliberately

limited to provide expert focus and attention to the challenges of implementing the SDGs and the NUA. The

organisers would highly value your participation and contribution to the Campus proceedings and outcomes.

To register your interest, please contact Professor Dave Adamson at DavidA@compasshousing.org

THE URBAN THINKERS CAMPUS IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN COMPASS HOUSING, RMIT UNIVERSITY, PLACE LEADERS ASIA PACIFIC AND EASTERN REGION OF PLANNING AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS (EAROPH)