The JHNA Insights

Dr Johari Hussein Nassor Amar
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  • Social Sciences
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We design the world around one version of life. Then life changes. The JHNA Insights is a podcast grounded in a human centric built environment, bringing people, place, property and progress into one conversation. Each episode draws on research, practice and lived experience to explore how we live, move, work and belong. If the system has ever felt like it was not designed with you in mind, you are not imagining it.

  1. Episode 2.3 There Are More Ways to Live Than Own or Rent with Emily McMullan

    14 June

    Episode 2.3 There Are More Ways to Live Than Own or Rent with Emily McMullan

    Housing security is no longer just a question of owning or renting. As affordability pressures increase, more people are turning to co-ownership, long-term renting, shared equity, community land trusts, co-operatives and other alternative tenure models. But what happens when life changes? In this episode, I speak with Emily McMullan, Founding Principal of McMullan Lawyers, about the legal realities that sit behind housing arrangements, especially when relationships break down, people need to exit co-ownership, renters age in place, or alternative tenure models become more complex than expected. The conversation explores: Why housing disputes often begin as life events, not legal problemsThe risks hidden behind co-ownership and alternative tenure What renters need to understand in a long-term housing marketThe gap between having rights in theory and using them in practice Why people need clearer information before signing housing agreementsHow housing disputes can become safety, health and homelessness risksOne of the central questions from the episode is simple:What rights am I getting, and what am I giving away? This episode also connects with Episode 1.13 on navigating the rental market during the housing crisis, reminding us that housing security depends not only on access, but also on clarity, protection and the ability to live through change without losing stability. McMullan Lawyers also offers a one-hour free consultation, which may be a valuable opportunity for people facing housing insecurity, property disputes, tenancy issues, or those wanting to better understand their rights before buying, renting or entering an alternative tenure arrangement. #HousingSecurity #AlternativeTenure #PropertyLaw #HousingAffordability #RentingRights #Co-Ownership #HousingCrisis

    44 min
  2. Episode 2.2 Your Home Is Doing More Work Than You Think with ⁠Simon Kuestenmacher and ⁠Terry Rawnsley⁠

    23 May

    Episode 2.2 Your Home Is Doing More Work Than You Think with ⁠Simon Kuestenmacher and ⁠Terry Rawnsley⁠

    Housing is never just a place to live. It shapes how we age, work, connect, move and belong. In this episode, I speak with Simon Kuestenmacher, Co-founder and Director of The Demographics Group, and Terry Rawnsley, Director of Planning & Infrastructure Economics at KPMG Australia, about the deeper role housing plays in our lives. We explore how housing is tied to demographic change, infrastructure, affordability, ageing and household needs. The conversation looks at the growing mismatch between the homes we build and the lives people are actually living, from large homes on the urban fringe to expensive inner-city housing and limited options for ageing and middle-income households. Simon and Terry also unpack why the system keeps producing patterns that do not always make economic or social sense, and what could change if planning, feasibility and human need were better connected. Tune in for a thoughtful conversation about why housing is never just housing, and why our homes are doing far more work than we think.

    50 min
  3. Episode 2.1: A Home Should Last a Lifetime But Most Don’t with Dr Tanja Tyvimaa

    25 Apr

    Episode 2.1: A Home Should Last a Lifetime But Most Don’t with Dr Tanja Tyvimaa

    We design homes for one version of your life. Then life happens. Australia spends around $500 million a year adapting homes after a fall or injury, not counting the costs when households grow, shrink or shift in what they need. These costs show up later but they start with how we design and build. In this episode, I speak with Finland-based housing specialist Dr Tanja Tyvimaa about why housing needs to work across a lifetime, not just at move-in. She is involved with the Carbon Neutral Tampere 2030 initiative, with work centred on the building life cycle in residential development across municipal government, private developers and investors, and has led projects at universities in Finland, Australia and the US. From everyday design decisions to system-level choices, the question is simple. Why are we still building homes most people will outgrow?

    43 min
  4. Episode 1.13 Navigating the Rental Market During Housing Crisis with Alice Pennycott and Leo Paterson Ross

    15/12/2025

    Episode 1.13 Navigating the Rental Market During Housing Crisis with Alice Pennycott and Leo Paterson Ross

    Renting in Australia is no longer just expensive. It is unstable, exhausting and quietly wearing people down. In this episode of Navigating the Rental Market During Housing Crisis, I am joined by Alice Pennycott, Principal Lawyer (Tenancy) at Circle Green Community Legal in WA, and Leo Paterson-Ross, CEO of the Tenants' Union of NSW and a representative of the National Association of Tenant Organisations. This is an honest conversation about what renters are facing, beyond the headlines and the data: Why Australia’s rental system rewards profit while stability falls through the cracksHow vacancy rates mask the reality of people being pushed out, not just priced upWhy doing everything right no longer protects renters from serious mental and financial strainWhy different eviction laws in NSW and WA still produce the same fear of losing homeWhat we lost when housing stopped being a public good, and why rebuilding at scale mattersWhy rental or homelessness insurance won't solve this, and what actually wouldThis conversation names what renters know but rarely say out loud: the fear of being labelled difficult, the data you give up just to compete and the exhaustion of living on the edge. Contrary to what we hear often, this is not a wicked or unsolvable crisis. It’s systemic, human-made and entirely fixable — not through personal resilience, but by changing a system broken by design. What would it actually take to make renting stable, dignified again and humane again? If you rent, work in housing or want to understand why so many people feel stuck despite doing everything right, this is a grounded and necessary discussion worth listening to. #HousingAffordability #HousingInsecurity #HousingJustice #NSWRenters #TenancyRights #WArenters

