Learn about Co-Operatives

It is important that housing co-operatives are viewed in the context of the broader Co-operative movement which has a rich and colourful history.

The formations of western style co-operatives have their foundations in UK, France and later in the USA, dating back to the late 1700s and were established as an alternative way of organising people who combined together in order to obtain better outcomes for the collective membership.

Co-operatives have generally developed around groups of people who do not have fair access to political and economic power. By joining together as a co-operative, members combined their social, financial and/or political clout to obtain a more socially just outcome against the odds.

Early examples of Co-operatives included the Women’s Guild which catered to poor working class women. It engaged in many political campaigns concerning women’s health, women’s right to vote and pacifism. The organization still exists today as the Co-operative Women’s Guild and participates in social justice activism.

Other co-operatives have formed around numerous issues such as farming and food production where large group of farmers shared the cost and risk between them to acquire land and develop their enterprises, also communal ownership of land, credit and financial co-operatives, purchasing co-operatives, alternative food co-operatives, housing and health co-operatives and many other examples of people combining together to improve their opportunities in life often based on social justice principles.

For more information refer to: History of the cooperative movement

CO-OPERATIVES TODAY

Modern day Co-operatives are many and varied. A number of large commercial Co-operatives have formed throughout the world around business enterprises, such as retail banking, insurance, travel agencies etc. usually offering a better deal to the members.

Other socially focused Co-operatives have thrived such as the Renewable Energy Co-operatives in Europe, Fair Trade movement is based on a co-operative, Workers Co-operatives such as Mondragon Corporation in Spain where worker join together to acquire factories and other business enterprises and currently has 75,000 employees.

Obviously all of these changes and developments have been accompanied by changes in Government regulation and treats from major corporations and institutional powers all of which have posed a threat to the survival of co-operatives, but they have survived and are currently growing in strength in Europe. Asia, South America and Australia as well as the west.

VICTORIAN HOUSING CO-OPERATIVES

Rental Housing Co-operatives – There are currently 5 Rental Housing Co-operatives operating in Victoria including:

• SouthEast Housing Co-operative – south east metropolitan area of Melbourne
• United Housing Co-operative – inner west metropolitan area of Melbourne
• Northern Geelong Rental Housing Co-operative – Barwon Geelong regional area
• Northcote Rental Housing Co-operative – inner north western area of metropolitan Melbourne
• West Turks Rental Housing Co-operative – Sunshine and St. Albans area specifically targeted for families of Turkish origins.

Common Equity Rental Housing Co-operatives

Common Equity Housing Ltd. provide housing, resources and support to over 118 rental housing co-operatives across Victoria housing over 2000 members and their families.

National Housing Co-operative Network – In 2015 a national network of Co-operatives was formed to promote the work of rental housing co-operatives across Australia. United Housing Co-operatives CEO, Peter Sibly is the Rental Housing Co-operative’s representative on the national network.

The International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) represents 292 member co-operatives across 95 countries, and represents over 1 billion people. The ICA has developed the International Co-operative Principles which UHC has adopted as guiding values.

Voluntary and Open Membership
Co-operatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.

Democratic Member Control
Co-operatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serve as elected representatives, and are accountable to the membership. In primary co-operatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and co-operatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner.

Member Economic Participation
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-operatives. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the co-operatives. They usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the co-operative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the co-operatives; and, supporting other activities approved by the membership.

Autonomy and Independence
Co-operatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their co-operatives’ autonomy.

Education, Training and Information
Co-operatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operatives. They inform the general public – particularly young people and opinion leaders – about the nature and benefits of the co-operation.

Co-operation among Co-operatives
Co-operatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the co-operative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.

Concern for Community
While focusing on member needs, co-operatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.

For more information on the International Co-operative Alliance refer to: International Cooperative Alliance | ICA

The Australian Co-operative Housing Alliance (ACHA) has been established to advocate for the benefits of the housing co-operative model and the growth and diversification of the social housing sector in Australia.

ACHA is an alliance of Registered Community Housing Providers that deliver co-operative housing, including Common Equity Housing Ltd (CEHL) Victoria, Co-operation Housing (WA), Common Equity NSW, Common Equity S.A. and United Housing Co-operative (as a representative of Victorian independent rental co-operatives). ACHA is supported by the Business Council of Co-operatives & Mutuals (BCCM).

 

ACHA’s key objective is to increase awareness of the benefits and potential of Co-operative housing.

 

To find out more about ACHA and Housing Co-operatives in Australia visit the ACHA website

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Thursday, October 17, 2024, we’re bringing together leaders, members, and advocates in the co-operative housing sector for an exciting day of learning, networking, and collaboration at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

This year’s theme is “The Value of Co-operative Housing”, and we have an incredible lineup of international and local speakers, including:

🌍 Tim Ross, Executive Director, Co-operative Housing Federation (CHF) of Canada
🌍 Dr. Sidsel Grimstad, Griffith Centre for Systems Innovation
🌍 Melina Morrison, CEO, Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM)
🌍 Professor Wendy Stone, Swinburne University of Technology

💡 Plus, choose from three insightful workshops on:

• Building a Co-op Housing Community

From United Housing Co-operative Victoria, a real-life case study of member engagement in placemaking.  A copy of the presentation can be view here: Building A Co-op-Housing Community, presented by Peter Sibly and Nasteha Mohamud

• Co-op Principles in Practice

A deep dive into how housing co-ops can effectively implement cooperative principles in their day-to-day operations.

• ACHA’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Impact Framework

Measuring the impact generated by the Australian Co-operative Housing Alliance through a shared ESG framework.

Join Us In Person or Online at the 2024 ACHA Co-operative Housing Summit

The Program schedule can be view here: ACHA cooperative housing summit program

🔗 Register now to secure your spot: 2024 Co-operative Housing Summit – ACHA
📅 Date: Thursday, October 17, 2024
📍 Location: Gilbert Suite, Adelaide Convention Centre
⏰ Time: 9am to 5pm, followed by a networking reception.

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with thought leaders and practitioners who are shaping the future of co-operative housing! See you in Adelaide!

Understanding the Value of Australian Housing Co-operatives

Articulating value in Housing Co-operatives is a research project that seeks to identify the benefits generated by housing co-operatives and how those benefits are created. This includes the work of co-operative members in creating those benefits.

The project was developed in collaboration with the Australian Co-operative Housing Alliance (ACHA). ACHA comprises housing co-operative organisations Common Equity NSW, Common Equity Housing Ltd., United Housing Co-operative Victoria, Common Equity Housing SA, and Co-operation Housing.

The Value of Housing Co-operatives in Australia – findings short video presents the main findings from the report. It focuses on the cost and work of Co-operatives, and the value generated by the co-operatives’ unique requirement for tenant-member participation. Click here to watch the Value of Housing Co-operatives in Australia – findings video.

To find out more about the research project please visit the Housing Coop Research website

Project Findings Report

The project report presents the findings from the research project. It discusses the nature of the sector, the cost and work that go into rental co-ops, the values that are generated, challenges encountered, and recommendations.

For more information, download Value of housing coop research findings report.

The Technical Report

The technical report details the project methodology and tools, and includes the tools as an appendix.

For information on the methodology developed, approach, tools and analyses used for the research project “Articulating Value in Co-operative Housing”, download Value of housing coop technical report.

The Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals is Australia’s cross sector peak body for all forms of member owned business. is a self-help website to provide information and resources on setting up and running a co-operative.

You can visit the BCCM website for information and resources on setting up and running a co-operative: learn how to plan, start and run a co-operative and to uses the free tools – the Co-op Builder, our new Capital Builder and browse the resource library and case studies.