John Ward is a semi-retired geriatricina and one of the founding members of the Hunter Ageing Alliance (HAA) which aims to make Newcastle and Lake Macquarie into age-friendly cities. One of the strategies of HAA is housing and John convened the Housing for Older Persons Project (HOPP) in 2021. HOPP facilitated a meanwhile use project for 22 women, run by Pacific Link Housing and obtained the money to commence Hunter Homeshare, run through Embrace People and Place. HOPP is trying to change the regulations to make dual occupancy easier and is developing church land into 18 housing units for older women. The lack of real progress in housing over the last four years has convinced HOPP that a Local Housing Plan is required. John was the 2024 NSW Senior Australian of the Year.

Nissa Lee Phillips is a dedicated Community Development practitioner with over fifteen years’ experience in the not-for-profit and community sectors. As the Hunter Homeshare Coordinator with Embrace People and Place, she works to create innovative, sustainable housing solutions that also address social isolation. With a background in Social Ecology and postgraduate qualifications in Health Promotion, Nissa brings a systems-thinking, evidence-based approach to fostering connection, equity, and resilience within communities.

Based in Newcastle (Muloobinba), she is passionate about social justice, housing security, and co-creating inclusive, supportive environments for those experiencing adversity. In partnership with the Hunter Ageing Alliance, Nissa coordinates the Hunter Homeshare Program, connecting people in need of safe, affordable housing with compassionate homeowners. The program supports mutually beneficial living arrangements grounded in trust, respect, and community connection. Guided by a social ecology lens, Nissa approaches her work across the housing, community, and not-for-profit sectors with curiosity, compassion, and collaboration.

Relational and strengths-based, her practice draws on asset-based community development principles and celebrates the power of storytelling, community knowledge, and collective action. Nissa is committed to working in ways that reflect the diversity within our communities, embedding co-design approaches and building meaningful partnerships with First Nations peoples, CALD communities, and people with disabilities. She believes another world—and another way of being and doing—is possible, and continues to create innovative, intersectional solutions to the complex and “wicked” challenges of our time.

Wendy has over 20 years of experience in frontline and management roles within Community Services, working alongside older people, people living with a disability and their families. Wendy is committed to co-creating innovative support options that provide choice and opportunities for people to remain in their homes, connected to friends, family and communities. This passion led Wendy to Homeshare, helping to establish it as a shared living option in Perth, WA and Sydney, NSW. Since 2019 Wendy has been a board member of HANZA, the peak body advocating for the development of Homeshare in Australia and New Zealand www.hanza.org.au. Wendy is also a Trustee for Homeshare International, https://homeshare.org/ enabling her to learn and share best practice in shared living from around the world. Currently Wendy is also assisting HANZA as the Homeshare Development Officer, liaising on key projects such as self-directed Homeshare, membership support, training and advocacy.