1. Valuing social infrastructure - national consistency. Social infrastructure connects people and communities to services and opportunities that enhance their quality of life, enable them to live together and help each other, keep them safe and healthy and boost national productivity. To drive more appropriate and effective investment, Australia needs a consistent national framework for valuing social infrastructure.
2. Uniform access - healthy and prosperous communities. Australians expect high-quality social infrastructure that is easy to access, but experiences differ depending on where people live. Alternative models of funding and delivery will enable more well-located, maintained and fit-for-purpose facilities.
3. Embracing technology - optimised delivery. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that agile, high-functioning social infrastructure can quickly adapt to the health, educational and social needs of our communities. Innovation and technology should be harnessed to drive more cost-effective and sustainable infrastructure and services that communities value.
4. Education hubs - contemporary learning. The quality, functionality and accessibility of public education infrastructure is inconsistent and does not meet population and technology demands. There must be increased funding for maintenance, design and renewal to provide contemporary, fit-for-purpose education facilities that support the skills of the future and become hubs for lifelong learning.
5. Housing stock - addressing the shortfall. The quality, supply and design of social housing across the country is inadequate. There needs to be more investment to improve the standard of dwellings, address the growing shortfall and provide a greater range of housing types. Better financial cases for social and affordable rental housing must be tested and applied consistently.
6. Valuing our culture - enhancing liveability. Arts, culture and recreation facilities define Australian cultural identity. Along with public green and blue spaces (such as parks and waterways), they improve physical and mental health and make communities more livable. All levels of government should collectively plan to bring these areas to life by including them in transport planning and precinct development and renewal.
7. Co-Iocation and precincts - driving better outcomes. Collaborative partnerships will create shared, well-used facilities and enable the co-location of health, education and other social facilities in mixed-use precincts (where residential, commercial, retail and community facilities co-exist). This will drive collaboration, Job creation, learning and innovation.