    59 min
  5. Episode 1.12 Reframing the role of inclusive housing in Australia’s traditional housing system with Nicole Makin-Doherty

    28/10/2025

    Episode 1.12 Reframing the role of inclusive housing in Australia’s traditional housing system with Nicole Makin-Doherty

    Before recording this Episode 12, I read a story about a man who had been given a bath all his life and was finally able to take his first independent shower after moving into an accessible home. That moment captures my conversation with Nicole Makin-Doherty, CEO and Managing Director of Empowered Liveability, about dignity, independence and inclusion and why so many Australians are still locked out of housing that works for them We explored why only 5% of new homes meet basic accessibility standards and how more than 40% of SDA rooms are unoccupied while thousands of people are still searching for a place to live. Nicole explained how this mismatch comes down to location, design and misunderstanding of how the NDIS actually works and what can be done to fix it. Here are some key takeaways: Why over 1,000 SDA homes are vacant and how location, design and policy all play a roleThe biggest misconception investors have about SDA and why the NDIS doesn’t guarantee rentHow inclusive design benefits everyone, from parents with prams to people recovering from injury and anyone who wants to age in placeThe crossover between SDA and social housing could help bridge the gap for people who need accessible homes but aren’t NDIS participants People thrive when they can stay in their own homes. We need to move beyond compliance and design truly inclusive communities that don’t lock people out by focusing on: Physical access – homes that work for daily lifeSensory access – design that support sensory needsFinancial access – housing that is affordable, not just availableAgeing in place – staying close to family improves health and connectionCommunity access – transport, public spaces and workplaces that include everyone Any of us could need accessible housing tomorrow. Inclusive homes and infrastructure create communities that support independence, connection and dignity for everyone. Resources mentioned: Housing Hub – quarterly data on demand and fundingSummer Foundation – research and advocacy on accessible housingEmpowered Livability – provider insights and case studies #AccessibleHousing #SDA #NDIS #AgeingInPlace #UniversalDesign #DisabilityInclusion #SocialImpact

    42 min
  6. Episode 1.11: After the flood - Policy pathways for housing and buybacks in climate-affected communities with Danny Rose and Patrick Leahy

    23/10/2025

    Episode 1.11: After the flood - Policy pathways for housing and buybacks in climate-affected communities with Danny Rose and Patrick Leahy

    Over the past 48 hours, four states - Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria - have been hit by extreme weather. Record-breaking October heat, destructive winds and severe storms have left parts of the country reeling from floods and widespread power outages. If anyone still thinks climate change is a future problem, look outside. By 2050, more than one million Australian homes could be uninsurable. According to the Climate Council, flood-prone properties have already lost $42 billion in value and disaster costs are projected to reach $73 billion each year. In Episode 12, I spoke with Danny Rose, Manager Roads and Stormwater Engineering at ⁠Tweed Shire Council⁠ and Deputy President ⁠Floodplain Management Australia⁠, ⁠ and ⁠Patrick Leahy⁠, Director at ⁠SG Group Real Estate Advisors,⁠ about what happens after the disaster . We explored what happens after disaster strikes and how communities are rethinking resilience. Here is what they shared: How the 2011 and 2022 floods reshaped entire regions and led many residents to stop rebuildingWhat happens to roads, drainage and utilities when buybacks transform neighbourhoodsHow councils decide what to rebuild, relocate or retire to reduce future riskWhy advanced flood modelling and the checkerboard effect are changing where new homes can be safely approvedHow buyback lessons are informing recovery in bushfire, wind and landslide-prone areasWhy community education and trust-building are essential before disaster strikes We are already seeing this play out across NSW and QLD as communities work out what it really means to rebuild safely. This episode builds on: Episode 8 Engineering and Planning Solutions for a Climate-Ready Australia with Pradesh Ramiah and Rob CowleEpisode 10 Can we solve the housing AND climate crisis at the same time? with Ammon Beyerle and Jeremy Mansfield OAM 🎧 Tune in to hear how councils and communities are rewriting the rulebook on rebuilding after disaster, and what it means for your home, your investment and your future. Resources mentioned: Australia’s National Climate Risk Assessment (2025) – Australian Climate ServiceFloodplain Management Australia – national network for flood resilience and planningTweed Shire Council Floodplain Management – practical examples of recovery and adaptation #Buybacks #BuiltEnvironment #HousingResilience #FloodManagement #SustainableHousing

    43 min
  7. Episode 1.10: Can we solve the housing AND climate crisis at the same time with Ammon Beyerle and Jeremy Mansfield OAM

    20/10/2025

    Episode 1.10: Can we solve the housing AND climate crisis at the same time with Ammon Beyerle and Jeremy Mansfield OAM

