Our CEO, Marie-Louise (M-L) MacDonald, joined ABC Radio Perth’s Spotlight Forum with host Nadia Mitsopoulos to discuss one of the most pressing housing challenges facing older Australians — how to downsize without losing the sense of home, connection, and community.
In a conversation alongside experts; Architect Michelle Blakeley, Damian Collins of Momentum Health, and Mark Kinsela of Council on the Ageing WA, M-L highlighted the need for more thoughtful and flexible housing solutions that allow people to “stay local, stay connected, and stay independent for longer.”
“Downsizing isn’t just about moving into a smaller space,” she said. “It’s about choosing a lifestyle that supports your wellbeing — close to friends, services, and the community you love.”
Drawing on her experience leading Masonic Care WA, and as former Chair of the Retirement Living Council, M-L emphasised the importance of collaboration across industry and government. She highlighted the need for planning reforms that support medium-density, age-friendly housing in established suburbs, alongside stronger incentives for accessible and universal design.
“We need to move beyond the traditional idea of retirement living,” she added. “People are seeking choice, flexibility and dignity — whether that’s in a village, an apartment, or a community-based setting that adapts as their needs change.”
M-L emphasised that smaller homes alone aren’t the answer — they must also be well located, close to transport, services, and community spaces that foster connection. In her remarks, M-L helped anchor the discussion in lived experience, reminding the audience that regardless of the unit size or layout, the human need for belonging, dignity, and security remains constant.
Equally important, she said, is strengthening consumer protections and industry standards so Australians can feel confident and empowered when choosing where and how they want to live.
The forum explored barriers such as affordability, planning restrictions, and limited supply of well-designed smaller homes in established suburbs. M-L advocated for investment in age-friendly infrastructure and accessible design principles that make it easier for people to live comfortably and confidently at every stage of life.
“Our goal should be to design communities where ageing in place is not only possible but aspirational,” she concluded.
Listen: Spotlight on Downsizing via ABC Perth
Click the link below for this insightful conversation:
🎧 ABC Radio Perth — Spotlight Forum: Downsizing
