!nter: For Intergenerational Living. A Social Practice Change Strategy
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!nter is a practice change strategy, focused on increasing the efficiency of space consumption through increasing the residential density in selected suburbs and regional areas. This is envisaged through encouraging inter-generational living in existing houses, using the international students as leverage and targeting what is labelled as empty nesters (i.e. parents whose children have grown up and left home). Most of these families continue to live in the same houses with areas bigger than their actual needs and inefficiently utilised spaces.
![!nter: For Intergenerational Living Social Practice Change Strategy
Australians are encountering many shifts in their way of living due to the new technologies and the changing
nature of economy. Moreover, there are major demographic transformations in the structure of the Australian
nation. The average household in Australia is getting smaller with time. It is estimated that the increase rate in
households will exceed the rate of population growth with the emerging new household types including the
Lone person household (OLeary 2006). This increasing demand for living spaces will clearly have huge
implications on the natural environment. !nter is a practice change strategy, focused on increasing the efficiency
of space consumption through increasing the residential density in selected suburbs and regional areas. This is
envisaged through encouraging inter-generational living in existing houses, using the international students as
leverage and targeting what is labelled as empty nesters (i.e. parents whose children have grown up and left
home). Most of these families continue to live in the same houses (Glenn 2011) with areas bigger than their
actual needs and inefficiently utilised spaces.
Several factors contribute to this behaviour including established habits and physical or economic constraints for
changing (Tolhurst 2011). In this context, the strategy will try to change the practice through normalising and
facilitating for the intergenerational living focusing on the international students as a kick-start, initially targeting
those with worried families or those interested in living the Australian culture. As part of this strategy, a not-for-
profit organisation is to be established and called !nter. The organisation aims at marketing the scheme in
Australia in coordination with the local stakeholders (namely: educational institutions and local governments),
and internationally in coordination with IDP the preeminent placement service for those pursuing international
education. In addition, the organisation will provide architectural advice and work with families on modifying
their houses to accommodate students. Database will be created and accordingly !nter will match hosting
families with students according to various factors including age, food and type of services. The cost of house
alteration will be repaid by the rent according to set financial plan. Families have the choice to renew or to opt
out by the end of the contract, and with an upgraded house they will most likely lease out the extra space.
The logo of the organisation represents the intergenerational and international sides of the endeavour. The
inverted letter i resembles an exclamation mark and refers to the excitement in discovering other cultures.
Given the different characteristics of the targeted groups, the marketing scheme will communicate with the
international students and their families through the internet via the official website and the different links in
university websites, in addition to a Facebook page and twitter account. In Australia, it will depend on more
traditional means of advertising including television and radio commercials and printed materials similar to the
poster next page. In this poster, the colour scheme and the arrangement implicitly reflect the Australian flag. The
egg/globe symbol highlights the neverending ability of the parents to support and nurture in addition to the
enjoyment in learning about other cultures.
References:
Glenn, T. 2011. Are empty nesters moving to inner-city apartments? Available:
http://blog.id.com.au/2011/demographics/inner-city-apartments-housing-trends/ [Accessed 12 May 2012].
OLeary, J. 2006. The Housing Decisions of Empty Nesters. Melbourne: Department of Sustainability and
Environment.
Tolhurst, C. 2011. Downsizers feeling the squeeze [Online]. Available: http://news.domain.com.au/domain/home-
investor-centre/downsizers-feeling-the-squeeze-20110617-1g6gp.html [Accessed 12 May, 2012].
Tsutsumi, J. & O'connor, K. 2005. international Students and the Changing Character of the Inner Area of a City: A
Case Study of Melbourne. State of Australian Cities National Conference. Brisbane.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/advert-130127002209-phpapp01/85/nter-For-Intergenerational-Living-A-Social-Practice-Change-Strategy-1-320.jpg)
!nter: For Intergenerational Living. A Social Practice Change Strategy
- 1. !nter: For Intergenerational Living Social Practice Change Strategy Australians are encountering many shifts in their way of living due to the new technologies and the changing nature of economy. Moreover, there are major demographic transformations in the structure of the Australian nation. The average household in Australia is getting smaller with time. It is estimated that the increase rate in households will exceed the rate of population growth with the emerging new household types including the Lone person household (OLeary 2006). This increasing demand for living spaces will clearly have huge implications on the natural environment. !nter is a practice change strategy, focused on increasing the efficiency of space consumption through increasing the residential density in selected suburbs and regional areas. This is envisaged through encouraging inter-generational living in existing houses, using the international students as leverage and targeting what is labelled as empty nesters (i.e. parents whose children have grown up and left home). Most of these families continue to live in the same houses (Glenn 2011) with areas bigger than their actual needs and inefficiently utilised spaces. Several factors contribute to this behaviour including established habits and physical or economic constraints for changing (Tolhurst 2011). In this context, the strategy will try to change the practice through normalising and facilitating for the intergenerational living focusing on the international students as a kick-start, initially targeting those with worried families or those interested in living the Australian culture. As part of this strategy, a not-for- profit organisation is to be established and called !nter. The organisation aims at marketing the scheme in Australia in coordination with the local stakeholders (namely: educational institutions and local governments), and internationally in coordination with IDP the preeminent placement service for those pursuing international education. In addition, the organisation will provide architectural advice and work with families on modifying their houses to accommodate students. Database will be created and accordingly !nter will match hosting families with students according to various factors including age, food and type of services. The cost of house alteration will be repaid by the rent according to set financial plan. Families have the choice to renew or to opt out by the end of the contract, and with an upgraded house they will most likely lease out the extra space. The logo of the organisation represents the intergenerational and international sides of the endeavour. The inverted letter i resembles an exclamation mark and refers to the excitement in discovering other cultures. Given the different characteristics of the targeted groups, the marketing scheme will communicate with the international students and their families through the internet via the official website and the different links in university websites, in addition to a Facebook page and twitter account. In Australia, it will depend on more traditional means of advertising including television and radio commercials and printed materials similar to the poster next page. In this poster, the colour scheme and the arrangement implicitly reflect the Australian flag. The egg/globe symbol highlights the neverending ability of the parents to support and nurture in addition to the enjoyment in learning about other cultures. References: Glenn, T. 2011. Are empty nesters moving to inner-city apartments? Available: http://blog.id.com.au/2011/demographics/inner-city-apartments-housing-trends/ [Accessed 12 May 2012]. OLeary, J. 2006. The Housing Decisions of Empty Nesters. Melbourne: Department of Sustainability and Environment. Tolhurst, C. 2011. Downsizers feeling the squeeze [Online]. Available: http://news.domain.com.au/domain/home- investor-centre/downsizers-feeling-the-squeeze-20110617-1g6gp.html [Accessed 12 May, 2012]. Tsutsumi, J. & O'connor, K. 2005. international Students and the Changing Character of the Inner Area of a City: A Case Study of Melbourne. State of Australian Cities National Conference. Brisbane.
- 2. !nter: For Intergenerational Living Social Practice Change Strategy