    Australia needs 1.2 million new homes by 2029, yet housing stress, rising homelessness and climate risks are intensifying. A typical new home releases around 185 tonnes of CO₂ before anyone moves in, and housing and construction already make up nearly 20% of national emissions. In this Episode 10, I spoke with Ammon Beyerle, Architect & Director of Here Studio, and Jeremy Mansfield OAM, Board Chair of Green Cross Australia and Founder/Director of Mansfield Advisory Pty Ltd about how adaptive reuse and nature-based urban design can help deliver the homes we need while cutting carbon and building more liveable communities. A few things from our chat really stayed with me: 40% of carbon is locked in existing buildings and we simply can’t afford to demolish them all90% of existing buildings will need redesigning by 2040, not just for carbon but for accessibility and maintenance Key worker housing affordability has dropped below 1% in some Australian cities indicating secure job is no longer enough to guarantee a place to live for manyNearly every regional town in Australia has an underutilised heritage buildings that could provide housing Ammon shared his vision to transform 1,000 empty buildings across 1,000 towns in 10 years – not as the full solution, but to instill the culture of "We can’t afford to solve all problems by building everything new but work with what we’ve got". Jeremy questioned why we don’t have consistent policies across Australia’s 500+ planning schemes that ask: “Do we really need to build new?” We also talked about: How walkable, nature-connected neighbourhoods can reduce emissions and improve wellbeingHow ecological design, e.g. using trees, green spaces and natural systems, can cool cities and lower embodied carbonHow lightweight timber extensions can add three or more affordable housing floors without demolitionThe $1.3 billion Household Energy Upgrades Fund and the need to measure what actually requires upgradingWhy success should be measured beyond carbon – through inclusion, health and resilience If you care about housing policy, sustainability or urban design, this episode builds on earlier conversations about rooming accommodation, airspace development and modern methods of construction – exploring how innovation and policy can work together to meet housing targets while moving toward net zero. #SustainableHousing #Nature-basedUrbanDesign #AdaptiveReuse #Decarbonisation #ClimateAction #BuiltEnvironment #NetZero

    47 min
  8. Episode 1.9: How Rooming Houses Could Help the Housing Crisis (If Policy Let Them) with Paul Zanetti

    13/10/2025

    Episode 1.9: How Rooming Houses Could Help the Housing Crisis (If Policy Let Them) with Paul Zanetti

    When more than 10,000 Australians experience homelessness every month and rental vacancy rates sit just above 1%, you would think every state would be doing everything possible to encourage affordable housing. The reality tells a different story. In this episode, I am joined by Paul Zanetti, Founder and Director of Brisbane Rooming Houses, to explore a housing model that provides secure, executive-style studios (30-60 sqm) designed for long-term residents at a more affordable price than traditional rentals, featuring: Private ensuite and kitchenetteAll bills included (power, water, internet)Furnishings, air conditioning and digital securityCommunal spaces that encourage social connection and reduce isolationRents around $400–$500 per week compared with $700+ for a typical one-bedroom apartment There is strong demand for this housing, especially from low-income workers and vulnerable households, and half of all enquiries come from couples who could share costs at about $200 each per week. However, Queensland’s rules prohibit shared occupancy, creating another barrier to supply when affordability is already under pressure. In the past five years, Queensland has gained about 146,000 new residents from other states, leading the nation in population growth. Yet it remains the only state charging up to $26,000 per room in infrastructure fees, rising by $2,000 each year, and adding more than $130,000 to a typical five-room project before construction even begins. Our discussion explores: Whether infrastructure charges reflect genuine growth costs or are limiting new housing supplyWhat Victoria and Western Australia are doing differently to attract investment and expand affordable optionsHow ‘convenient living’ of accommodation can reduce rental stress and create faster pathways to housingThe real cost of policy inaction and what reforms could make an immediate difference Paul’s key message is clear: government and private providers need to work together. With 95% of Australia’s housing delivered by the private sector, supporting affordable models like rooming accommodation could make a meaningful difference fast. 🎧 Listen to Episode 9 to hear: How small regulatory changes could halve rent for many tenantsReal examples of investment shifting between statesWhat practical reforms could unlock thousands of affordable roomsWhy renting out rooms without proper rooming or boarding certification can lead to planning breaches, insurance issues and tax liabilities For so long, the focus has been on Airbnb reducing long-term rental supply, yet rooming accommodation is growing but restricted by policy inconsistencies, highlighting the need to consider whether housing policy should be consistent across the nation or responsive to state/territories plans. #RoomingAccommodation #HousingCrisis #AffordableHousing #QueenslandHousing #UrbanPolicy #InfrastructureCharges

    42 min
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About

We design the world around one version of life. Then life changes. The JHNA Insights is a podcast grounded in a human centric built environment, bringing people, place, property and progress into one conversation. Each episode draws on research, practice and lived experience to explore how we live, move, work and belong. If the system has ever felt like it was not designed with you in mind, you are not imagining it.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr Johari Hussein Nassor Amar
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dr Johari Hussein Nassor Amar
  • Show Website
    The JHNA Insights